A family-owned craft drinks B-Corp, an electric vehicle company and a rapid diagnostic tests specialist are among the 2024 winners of the Department for Business and Trade’s Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards announced on Tuesday 23 April 2024.
The awards celebrate the international sales success of small-medium businesses across the UK and provide a stepping stone for further growth and opportunity.
Winners include Warners Distillery, an independent, family-owned craft drinks producer that creates 100 percent natural, sustainably sourced products crafted from ingredients grown on its farm in Northamptonshire.
Awarded in the Agriculture, Food and Drink category, the B Corp accredited business’s range of spirits and non-alcoholic drinks are listed in major UK retailers and sold in over 30 countries, including the United States, Australia, China, and nations across mainland Europe.
The awards come after new figures from the UN’s body that leads on global trade show the UK was the 4th largest exporter of goods and services globally in 2022, moving up from 7th in the rankings in 2021.
For businesses looking to find out more about how to start selling internationally or to expand their international footprint, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has a wide range of free guidance, services and experts available to help unlock new opportunities and grow their sales at GREAT.gov.uk.
Minister for Exports Lord Offord said: We’re proud of our British exporters and these Awards highlight some fantastic businesses punching above their weight and selling UK-made products and services around the world.
I hope the winners serve as inspiration to others looking to get onto the exporting ladder and encourage more businesses to showcase the incredible talent and innovation of UK businesses selling abroad.
Cabinet Office Minister Ester McVey said: Selling overseas is key to driving economic growth across the UK. As part of the GREAT campaign, it’s wonderful to celebrate these businesses who showcase the best of what Britain and Northern Ireland have to offer the world.
The winning businesses have been drawn from a diverse range of 12 sectors across 10 categories: Agriculture, Food and Drink; Creative Industries; Education & EdTech; Financial Services and FinTech; Retail & Consumer Goods; Consultancy & Professional Services; Healthcare; Infrastructure & Engineering; Low Carbon Energy; and Manufacturing, Advanced Manufacturing & Construction.
In the Low Carbon Energy category, Glasgow-based Munro Vehicles was recognised for its next-generation, fully electric commercial vehicles that are designed to help essential but carbon-intensive industries transition to net zero. The company, which exported to 16 countries in 2023, plans to move to a new purpose-built site near Glasgow later in the year, creating up to 300 jobs.
The Healthcare winners are pioneers CIGA Healthcare, a leading UK company specialising in rapid diagnostic tests including fertility tests, blood pressure monitors and blood glucose monitors. CIGA Healthcare’s products are supplied to national health services and international brands, such as Walmart and AmerisourceBergen, and the company’s international reach extends to over 80 countries, including the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Canada, and nations across South America.
Within each category, three additional businesses were also awarded highly commended status for their inspiring business stories and exporting prowess.
Marco Forgione, Director General of The Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) and judge on the panel for this year’s awards, commented: The calibre of businesses that entered across all categories has been incredibly high and selecting a winner has been a tough job. We are delighted to offer an IOE&IT membership to these winners alongside the businesses that are highly commended and look forward to working with this year’s companies, helping them to grow and expand through international trade.
These awards provide an important opportunity to recognise and celebrate the global trade success stories of small businesses from all Nations and regions – and we hope these winners will inspire even more budding business owners.
The evidence continues to tell us that businesses that trade internationally are more sustainable, more resilient, more innovative, employ more people and, ultimately, are more profitable. So, it is vital that these businesses are supported in their exporting journeys and that their success stories are celebrated.
In 2021, DBT launched the ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’ campaign to celebrate exporting success from across the UK and tell businesses’ stories. The awards programme builds on this to further recognise and celebrate the global trading success of SMEs from across the UK.
Winning businesses receive an invitation to an evening Parliamentary Reception and receive a year’s free membership with the Institute of Export and International Trade (IOE&IT). They will also win a digital badge, physical certificate and trophy and enjoy promotional activity across DBT channels, including individual profiles to share their export success.
This year’s winners include: Agriculture, Food and Drink – Warner’s Distillery, Creative Industries – Media Bodies, Education & EdTech – SimVenture, Financial Services and FinTech – Mosaic Smart Data, Retail & Consumer Goods – PG Paper Company Ltd, Consultancy & Professional Services – Intralink Ltd, Healthcare – CIGA Healthcare, Infrastructure & Engineering – Autoflame Engineering, Low Carbon Energy – Munro Vehicles, Manufacturing and Advanced Manufacturing and Construction – IceMos Technology.
This year’s highly commended businesses include:
Agriculture, Food and Drink
Highly Commended: Doughlicious – The London Dough Co.
Highly Commended: LoveRaw and Wootzano.
Creative Industries
Highly Commended: Sixteen South, Katapult and Wales Interactive.
Education & EdTech
Highly Commended: TransformELT Ltd, International Dyslexia Learnings Solutions Ltd and Learning with Experts.
Financial Services and FinTech
Highly Commended: Exus, Tapoly and Konsentus.
Retail & Consumer Goods
Highly Commended: Katy Sue Designs and Urban Apothecary London Limited.
Consultancy & Professional Services
Highly Commended: Luminance, People 1st International and EECO2.
Healthcare
Highly Commended: Dulas Ltd and Evenly Ltd.
Infrastructure & Engineering
Highly Commended: Inciner8, Xrail Group Ltd and Belzona Ltd.
Low Carbon Energy – Munro Vehicles
Highly Commended: Silverstream Technologies
Highly Commended: Rosehill Polymers Group and Clearly.
Manufacturing, Advanced Manufacturing and Construction
Highly Commended: I Holland Ltd, Vikoma International Limited and Silson Ltd.
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