Written by Andy Boardman, Digital Content Specialist at Thornton & Lowe
The King’s Awards for Enterprise are widely seen as the UK’s top business awards, recognising organisations that deliver outstanding results and lasting impact, and we’re on a mission to increase the number of Greater Manchester businesses applying and winning as the region has world‑class innovators who should be recognised nationally. That’s why we’ve partnered with expert bid writing agency, Thornton & Lowe, to bring you this ‘how-to’ guide.
The 2027 King’s Awards for Enterprise will open for applications on 6th May 2026.
You don't need to be a huge organisation to apply. What matters is being clear on your story, backing it up with evidence, and presenting it in a way that is easy to assess.
What are the King’s Awards?
The King’s Awards for Enterprise are awarded to UK businesses for outstanding achievement across four categories: innovation, international trade, sustainable development, and promoting opportunity through social mobility.
The awards hold a royal warrant, indicating an official ‘seal of approval’ from the monarch himself. This status, alongside a strict judging process, means that they are widely recognised as the most prestigious awards for companies in the UK.
Once a company receives an award, it will be presented to them by the Lord-Lieutenant of their region, and they will be invited to attend a royal reception. They can also use the King’s Awards emblem for the next five years.
This status brings global recognition, and with it, a boost to business. Research from the University of Strathclyde found that 73% of winners in the International Trade field directly attributed an increase in sales to their win.
Know the categories and decide your angle
Each of the categories comes with its own set of award criteria. When putting forward an application for the King’s Awards, your goal is to present a strong case for why your business merits recognition in your chosen category.
To start, put forward a ‘headline’ claim, then back it up with proof. Here are some examples:
Headline: “Our innovation reduced customers’ operating costs by X% and cut delivery time by Y%, with independently verified performance data.”
Key evidence: testing results, adoption data, customer case studies.
Headline: “We grew international revenue by X% over the last 3 years by entering two new priority markets, and we can show this growth is sustainable.”
Key evidence: audited export sales, market entry milestones, distribution/partner agreements.
Headline: “We achieved measurable environmental improvements while maintaining profitable growth, and we can evidence the governance and investment behind it.”
Key evidence: supplier engagement outcomes, baseline and post-implementation metrics, third-party assurance.
Headline: “We improved progression and pay outcomes for people from underrepresented backgrounds, and we can evidence sustained impact over multiple years.”
Key evidence: recruitment and progression data, programme completion, testimonials from participants and partner organisations.
Word counts are tight, so it helps to narrow your scope. A smaller number of well-evidenced initiatives usually reads more convincingly than a long list of examples with limited detail.
Ready to explore your eligibility?
At GM Business Growth Hub, we offer support and guidance for businesses applying for the King’s Awards, including resources and events to help you through the process. Keep an eye on our King’s Awards page for upcoming opportunities to learn more and get involved.
And don’t forget to read the next article in our King’s Awards series, where Thornton & Lowe guide you through how to write a compelling application.