Burland Technology near Ipswich receives Queen's Award 2023

Burland Technology Solutions is celebrating its third Queen's Award for Enterprise since 2016.

The most recent gong was presented to managing director Richard Vass by the Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, Clare FitzRoy, Countess of Euston.

The Queen's Awards are presented to businesses for "outstanding achievement" by firms in four categories: innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility.

Burland Technology Solutions is based in Great Blakenham (Image: Charlotte Bond)

In one of the changes since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the honours are now known as the King's Awards – but the name change was not immediate.

Burland Technology is celebrating the award for sustainability as it prepares to become an employee-owned business in the coming weeks.

Mr Vass said: "This award was the last one ever by the Queen. The first time we had one was for the Sapphire Jubilee in 2016 when we were invited to Buckingham Palace – I was flabbergasted at how hard the Queen worked.

The team at Burland Technology in the village near Ipswich (Image: Charlotte Bond)

"It was very nice to have Clare here for the latest award. It was more of a greeting with a hug than a handshake.

"They reckon you need about 60 to 100 hours of work for a submission for one of these awards. It's a lot of work that is very detailed.

"But the Queen's Awards are the gold standard. It's a very high bar and they are scrutinised.

The letter signed by Queen Elizabeth II (Image: Charlotte Bond)

"The most important thing, from my perspective, is that it's a pat on the back for our team and the work they do."

The Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk said in her speech at Burland Technology: "The Queen always took such a keen interest in the achievements of winners [of the awards], and as a champion of sustainability herself, I know this award captured her imagination."