Suffolk winners of King's Awards for Enterprise revealed

Company owners from Ipswich to Newmarket to Beccles and spanning engineering to software makers and food manufacturing have expressed delight after scooping the coveted royal accolade.

The internationally-recognised scheme was started in 1965 under the late Queen Elizabeth II and recognises companies which have excelled in innovation, international trade, sustainable development or promoting social mobility.

Among the winners were recreational vehicle accessories manufacturer Purple Line, based at Wherstead, near Ipswich, which is celebrating a King’s Award for International Trade.

The company makes a range of products including self-inflating camper trailers and security devices.

Founder and managing director Jonathan Harrison said the business had always believed in the importance of international trade and made it a cornerstone of its business strategy.

"All of this allows Purple Line and its brands to continuously expand our business, develop relationships and is the foundation to our outstanding continuous growth throughout the UK and across the world," he said.

PCE Automation of Beccles - which specialises in providing bespoke automation services across a range of industry sectors including medical and pharmaceutical - was awarded a King’s Award for Innovation.

The company's business improvement leader Ollie Cook praised the workforce as its "greatest asset".

"We’re not content to do things the way they have always been done," he said.

"To be recognised for our contribution to innovation reflects the team’s excellence, future-focused purpose and innovative mindset that has allowed us to obtain The Kings Award for Enterprise – the most prestigious British business award."

Coracle Online of Newmarket scooped a King’s Award for Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility.

The EdTech firm aims to give everyone access to education and has created e-learning software used by prisoners across 86 UK institutions.

Founder James Tweed said he was delighted to be the first Suffolk-founded company to win in the Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility category.

"All across the world there are groups of people who lack education and digital skills and, as a result, are becoming excluded from society," he said.

"Prisoners are one of these groups and, if we want to reduce crime and reoffending, then education is the way to do it.

"Our society is becoming digital on every front and we must ensure everyone has the skills to live and work in this type of world. That’s our mission and having the King’s support means so much."

Waste recycling company Sackers of Ipswich won a King’s Award for International Trade while Pump Street of Orford and Rendlesham is celebrating a King’s Award for International Trade.

Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk Lady Clare, Countess of Euston - who will present the awards on behalf of the King - said: “These are The King’s first Awards for Enterprise and how delighted we all are that the outstanding  winners in Suffolk represent all that is best about business  excellence here.

"Suffolk leads the way nationally and internationally in a number of sectors, and I congratulate each of the winners for their inspirational leadership and example.”