The Institute of Export & International Trade held its annual dinner celebrating the winners in the International Trade category of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise. Hosted at The Inner Temple in London, the sold-out event had a genuine celebratory feel, with the attending companies and friends of the Institute keen to enjoy themselves, toasting to their successes.
The Queen’s Awards are one of the most prestigious accolades that UK businesses can earn. Winners for the International Trade category are required to demonstrate a substantial and sustained increase in export earnings over three consecutive 12-month periods, to a level which is outstanding for the products and services concerned, and for the size of the organisation.
Each of the attending businesses – who also earn a year’s free membership with The Institute of Export & International Trade – is an inspiration to other businesses looking to start exporting. Their commitment to international growth and their innovation in so doing are an example for future exporters to follow.
An Appropriately Glamorous Showpiece Event
The three-course dinner, sponsored by Bibby Financial Services, was hosted at The Inner Temple in the heart of London. The impressive setting - located between the Strand, Fleet Street and Embankment – was appropriately glamorous for this showpiece event.
Director General of the Institute, Lesley Batchelor OBE, welcomed the winners, toasting their achievements and welcoming them into the exporter community that centres on many of the Institute’s activities. The Institute’s Chairman, Terry Scuoler CBE, also made a few remarks before the dinner, mentioning some of the challenges ahead for UK businesses.
The after-dinner speech came from Humphrey Hawksley, a BBC foreign correspondent and author. Drawing on his long career in broadcasting, he regaled many anecdotes about the various curious and spurious people he has encountered around the world, highlighting the great variety of people you can expect to come across when trading in overseas markets.
You can view and purchase photos from the event here
With special thanks to our event sponsor:
