Awards masterclasses are launched

Ahead of the application launch for the 2026 King’s Awards for Enterprise (KAE) later this year, Shropshire businesses are invited to attend two masterclasses aimed at unlocking potential and boosting success.

Organised on behalf of Anna Turner, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire, these free online masterclasses are open to all businesses in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin.

Mrs Turner said: “As a globally-recognised badge of excellence, the annual KAE celebrates UK-based businesses who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in innovation, international trade, sustainable development, and the promotion of opportunity through social mobility.

“There’s real value in winning a KAE. Previous Shropshire winners - including Grainger & Worrall, i2r, Reconomy, Jesmonite, Stallion AI Services, and Willo Game - have benefitted not only from the prestige and recognition, but also from increased brand awareness, additional investment, enhanced recruitment and retention, and improved opportunities to break into new markets.

“However, we understand that the submission process can feel daunting, due to its thorough analysis of business operations, the need to evidence data, and its in-depth nature. With this in mind, we advocate for the importance of starting early, which is why we’re proud to offer two free masterclasses to all local businesses – regardless of size or sector.

"Carefully curated based on previous feedback and expert insights, these introductory sessions are designed to help you understand the entry requirements and provide tangible tactics for drafting a successful application.”

The masterclasses will be hosted by previous KAE winners Matthew Snelson (managing director of Scale and Scope Ltd) and Piran Littleton (managing director at Jesmonite Ltd), as well as Ruth Martin (director at Martin and Jones Marketing), and Liza Freudmann (director and consultant at BLA Sustainability).

The 45-minute sessions will be held via Teams on Monday February 3 and Tuesday February 11 - the first focusing on business planning and how to effectively evidence your application, with the second session exploring the importance of demonstrating CSR and ESG.

“We wholeheartedly encourage anyone considering entering the 2026 awards to register their interest,” said Mrs Turner. “Even if you can’t attend the session live, they will be recorded and available online for you to watch when convenient. And there’s of course no obligation for attendees to enter the awards this summer if you decide it’s not a right fit currently.

“Our dedicated KAE team here in Shropshire is on-hand every step of the way to help you navigate this journey. As part of this, our presenters have kindly gifted a one-to-one follow-up consultancy session with attendees to answer any questions and assess entry readiness.

“We’re once again extremely excited for this opportunity to unite, recognise, and acknowledge the remarkable companies and professionals in our county, and wish the very best of luck to all those planning to enter the 2026 awards.”  

The 2026 King’s Awards for Enterprise will officially open for entries from May to September 2025.

Register your interest for the upcoming masterclasses here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScpTRVpiruFBUyhsXWeP3QMOuI7mSCvFnvs63DfxjKb1uatAg/viewform?pli=1 

For more information, visit: https://www.lordlieutenantofshropshire.org.uk/helping-you/honours-and-awards/queens-awards-for-enterprise/