Queen's Awards for Lancashire businesses

By Tim Aldred

23 Apr 2019

Article Placeholder Large 1

Excellence in international trade has earned Queen's Awards for a clutch of Lancashire companies, while Recycling Lives earned its honour for supporting, training and employing ex-offenders.

The Queen’s Award for Promoting Opportunity for Social Mobility is the fourth earned by Recycling Lives. The Preston-based organisation is just one of four winners in the category this year.

Works in partnership with Recycling Lives Social Enterprises and the Recycling Lives UK charity, the social enterprise supports up to 300 men and women at a time in 12 prison-based workshops, HMP Academies, and up to 10 men at a time in its residential facility.

The HMP Academies train offenders in recycling or fabrication, skilling them for work on release. The charity’s residential programme supports men to undertake training and work placements to move into meaningful work and their own homes.

These deliver unrivalled success, reducing reoffending rates to less than 5% and supporting more than 70% into employment immediately upon release from prison.

William Fletcher, chief executive said: “Winning a Queen’s Award for Promoting Opportunity is the ultimate testament to our impact. It recognises the symbiotic relationship of our organization; how our business is integral to the success of our social enterprise and charity and vice versa.”

Elsewhere, Haslingden-based Firesafe Fire Rated Ductwork is the first of four Lancashire winners in the International Award category.

The family firm, founded in 2006, it is a specialist in the field of passive fire protection. The company exports its Caswell Firesafe non-coated fire resisting ductwork systems, and has grown sales by more than 500 per cent.

Preston-based Language Insight provides transcription, translation and interpreting for a wide range of sectors and industries, with a special focus on market research translation. They are one of very few Language Service Providers to be globally accredited for both Quality Assurance (ISO 9001) and Information Security (ISO 27001).

Over the last three years, overseas sales have grown by 230 per cent. In 2018, company revenues grew 33.4 per cent globally and international trade now makes up over 49 per cent of Language Insight’s turnover.

The company has expanded from its UK operations and now employs staff all around the globe including New York, Germany and plans to open additional offices in 2019.

Managing director Donna Twose said: “Achieving this award is as a result of an impressive team effort and a strong management team driven by the core values of the business.

"We have grown significantly in recent years which has positioned us as leaders in market research translation, and our reputation for exceptional delivery to our clients is matched only by the passion and commitment of the Language Insight team here in the UK, and overseas. This is an incredible boost for us and an exciting time for the business."

Metstok, which is based in Clitheroes' Holmes Mill produces stainless steel products specialising flat rolled (cold and hot rolled) supplied direct from the mills in India, and then from its central stocks in Antwerp and the UK.

The company distributes to 12 European markets including Germany, Hungary and Sweden. Between 2016 and 2018 export sales increased by 137 per cent and now account for 81 per cent of total sales.

Accrington's Universal Smart Cards was established in 2001 to manufacture and supply of smart products and solutions. For many years, USC has sold to customers throughout Europe and the Middle East, recently adding important contracts in South America and Australia.

The firm opened an office in San Diego, California, which led to a ten-fold us increase in international trade, which now accounts for 11 per cent of total turnover.

Sales and marketing director Paul May said: "We are all absolutely delighted to have received this award for all the hard work and commitment that the team have put into developing our international trade strategy and relationships with customers. I'd like to register my thanks to every member of the team. It's great to see the export strategy is bearing fruit.

"I have heard that previous winners say that the Queen's Award helps how business even further. I look forward to attending Buckingham Palace later this year and meeting the other winners."

Enjoyed this? Read more from Tim Aldred

Latest news

1

New India branch campus on the horizon for Lancaster University Keir Starmer meets Indian PM and included Prof Simon Guy Lancaster University. Pic Simon Dawson

New India branch campus on the horizon for Lancaster University

09 Oct 2025

2

Best events and talented students complete finalists list for Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026 Best Events and Talented students on Lancashire Tourism Awards finalist list

Best events and talented students complete finalists list for Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026

09 Oct 2025

3

East Lancashire Learning Group named UK digital transformation leader in CIO 100 Awards Andrew Dewhurst with the award win

East Lancashire Learning Group named UK digital transformation leader in CIO 100 Awards

09 Oct 2025

4

PHX Training appoints new business leader in Blackpool Jason Davenport PHX Training

PHX Training appoints new business leader in Blackpool

09 Oct 2025

5

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m Velocity Composites Has Announced Its Entry Into The Us Market

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m

08 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West

Strathmore Hotel, Morecambe, LA4 5AP

08:00 - 10:00

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials
EventBrite NORi - 15th Oct 2025 Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials

Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

October Freelancer Meet-Up
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

October Freelancer Meet-Up

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine
LBV Advert_Autumn Reset 1200 x 630px.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine

The Artistry House , Preston , PR1 3JJ

17:30 - 19:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (26).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues
EventBrite NORi - 22nd Oct Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
22 Oct 2025 - 22 Oct 2025

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues

Online - Teams, Leyland, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

Chamber Business Lunch – October
LBV Hub Networking
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Chamber Business Lunch – October

Lancaster Golf Club, Lancaster, LA2 0AJ

11:00 - 13:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin