Lord-Lieutenant presents Queen’s Award for Enterprise to Markes

Markes International have celebrated the official presentation of its Queen’s Award for Enterprise from her Majesty’s official representative. The company also used the prestigious occasion to officially open a third building at its Llantrisant site.

The accolade was formally presented to the company at its Llantrisant headquarters by an official party including the Lord-Lieutenant of Mid-Glamorgan, Mrs Kate Thomas, and the Vice-Lord-Lieutenant, Mr Roy Noble. This follows on from an audience with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace last month, attended by Markes’ directors and co-founders, Mr Alun Cole and Mrs Elizabeth Woolfenden.

Mrs Thomas said: “The growth of Markes International from just two employees to 100 in just 18 years has been phenomenal, and is a testament to the courage and dedication of its founders. I congratulate the company on achieving this Queen’s Award, and look forward to returning next year to award another!”

The Queen’s Award, in the International Trade category, recognises Markes International’s outstanding performance in overseas sales over the past three years, which now account for over 85% of the company’s total turnover.

Mr Cole said: “We are very proud to have our export success recognised with a Queen’s Award, and are delighted to welcome the Lord-Lieutenant and her deputy here today to celebrate this success with us. Overseas sales have long been vital to our business, and today is a fitting time to pay tribute to both to the continued hard work of our staff, and to our innovation-driving collaborations with academia and industry.”

The event was also used to officially open the latest extension to the company’s premises at the Gwaun Elai Medi-Science Campus in Llantrisant, which will initially be used to accommodate the company’s expanding R&D arm.

Mr Cole concluded “The official presentation of our Queen’s Award and the opening of our new premises make this an important day for Markes. We’d particularly like to recognise the value of long-term business and academic relationships to our success, because – through knowledge-transfer partnerships and government initiatives – these have acted as strong drivers for our expansion into new markets, and particularly for the growth of overseas sales.”