The winners of the 2022 Queen's Awards for Enterprise were announced yesterday, including two businesses from Stroud.

This year, 232 businesses representing every part of the United Kingdom and a range of sectors have been recognised by Her Majesty The Queen on her birthday as among the best in the country.

Awards have been won in the categories of International Trade (141 winners), Innovation (51), Sustainable Development (31) and Promoting Opportunity (9).

Both Christie International, based in South Woodchester, and engineering firm LB Bentley received awards for International Trade.

Established in 2002, Christie International provides a complete export management Service for UK food and non-food SME's who do not have a dedicated export department of their own.

Over the three years to November 2020 its overseas sales have grown by 65 per cent and all sales to overseas markets grew on average by almost 30 per cent per annum. In 2020 sales were made to more than 30 countries, including UAE, South Africa, USA, Malaysia, Turkey and Liberia.

The company wins the Queen's Award for International Trade for outstanding short-term growth in overseas sales over the last three years.

LB Bentley is part of Severn Group, a family of specialist engineering and manufacturing companies in the energy and industrials market.

The award is said to recognise the manufacturer's three-year trajectory of continuous growth in overseas sales between 2018 and 2020, with a significant growth in international trade.

LB Bentleys said its strategic growth is born out of the principles of its heritage, which is to design and manufacture highly engineered products for deployment in extreme environments. It claims its commitment to innovation, alongside the ability to listen to industry needs and customer requirements, has driven the development of the business and potential available growth.

Due to the dedication of its 120 employees at its Kingfisher Business Park base, LB Bentley said it was able to continue to grow even when challenged with the adversity of the global pandemic.

"The last few years have been extremely challenging globally with demands facing not just us but also our customers and suppliers" said Rhys Jones, divisional president at LB Bentley.

"The LB Bentley team have risen to this challenge, with their dedication to deliver high quality products and a clear focus on customer service they have driven significant growth and success. I am proud to be part of this progressive British engineering and manufacturing company that delivers truly world-class products."

Small Business Minister Paul Scully said: "This country is renowned for its entrepreneurial achievements and there is no greater showcase for it than The Queen's Awards. It's vital we celebrate the success of our businesses and recognise the contributions they make to communities across the country.

"I congratulate this year's winners for their hard work and commitment over the last year and I wish them every success for the future."