Go for it: winning Sandwell firm urges others to apply for Queen’s Awards

29th April 2021

Huge congratulations to international freight forwarder KMB Shipping Group for winning a Queen’s Award for Enterprise. Director Paul Hull  – a Sandwell Business Ambassador – is urging other Sandwell businesses to put themselves forward for this prestigious prize.

KMB Shipping Group is one of only 205 organisations nationally to be recognised in the 2021 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, announced today (Thursday 29 April) – and the only company in the Black Country. The Sandwell business has achieved excellence in the international trade category, having shown a 708 per cent increase in international sales over the six-year qualifying period.

About KMB Shipping Group

KMB Shipping Group was established in 1987 in Oldbury, moving to Tipton in 1992. It was originally comprised of two companies, Daily Irish Services and KMB Intermodal, with fewer than eight employees in total. The two merged in 2009 to create KMB Shipping Group.

Now with almost twice as many employees, the company has expanded its services over the years from freight forwarding to total transport solutions, including worldwide road, sea and air freight options, export documentation and customs clearances, and comprehensive cargo insurance.

“Absolutely delighted”

Paul said: “We are absolutely delighted to be recognised with such a prestigious award. It’s a huge honour, and testament to all the hard work our team puts in on a daily basis.

“It’s been an exceptionally tough year for us all, but this achievement makes it all the more rewarding, it’s just the motivation we need to go even further to help our customers trade internationally.

“We encourage other Black Country businesses to put themselves in the running for the 2022 awards. Sometimes we don’t shout loud enough about the talent and innovation present in our region – it’s time to put modesty aside and go for it.”

About the awards

Judged to demanding standards, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business prizes around. They are given each year for outstanding achievement by UK businesses in the categories of innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility. A Queen’s Award is valid for five years.

Even in times of relative stability and normality, winning a Queen’s Award can be transformative for a company. As we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, securing such a prize could be more valuable than ever for your West Midlands firm.

The awards are presented at your company by a Lord Lieutenant, one of the Queen’s representatives. In normal times, winners are invited to a royal reception. They have permission to fly the Queen’s Awards flag at their main offices, and use the official emblem on their marketing materials.

If your business wins a Queen’s Award you will also receive a Grant of Appointment (an official certificate) and a commemorative crystal trophy, as well as benefiting from press coverage and great kudos from customers and suppliers.

The application window for the 2022 awards opens on Saturday 1 May. To support more Black Country businesses to apply, we’ve gathered resources on our Queen’s Awards page.

See a list of all the 2021 winners in the London Gazette.

[Pictured left to right: Kevin Jones, Paul Hull and Jamie Warren – owners of KMB Shipping.]