THREE companies from Northern Ireland are among 148 recipients announced in The King’s Awards for Enterprise, the UK’s most prestigious business awards.
Previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, the programme is now in its 57th year and has awarded more than 7,000 companies since its inception in 1965.
This year’s first-ever King’s Awards for Enterprise are given for outstanding achievement in innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility.
Dundonald-based International Business Centre (IBC) Music, which specialises in helping international musical instrument brands find manufacturing and distribution partners across the world, was honoured in the international trade category for its strong growth.
Set up in 2019, IBC manufactures and sells guitars, ukuleles, amplifiers and all related musical instruments. and it has been able to take advantage of changes in worldwide markets, offering effective sourcing and omni-channel routes to market for many of its clients.
Currently 95 per cent of IBC's business is outside the UK, with key customers in the USA, Canada, Germany, Italy and Netherlands, and this has allowed IBC to grow its business to over £3.5 million turnover in just three years.
Its managing director Iain Wilson said: “This award is a true honour. It's amazing that a small team from Northern Ireland can offer a world renowned service and build up such an international client base.
“Our expertise is being used by more and more brands, with more business being discussed here at the NAMM Show. We expect additional business to result from this Award too and look forward to continuing to boost the UK economy.”
Iain has 30 years’ experience in musical instruments, working locally for companies like Lowden Guitars and G7th capos, and internationally with Fishman, Breedlove, Larrivee and many other brands.
Also recognised in the international trade category is BLK BOX Fitness Ltd in Newtownabbey, which designs and manufactures strength and conditioning equipment including barbells, plates, kettlebells, flooring, rigs and racks.
And in the innovation section a King's Award went to Inov8 Systems in Belfast which has patented an ultrasonic self cleaning probe to facilitate the uninterrupted optical inspection and analysis of water.
