Pace plc off to the Palace
Award-winning technology firm books date with Royalty
July 13 2009
Two representatives from Saltaire-based Pace plc are to visit Buckingham Palace today (Monday 13 July 2009) after the firm was awarded the equivalent of a company knighthood in this year’s Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.
David McKinney, Chief Operating Officer, and Kate Smedley, Treasurer, will attend a special evening reception for 2009 Queen’s Award winners, to be hosted by Her Majesty The Queen and other members of the Royal Family.
Pace won its Queen’s Award in the Innovation category in April this year. The firm specialises in digital set-top box technology and has won a 2009 Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation, in recognition of its pioneering work developing high definition set top box technology. This is Pace’s second successive Queen’s Award, having won an International Trade Award in 2008.
David McKinney Chief Operating Officer commented: “A Queen’s Award is fantastic recognition for the tremendous work that has taken place at Pace to establish our world leading position in the high definition market. And to have won Queen’s Awards two years running is a great achievement and something we are very proud of.”
On winning the Queen’s Award Neil Gaydon, Chief Executive Officer of Pace plc commented: “Winning a Queen’s Award for Innovation recognises Pace’s leadership in the development of high definition set-top box technology. We targeted the global shift to high definition, working with some of the world’s leading payTV operators and solving complex technical challenges, which enabled us to be first to market, ahead of our competitors, with new high definition set-top box products. Our work has been based on sound business principles, which when combined with the commitment and dedication of our people has enabled us to demonstrate world-class innovation.
Neil continued: “High definition is a significant step change in how we watch television and is seen as having the equivalent impact on a viewer’s TV experience as the move from black and white to colour had in the 20th century. We established our high definition credentials in the US market in 2002 and launched Europe’s first high definition set-top boxes in 2006. In 2008 we launched over 20 high definition products, a position unmatched by any of our competitors.”
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise exist to champion the UK’s most enterprising, creative and sustainable organisations – from all business sectors. Companies can apply for an Award in three categories – International Trade, Innovation or Sustainable Development. It costs nothing to enter, and The Awards are open to any UK-based business with two or more employees.
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Note to editors: Photographs of David and Kate at Buckingham Palace will be available for publication.
Contacts
Helen Kettleborough
Pace plc
+44 1274 538005
To find out more about the Queen’s Awards, please visit www.queensawards.org.uk
About The Queen’s Awards:
1. The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the UK’s most prestigious Awards for business success. There are four categories of Queen’s Awards – three for business success (International Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Development) and one for individual achievement in encouraging enterprise and entrepreneurship in the UK. Companies apply for the Business Awards, but individuals must be nominated for The QAEP.
2. In April 2009, 194 business Awards were bestowed in the business categories of The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2009. 135 companies won Awards for International Trade, 49 for Innovation and 10 for Sustainable Development. In addition, 11 individuals received The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion (QAEP)
3. The Queen’s Awards were originally established in 1966, when they were known as The Queen’s Awards to Industry. In 1976 they were replaced by two separate Awards – ‘The Queen’s Award for Export Achievement’ and ‘The Queen’s Award for Technological Achievement’. A third Award was added in 1994 – ‘The Queen’s Awards for Environmental Achievement’. In 2000, the Awards were renamed The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, and the three categories changed to International Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Development. The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion was added in 2004.
4. Applications for the 2010 Awards open on 20th July 2009. The deadline for entries is 2pm on 30th October 2009.
