King’s Awards for Enterprise 2026: Eight Scottish businesses recognised by King Charles

The prestigious annual awards celebrate the achievements of outstanding businesses from across the UK and Channel Islands and recognise their “vital contribution to economic growth and improving lives”.

This year marks a significant milestone for the awards, as they celebrate 60 years since the first honours were conferred in 1966. The awards were formerly known as the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.

Established in 1965, the programme has since recognised more than 8,000 exceptional UK businesses.

The eight Scottish firms to receive an award in 2026 are Walker’s Shortbread, the Edinburgh Remakery, Aberdeen-based Maritime Developments, Terumo Aortic of Renfrewshire, West Lothian-based Clarus Networks, Aberdeenshire’s Exceed (XCD) Holdings, the Caledonian Tree Company of Midlothian and McKerr Farming, based in South Lanarkshire.

To mark the anniversary year - and to ensure the awards continue to reflect the evolving landscape of UK business - a new category has been introduced: the King’s Award for Enterprise - Young Founder. Created as part of the Department for Business and Trade’s small business plan, the new award will recognise founders aged 18-30 who are actively leading their businesses and driving growth and opportunity.

Across the board, a total of 186 awards have been issued with one company, Bristol-based Tailfin, being recognised for two awards. The awards span a diverse range of sectors and celebrate the “ambition, ingenuity and success of the UK’s business community”.

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Blair McDougall, minister for small businesses and economic transformation, said: “A huge congratulations to every business receiving awards this year, who once again have illustrated the best of British innovation and talent.

“These awards show that right across the UK, there are small businesses that are thriving, growing and succeeding and it’s only right that we champion these successes.”

Overall, 76 businesses have been recognised for international trade, 52 for innovation, 36 for sustainability and 22 for promoting opportunity (through social mobility).

Out of the 186 awards, 164 (89 per cent) went to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and of those, 24 (13 per cent) are classed micro-businesses, with ten employees or fewer.

Formerly known as the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, the programme was renamed four years ago to reflect His Majesty’s wish to continue the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II by recognising the very best of UK business.

His Majesty’s lord lieutenants - the King’s representatives in each county - will be presenting the awards to businesses locally throughout the year. One representative from each successful business will also be invited to a special royal reception event.

The award recipients pass a robust assessment process, judged by experts from industry, academia, the voluntary sector and senior officials in Whitehall. On that basis, each year, the King’s Awards for Enterprise recipients are recommended by the Prime Minister and approved by the King.

The awards office will continue its promotion of the accolades for the 2027 round, with a specific focus on increasing applications from under-represented groups, regions and sectors.