Revealed: the region's winners of the Queen’s Awards

Widely regarded as the most prestigious business awards in the country, 2016 marks the 50th anniversary for the winners of the Queen’s Awards scheme in what is also her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birthday year.

However, the number of firms being given a Queen's award is relatively small.

Of the 150 Queen’s Award for International trade only three are from the North-East while in the innovation category the region had two winners.

Washington based Walker Filtration Ltd has won a fifth Queens Award - this time for innovation.

Lianne Walker, managing director of Walker Filtration, said:

“We are overjoyed and honoured to have been presented with another prestigious Queen’s Award, this time for innovation. Innovation is essential to sustaining business performance and maintaining competitive advantage in the marketplace.”

Chester-le-Street based social entrepreneur Kate Welch has won an International Trade award. She founded Social Enterprise Acumen CIC, in 2012, to promote social enterprise across the North-East.

Wallsend based Integrated Display Systems Ltd wins an Innovation Award for ITS the firm's clamp release tool used in automotive manufacture. The company started trading in 1979 and has won two previous Queen's Awards in International Trade in 2012 and 2014.

Ashington-based GT Culpitt and Sons Ltd, a leading manufacturer and supplier of edible cake decorations to major bakeries, has won the Queen's Award for International Trade for outstanding growth in international sales over the last three years.

Established in 1931, the company is and previously won this award in 2012. It supplies clients across Europe and in the US.

Another winner in the international trade category is Nitesite Ltd, based at Full Sutton Airfield, York. It specialises in night vision rifle scope adaptors for use on rifle for hunting or pest control and has seen international sales grown by over 502 per cent in three years.