Consultancies honoured with Queen’s Awards

Two design consultancies have won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, a top UK business accolade to reward companies for exemplary innovation and creativity.

Corporate and brand identity specialist Henrion Ludlow & Schmidt has won an award in the International Trade category, while Leeds Environmental Design Associates has won in the newly-created Sustainable Development category.

HLS, whose international clients include Mercedes Benz, Deutsche Bank and Roche Diagnostics, has been commended “for outstanding achievement in international trade, resulting in substantial growth in overseas earnings”. It has trebled its overseas earnings in the past three years. Co-founder Chris Ludlow is pleased with the recognition. “It means recognition for our specific approach to corporate and brand identity, which has been very well accepted in continental Europe,” he says.

LEDA, a three-strong consultancy designing low-energy, sustainable buildings, as well as offering an advisory service, has been commended for “the provision of expert advice in sustainable building design”.

“LEDA is a multidisciplinary design company employing an architect and engineers. We work with consultancies in related fields, such as architects, to create an integrated form of design,” says director Jonathan Lindh.

There were 892 applicants for this year’s awards, which had to demonstrate outstanding growth over a three-year period. Some received word last week that they would receive an accolade from Her Majesty the Queen.