Fewer than 1% of enterprise award winners are architects
Two architecture practices have been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in an announcement timed to coincide with the Queen’s 90th birthday today.
The Kettle Collective and Sybarite are the only architects on the list of 243 British businesses to receive the award. They were both recognised for international growth.
Edinburgh-based Kettle Collective, founded in 2012 by former RMJM staffers Tony Kettle and Colin Bone, was praised for “outstanding” growth in overseas sales of 450% over the last three years.
With a second office opened in Dubai last year, the firm has projects across the Middle East and Africa. It is also recently completed the concept design of the last phase of the Lakhta Centre in St Petersburg, the new HQ for Russian energy giant Gazprom which includes a 462m tower. This will be Europe’s tallest when it complete in 2018.
Sybarite has been working in China since 2008 and is now looking to expand into the Gulf. The citation noted the firm’s growth in overseas earnings of 279% over the last three years.
The recipients will receive their awards at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. They will be able to use the Queen’s Award emblem for five years.
Business secretary Sajid Javid said: “The Queen’s Awards are a great way of celebrating the best of British business. Whether you’re a disruptive start-up making life easier for your customers or a large company with a blockbuster product, these awards recognise your contribution to enterprise.
“We are a country full of exciting and innovative businesses that deserve to be celebrated. I’d like to commend all the winners for their hard work in creating jobs for people and driving our growing economy.”
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