Yorkshire bosses who have helped to boost Britain's reputation gain Queen's Awards

BigChange, the mobile workforce management technology company, has been awarded a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise, one of the highest official honours for companies in the UK.

BigChange has been recognised in the 2020 innovation category for developing JobWatch, a mobile workforce management system that connects back office staff, mobile workers and customers, enabling users to automate manual processes and reduce paper usage.

The Queen’s Award for Enterprise celebrates businesses who excel at international trade, innovation or sustainable development. BigChange, which employs 167 people, will receive its award at a Buckingham Palace reception later this year.

Martin Port, founder and CEO of Leeds-based BigChange, said: “We are delighted to win such a prestigious award.

"This recognises the efforts of our people who have worked so hard to develop and deliver JobWatch, as well as the customers that inspire and use it everyday to grow and transform their own industries. We have global ambitions for BigChange and this honour will open doors for us around the world.”

The Leeds based creative marketing agency OTB Agency has received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade.

Mark Davies, chairman of OTB Agency, said: “We see it as recognition of our team’s hard work and we are truly delighted, but these are exceptional times and our thoughts are with everyone, here in the UK and around the world.”

Harrogate based company Techbuyer has also been honoured with a Queen’s Award for International Trade. Techbuyer specialises in buying, refurbishing and selling enterprise IT hardware.

Managing director, Mick Payne, said: “This award is great recognition for the employees of the business.”

Skipton-based CPOMS is also celebrating after receiving the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation.

CPOMS is an online system, used by more than 12,000 schools across the globe to help school staff, across both primary and secondary education, log any concerns relating to the wellbeing of a pupil.

John Wild, managing director at CPOMS, said: “The key aim of our software has always been to improve safeguarding practices and to save time for teachers and school staff so they can focus on their pupils. For it to be recognised with a Queen’s Award in this way, as a truly innovative solution, is fantastic and we’re very proud to say we’ve created something that has revolutionised safeguarding practices in schools across the UK, and now internationally.”

The Sheffield-based online educational publisher Twinkl has received a Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

Jonathan Seaton, CEO and Co-founder of Twinkl, said: “We have always tried to bring something different and exciting to everyone who uses Twinkl and we’re completely over the moon that our innovative approach has been recognised in this way.

“Being honoured with this award is an absolute testament to the incredible team we have at Twinkl, in the UK and across the world. We are so proud to have been founded in Sheffield and to now be taking our mission to help those who teach globally."

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