SALES from the Yorktest group leapt by nearly 40 per cent in the first six months of this year, its new managing director Robert Whitemore revealed today.

By winning the Queens Award For Innovation last year, the York organisation, which has perfected blood testing kits for allergies and food intolerance in both humans and animals, clearly made a breakthrough in credibility.

"There have been a number of factors accounting for our dramatic growth," said Mr Whitemore. "These included an increase in media and public interest in food and health, our publication at the end of last year of positive independent clinical trials and, of course, the flying 'e' symbol of Royal approval."

In the six months since the award Mr Whitemore was appointed by founder and chief executive, John Graham, to steer the human test side of the group.

The organisation moved under one roof at York Science Park, with 4,200sq ft of offices and 1,200sq ft of laboratory space housing both the human and veterinary side of the group.

Mr Whitemore made his assessment of the effects of the most prestigious award in industry this week, following a visit by Stephen Brice, secretary to the Queens Awards Office.

Mr Brice was on a tour of Yorkshire to inspire entrants for this year's award, the deadline for which is October 31. After the Yorktest visit, he said: "Credibility is the word here. They don't have to spend the first 20 minutes justifying who they are or where they are going when their business cards display the 'e' of the Queens Awards."

Janice Culligan, managing director of the veterinary side of Yorktest, agreed. She said: "We have surged ahead with exports, which now represent 25 per cent of our business.

"Business at our laboratory in Germany, for instance, now exceeds our own - mostly tests on dogs.

"Our most recent success has been Japan. We now have a laboratory there which offers canine and feline tests to Japanese veterinary surgeons and the Queens Award helped. They see it as one of the highest industrial endorsements in the world."

Mr Brice went on to visit the software technology and service business, Salamander Organization, also on the Science Park, which won the Queens Award in the same year. Since then it has won a major contract for the Ministry of Defence to reduce costs on the battlefield and in offices.

Afterwards, Mr Brice urged businesses to enter early. "The message is that if companies can submit by September, it means that the Queens Awards Office staff will have time to advise them how they can advance their chance of success."

Entries can be made online at www.queensawards.org.uk or phone the helpline at 0207 222 2277.

Updated: 11:21 Friday, July 22, 2005