TWO pioneering businesses in North Yorkshire have scooped this year’s Queen’s Award for Enterprise

C-Kore Systems Ltd and Primeast Ltd have both claimed the accolade for International Trade, having achieved substantial growth in overseas earning and commercial success.

C-Kore Systems, near York, design, manufacture and rent specialised subsea electrical test tools for subsea oil and gas fields. These tools are used to monitor the installation of new fields and locate electrical faults in existing fields.

This is the second Queen’s Award for Enterprise as C-Kore Systems were also honoured in 2019 in the innovation category.

Primeast, in Harrogate, offer organisational consulting and enterprise learning in leadership, team and individual executive coaching.

The Lord Lieutenant, Johanna Ropner, said: "These awards are much-deserved and a worthy recognition of the excellence offered by our remarkable North Yorkshire business community.”

C-Kore Systems technology is significantly quicker and more accurate than conventional methods which leads to significant savings in cost and emissions for customers.

Their top markets are Australia, USA, Egypt, Portugal and Philippines, with new markets in Africa. Overseas sales have grown by 798 per cent over the three-year application period and the proportion of sales exported has increased to 77 per cent of total sales.

Founded in 1987, Primeast operates globally, with a team of 30 in its UK headquarters in Harrogate.

It provides customised training and development, specialising in experiential learning, with a focus on personal development alongside the development of critical management and leadership skills to deliver business growth.

This approach has won a loyal, global client base in a range of sectors which include automotive, technology, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and energy-related industries.

CEO Russell Evans, said: “This is such fantastic recognition for the entire team who’ve worked with such commitment and passion and the clients who continue to support and partner with us.”

Over the last three years overseas sales have increased from £1.6m to £2.5m: an overall growth of 60 per cent. The percentage exported has remained 70 per cent throughout.

New markets include: Belgium, Germany, France, Brazil, Czech Republic, Hungary, Thailand, India, Mexico and Canada. Today its top markets are: USA, Belgium, Germany, Brazil, and the Czech Republic. The company wins the award for International Trade for Outstanding Short Term Growth in overseas sales over the last three years.

The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious awards for UK businesses.