A senior Government official made a special visit to a Saltaire-based firm which received a “business oscar” earlier this year.

David Moore, secretary to the Prime Minister’s Committee on the Queen’s Awards, paid a visit to Europlus Direct Ltd to find out more about how it achieved the award.

This year the Yorkshire region achieved its best Awards results for a decade, with 16 companies being honoured.

Europlus, which provides services for IT hardware manufacturers, only began trading in 2004 and has increased its exports more than five-fold to £2m.

More than 80 per cent of its sales go to export in an expanding range of countries including France, Germany, Spain and Italy.

Mr Moore met managing director, Jim Hart, and was shown the company’s operations to find out more about how the company came to apply and how its Queen’s Award success looks set to boost its business development.

Mr Hart said: “Winning a Queen’s Award is a huge pat on the back and recognition of our staff’s skills and dedication.

“It will give us the opportunity to build greater recognition in our overseas markets and further increase international sales.

“I would encourage more businesses in the region to apply and reap the rewards.”

Mr Moore said: “There has never really been any doubt about the prestige that the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise carry – something which can certainly give companies that all-important competitive edge.

“Indeed, we regularly hear winning companies testify to the power of the Queen’s Awards to deliver results for their business.”

The deadline for applications for the next awards is October 31.

Companies can submit an application online via the website queensawards. org.uk or obtain an application form by calling 08705 134486.