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https://kingsawards.blog.gov.uk/2017/07/21/2017-queens-award-winners-in-innovation-clydespace-reach-the-final-frontier/

2017 Queen's Award winners in Innovation - ClydeSpace reach the final frontier!

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Innovation, Recipients
Collage showing workers at ClydeSpace.
Credit: ClydeSpace

ClydeSpace reach the final frontier!

We’re a leading manufacturer of high-tech miniature satellites based in the heart of Glasgow. Our sophisticated and complex spacecraft are smaller than traditional spacecraft but pack a punch in terms of performance. Our customers range from Universities, and governments to commercial businesses and include NASA, MIT, The UK Space Agency, Kepler Communications and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

Over the last 12 years, we’ve established a world-wide reputation for quality innovation as a small spacecraft solutions provider, something that’s been further cemented following the launch of Scotland’s first spacecraft, UKube-1, in July 2014. Our spacecrafts benefit multiple sectors and enable a variety of applications such as; infrastructure monitoring, disaster management, weather and climate data, mapping and even the movement of fish across the oceans.

Launching our bid for a Queen’s Award

The awards are renowned as being the ultimate award to win for a UK-based company. It’s been on our radar for some time and was discussed internally before we applied, many members of the team here at Clyde Space previously worked for winning companies and noted that it added real value to the business alongside international exposure.

We felt this was the perfect year for our application with our continued growth and international expansion.

We chose the Innovation category as this is core to everything we do. Our fast-paced innovation cycles, coupled with the ability to incorporate cutting-edge technologies for use in space, resulted in our spacecraft being able to support a wide range of new and technically challenging mission types, from disaster management to reconnaissance. These pioneering solutions have enabled us to stand out from the crowd in the global market place. Receiving a prestigious award such as this adds further value to our business and is a huge stamp of approval which we highlight to potential customers, partners and to our investors. We are renowned within the industry as the quality innovators and this award further strengthens this reputation on an international scale.

Landing the win

We found out we’d won in March and were absolutely delighted. We told the entire company at our quarterly business review meeting, it was a great way to finish our meeting on a high as the award is a fantastic achievement and recognises the team’s hard work and creativity.

This award further strengthens our credentials within the international market and helps promote UK Innovation within the Space Industry.

Not only has the award increased staff moral and pride but it has also noticeably generated great publicity for our company, from social media to emails of congratulations. The emblem is being used within our marketing material adding value to our industry reputation for quality innovation.

So, our advice for those thinking of applying? Just do it! We’re delighted to have won this award, not only has it raised our company’s profile but it’s instilled further pride and confidence in our employees. This award is one of the most prestigious awards a company can win and lasts for 5 years, so for the time spent on the award application in comparison to others we would say this was time very well spent.

Apply for a Queen's Award for Enterprise.


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