It has today (Tuesday 6th May 2025) been announced that three organisations in Cumbria have been awarded the prestigious King's Award for Enterprise including one near Penrith.
The Lakes Free Range Egg Company Limited at Stainton received the award in the Sustainable Development Category.
Createc Ltd and The Config Team Limited in the International Trade Category.
The Config Team Limited in Milnthorpe.
The King's Awards for Enterprise are the UK's most prestigious business awards, offering recipients global acknowledgment that their company is outstanding in its field. Winners are invited to attend a Buckingham Palace reception and can use the Awards Emblem as an internationally recognised endorsement.
The awards recognise and encourage the outstanding achievements of UK businesses in the fields of:
Innovation
International trade
Sustainable development
Promoting opportunity through social mobility
Almost all UK businesses (including non-profit) can apply, and the application process is free. All applications must be made online.
Entries open for the 2026 King's Award for Enterprise from 1 May. The deadline for entries is early September.
All entry forms, eligibility criteria and information on how to apply is available at: The King's Awards for Enterprise - GOV.UK
The Lieutenancy may be able to offer advice to eligible applicants and would be delighted to hear from companies considering applying. Contact details can be found at: cumbria-lieutenant.org.uk
His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria, Mr. Alexander Scott said:
"I am delighted that three of Cumbria's outstanding companies, Createc Ltd, The Config Team Limited, and The Lakes Free Range Egg Company Limited have won the King's Award for Enterprise 2025. This is an exceptional achievement and I congratulate everyone connected with them.
"These awards highlight excellence in Cumbrian companies and demonstrate that we have world-class companies in our county. Many more deserve and would benefit from the recognition that a King's Award would bring. I do hope that those companies who are eligible will take up the challenge to apply. There is evidence from previous winners that the international standing of the award brings tangible benefits to their business."
Commenting on the honour, David and Helen Brass said, “We are immensely proud to have been awarded this accolade for a second time. No other egg packer has achieved even one award. It is a much-coveted award and is fantastic recognition for our Lakes team, for all their hard work and for their commitment to our sustainable way of working. It is also recognition for the network of family farm producers that follow the same ethical principles and supply us with eggs with such valuable provenance. We are excited to tell everyone and celebrate with our staff, suppliers, and customers.”
Set up in 1997 by David and Helen Brass, The Lakes continues to produce free range and organic eggs, packed to the highest standards and remains at the forefront of animal welfare, and sustainable farming rooted in strong environmental principles. They are one of the UK’s largest, specialist free range egg producers/ packers, and have achieved this whilst developing a model of farming that is profitable, sustainable, and replicable.
With a history of being first in the field, they are still the only egg producer/ packer with bespoke Biodiversity Action Plans (BAP’s) for all their ranges – and those of their producers. This has led to over 300,000 trees/shrubs being planted across ranges that cover 6,000+ acres of UK farmland. They were also the first in the industry to reach complete Scope 1 and 2 carbon emission net zero. The recent installation of battery storage means they can also be an electrical island, providing 100% of energy when required.
Always leading innovation, the team developed the first dark brooding chick-rearing system that reduces energy consumption by 85% and more recently, they developed and launched a world-first in technology that is designed and proven by research, to improve the welfare of the hens as well as the margins for producers. ‘BirdBox’ is a real-time data capture system that provides analysis of hen shed information to farmers and their consultants. Developed over the last decade at a cost of over £2 million, it is being installed on all ranges, and those of their producers. This has opened the door to further research and innovation. For over 25 years, the Lakes has shared best practices with internationally recognised organisations and their producers, and this is set to continue.
Reflecting on the announcement, David and Helen summarised by saying, “This year, we are one of only 27 awards for Sustainable Development. We have received many environmental and sustainable farming awards, but being awarded this King’s Award has to be the very pinnacle of recognition. To achieve two of these awards is something that we believe demonstrates our ability to maintain long-term momentum on sustainable farming and innovation.”
The Lakes team is now preparing to receive a visit from Cumbria’s Lord Lieutenant Alexander Scott, His Majesty The King’s designated representative. Later in the summer, David Brass will attend a formal reception at Windsor Castle, and plans are underway for celebrations with staff, suppliers, and customers.
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