Avantis Education and Advanced Innergy have both received awards in the innovation category of the 2026 King’s Awards for Enterprise, recognising the development of cutting-edge products and services with national and international impact.
Based out of Waterwells Business Park in Quedgeley, Avantis Education employs 60 people and was honoured for ClassVR, a virtual and augmented reality platform designed specifically for education. The company describes the technology as the world’s leading VR and AR solution created exclusively for schools and learning environments.
While Advanced Innergy, with a group head office at Quedgeley West Business Park, employs 565 people and was recognised for developing NjordGuard, designed to protect the vulnerable section of subsea power cables at offshore wind farms, critical assets responsible for transmitting electricity to shore.
A total of 186 awards have been announced today, Tuesday 6 May 2026, recognising outstanding achievement in international trade, innovation, sustainability and promoting opportunity through social mobility.
Established in 1965 and first awarded in 1966, The King’s Awards for Enterprise have now recognised more than 8,000 UK businesses. Formerly known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, the programme was renamed four years ago in honour of King Charles III continuing the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II.
This year’s awards include 76 honours for international trade, 52 for innovation, 36 for sustainability and 22 for promoting opportunity.
The Department for Business and Trade also announced a new category for 2026, The King’s Award for Enterprise – Young Founder, designed to recognise entrepreneurs aged 18 to 30 who are actively leading businesses and driving growth. The new award forms part of the government’s Small Business Plan and aims to champion the next generation of UK business leaders.
Blair McDougall, minister for small businesses and economic transformation, said: ‘A huge congratulations to every business receiving awards this year, who once again have illustrated the best of British innovation and talent.
‘These awards show that right across the UK, there are small businesses that are thriving, growing and succeeding and it’s only right that we champion these successes.’
Of the 186 awards presented this year, 164 went to SMEs, with 24 awarded to micro-businesses employing 10 people or fewer.
The government said award-winning firms are helping to support economic growth by creating jobs, developing innovations and exporting British products and services internationally.
Recipients were selected following a judging process involving experts from industry, academia, the voluntary sector and Whitehall, before being recommended by the Prime Minister and approved by The King.
Successful businesses will receive their awards from His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenants during local presentations throughout the year, with one representative from each company also invited to a royal reception.
