When it comes to the Queen's style, colour co-ordination is key. So this year, for the annual Queen's Award for Enterprise, it's no surprise that The Cambridge Satchel Company won with their brightly-hued designs.Practical yet stylish satchels in neon pinks, schoolgirl-blue hues or classic boater brown have become the ‘It’ bag among celebrities such as Alexa Chung and new mum Fearne Cotton.
Although The Cambridge Satchel Company was founded by mum Julie Deane at her kitchen table in 2008 to raise money to send her children to private school, it has since expanded with substantial overseas growth.Now with a global fan base selling to over 110 countries and the handmade leather satchel producers now have an estimated annual turnover of around £12 million, of which £5 million is from exports.Nail art has also maintained itself as one of the biggest beauty trends over the last few years and nail polish company Nail Inc. is another brand that to win the Enterprise award. "Nails is one of the fastest growing categories in the beauty sector with nail polish an easy, affordable way for women to stay on trend," explained founder of Nails Inc, Thea Green.From demin and leather effect nails to your pretty pastel polishes for spring, they are certainly the brand that can do it all when it comes to treating your talons.
Speaking of the award, Thea, who also received an MBE from the Queen in 2011, said; "We are delighted to win the prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade 2013." The British brand has since expanded overseas into key markets such as the United States, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa. Yet entrepeneur Thea says that to "expect demand for our product both in the UK and overseas to continue to grow" with the company currently negotiating deals with the high-street drugstore, Sephora, to expand their sales in Europe.Previous winners of the prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2012 include the luxurious British ready-to-wear brand Hackett and the innovative haircare tool, the Tangle Teezer.Winners are announced on the Queen's birthday each year, each receiving a grant of appointment, a presentational item and an invitation from HM The Queen to a reception at Buckingham Palace.
