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Laser technology by winner Powerlase, run by Lee Lockwood

Four Sussex businesses have been recognised for exceptional achievement after winning a prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise.

Oceanair Marine Ltd, based in Selsey and Powerlase, based in Crawley, each earned an award for international trade, while Pureprint Group, of Uckfield, and Crawley-based Utilicom Group won theirs for sustainable development.

The awards are designed to honour Britain's most outstanding companies and are conferred each year by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Announcing the winners, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "Queen's Award winning companies are standard-bearers for the very best of British business.

"These firms embody the spirit of enterprise and innovation that is so vital to the future of Britain's economy.

"Whether large or small, every one of this year's winning organisations has achieved outstanding success in its field.

"I congratulate them all on their diverse and remarkable achievements."

The awards have delighted staff and management at the winning companies.

Powerlase, which employs 62 people and manufactures lasers for flat-panel monitors, was recognised for increasing its overseas sales by a remarkable 684% to more than £9 million a year in three years, exporting virtually all of its production.

Les Lockwood, executive director at Powerlase, said: "By working closely with our customers and partners in mainland Europe, Korea, Japan and the US, we have been able to identify their exact requirements and develop laser technology to meet their needs.

"This has really fuelled our international growth."

Oceanair has a staff of 119 and designs, manufactures and distributes window and hatch blinds and screens for boats, vehicles and houses, using fabric, PVC, wood and metal.

The company has won the award twice before, in 2001 and 2005, and sells to 37 countries around the world. Over a threeyear period export sales rose by 65%.

Pureprint secured the award for its groundbreaking pureprint environmental printing system, which reduces energy and carbon consumption, minimises use of harmful chemicals, sources paper from sustainable forests and operates a high level of recycling.

Richard Osborne, managing director of Pureprint, said: "This is the second time we have received the Queen's Award for Sustainable Development.

"Since our first award in 2003 the business has trebled in size and we are now able to offer the highest standards of environmental printing not as a niche product but as a mainstream, affordable business choice."

Utilicom, which employs just under 100 staff, designs energy systems, which supply heating, electricity and cooling to clients from all market sectors in order for them to cut their carbon emissions.

The company has worked on schemes ranging from a 300-unit housing development with a care home in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, to city-wide projects in places such as Southampton and Birmingham.

Chief executive Simon Woodward said: "We are delighted to win this award because it recognises our unique track record in developing decentralised sustainable energy scheme across both small and large-scale urban areas."

Each winning company will be presented with a hand-made crystal glass bowl on behalf of the Queen by lord lieutenants.

The deadline for applications for the 2009 awards is October 31.

For more information, go to www.queensawards.org.uk.

2:40pm Friday 2nd May 2008

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