A Leicestershire-based company that aims to make quality healthcare affordable and accessible worldwide has been rewarded with the UK's highest business accolade.

Morningside Pharmaceuticals Ltd has received The Queen's Award for International Trade in recognition of its substantial and continuous export growth over the past six years.

The Queen's Awards for Enterprise recognises outstanding achievement by UK businesses in the categories of Innovation, International Trade and Sustainable Development. There is also an award for Enterprise Promotion which is given to individuals.  The awards are given annually by Her Majesty The Queen in recognition of those who reach the highest levels of excellence in each category.

The International Trade category seeks to reward companies who have enjoyed substantial growth in overseas earnings and commercial success.  Morningside Pharmaceuticals impressed the judges by turning its mission statement of providing nations worldwide with affordable and accessible healthcare into a reality.  

The company manufactures and supplies a wide range of healthcare products, including its own Morningside UK licenced branded and generic medicines, the Sensecure® range of medical devices, Medifend® Diagnostic Tests and Choice^TM Condoms. It is renowned for its high levels of customer care, comprehensive Quality Management System and its ability to tailor products and packaging to meet each customer's individual requirements. 

It has expanded its global reach to encompass more than 80 countries, and as well as the NHS, pharmacies and private hospitals here in the UK, it can count international aid agencies and charities, such as UNICEF, the World Health Organisation, Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières and Oxfam, amongst its growing customer base. Export sales have increased by a phenomenal 223 per cent over the past six years to just under £8 million, with a corresponding increase in profits.  

Speaking about winning the Queen's Award for International Trade Dr Nik Kotecha, CEO of Morningside Pharmaceuticals said: "Twenty years ago, Morningside Pharmaceuticals was launched with the vision of giving people worldwide access to the healthcare they so desperately needed at a price they could afford. Today, I'm delighted that not only are we achieving this goal, but that we have received recognition for our success in the form of a Queen's Award, the most prestigious business award in the UK.

"Without our high standards of quality backed up by levels of customer service that are second to none, we simply couldn't have achieved our export success, so I would like to say a big thank you to all our staff. This award is a reflection of their hard work and commitment."

Now that the Queen's Award winners have been announced, Dr Nik Kotecha and his wife and co-founder, Moni can look forward to attending a special reception at Buckingham Palace.  The Award comprising a Grant of Appointment and bespoke trophy will be presented by Lady Gretton, who as Lord-Lieutenant, is the official representative of Her Majesty The Queen for the County and City of Leicester at a special event at Morningside Pharmaceuticals headquarters on Castle Business Park in Loughborough at a later date.

For further information about Morningside Pharmaceuticals telephone 01509 217705 or visit www.morningsidepharm.com

For information about the Queen's Awards For Enterprise visit www.queensawardsmagazine.com.