Business executives, exporters, and innovators honored in the King’s Birthday Honours List.

Business leaders from the UK, along with exporters and staff from the Department for Business and Trade, are being recognized for their outstanding contributions in the realms of business, trade, investment, and exports.

These honored individuals have proudly represented the UK, showcasing a diverse array of businesses and leaders who have advocated for various world-class sectors.

Included in the 2023 Birthday Honours list are the following business leaders and volunteers:

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

• Ann Bentley, Global Board Member at Rider Levett Bucknall. Recognized for her contributions to Construction.
• Michael Cherry, Former Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses. Honored for his services to Business and International Trade.
• Damian Hopkins, Founder of The Radius Group. Acknowledged for his impact on the Retail Industry.
• Phillip O’Dell, Former Director of Flight Operations and Chief Test Pilot at Rolls-Royce. Recognized for his contributions to UK aviation.
• Gary Shaughnessy, Chair of the Z Zurich Foundation and Parkinson’s UK. Honored for his work in Business and Charity.
• Stephen Welton, Founder and Chair of BGF. Recognized for his services to Small Businesses and Entrepreneurship.

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

• Nicholas Baveystock DL, Director General and Secretary of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Honored for his contributions to Engineering.
• Kevin Byrne, Founder of Checkatrade.com. Recognized for his work in industry and Consumer Protection.
• Anuj Chande, Partner at Grant Thornton. Acknowledged for his services to International Trade and Investment.
• Andrew Churchill FREng, Executive Chairman of JJ Churchill Ltd. Honored for his contributions to Engineering.
• Frances Dickens, Founder and Chair of the Astus Group. Recognized for her work in Media Trading.
• Elizabeth Noël Harwerth, Chair of UK Export Finance. Acknowledged for her contributions to International Trade.
• Amar Latif, Founder and CEO of Traveleyes. Honored for his contributions to the Visually Impaired and Entrepreneurship.
• Richard Paxman, CEO of Paxman Coolers Limited. Recognized for his work in International Trade.
• Kevin Taylor, Chair of the Industrial Development Advisory Board. Honored for his services to Business and the Economy.

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

• Professor David Cooper. Honored for his contributions to Lift and Escalator Engineering.
• Professor Philip Dickens, Founder of Added Scientific. Acknowledged for his services to the Additive Manufacturing Sector.
• Caroline Hamilton, Chief Executive of the Safety Assessment Federation. Recognized for her work in Business and Engineering.
• Dennis Mardon, Chair of Citizens Advice Exeter. Honored for his services to Vulnerable People in Exeter, Devon.
• Christine Payne, Former General Secretary of Equity. Recognized for her contributions to the Trade Union Movement.
• Hina Solanki, Founder of Sol Cosmedics. Honored for her work in Business and Charity.
• Sandra Strong, Chair of the Customs and Export Licensing Committee at the British Exporters Association. Recognized for her services to British Exporters.
• Penelope Taylor, Head of Newark College and the Air and Space Institute. Acknowledged for her contributions to Skills and Employment.
• David Williams DL, Vice Chair of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and Chairman of Geldards LLP. Honored for his services to Business and the Economy in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

• Elizabeth Baitson, Founder of High Net Connect. Honored for her services to Business and Entrepreneurs.
• Balbir Kaur Dhillon, Postmaster. Recognized for her community contributions in Birchwood, Cheshire.
• Kuldeep Singh Dhillon, Postmaster. Honored for his services to the community in Birchwood, Cheshire.
• Jennifer Didcote, Postmaster. Acknowledged for her community work in Bishop’s Cleeve, Gloucestershire.
• Dorothy Kay, Volunteer with Citizens Advice, Elmbridge West. Recognized for her services in Employment Advice.
• Virendra Patel, Technical Support Partner at John Lewis and Partners. Honored for his community contributions in Hampshire.

The following staff from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) have also been recognized:

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

• Gordon Welsh, Former Head of Business Group at UK Export Finance.

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

• Charlotte Heyes, Chief Negotiator and Deputy Director of the Trade Negotiations Group.
• Ryan Sinclair, Assistant Head.

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

• Jacqueline Griffiths, Senior Policy Advisor.
• Sandra Stephenson, Head of Personnel Security.
• Robin Sykes, Former Head of Import Controls.

Notable recipients include:

1. Michael Cherry – awarded a CBE for his service to business and international trade.

For over two decades, Michael has been a fervent advocate for international trade, emphasizing its economic benefits. He has served two full terms (6 years) as National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, being the first to do so. Michael has tirelessly worked to elevate the voices of smaller firms in national dialogues and has advocated for the advantages of international trade for UK small businesses, aligning with the Global Britain initiative. His notable contributions include speaking engagements at major trade summits regarding agreements with Japan and Australia. Moreover, Michael has actively championed UK trade policy through national and international media, shedding light on the interests of over 500,000 small exporters eager to finalize FTAs.

Michael Cherry CBE, Former Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, remarked:

I am profoundly honored and truly delighted to be nominated for this award. My heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who supported our endeavors for business and international trade during my tenure as National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses. Congratulations to all others recognized in this year’s Birthday Honours.

Small businesses constitute the majority of enterprises in the UK and deserve our support, especially after the challenges faced in recent years, as we explore the opportunities presented by overseas markets.

2. Elizabeth Noël Harweth awarded an OBE for her services to international trade.

As Chair of UKEF, Noël has transformed it from a transactional agency catering to a select few exporters into a leading export finance entity, all while effectively managing risk. Her leadership has resulted in record support for UK exporters. As the first female Chair, she has consistently promoted diversity and inclusion in her role. Noël is dedicated to public service, enhancing civil society, and advocating for women’s leadership and equality. She founded the Women’s Corporate Directors chapter in the UK and chairs this group. A member of the International Women’s Forum for nearly 20 years, she plays an active role in the organization.

Elizabeth Noël Harweth OBE, Chair of UK Export Finance, stated:

Receiving an OBE for my services to international trade is a significant privilege. UK Export Finance’s global standing is due to the vision and dedication of our remarkable public servants. We take pride in supporting British exporters whose goods and services positively affect millions globally.

3. Amar Latif awarded an OBE for his services to the visually impaired and entrepreneurship.

After losing his sight during his teens, Amar has made remarkable strides to showcase that blindness does not inhibit one’s ambitions. His ventures span entrepreneurship, motivational speaking, and various TV appearances. Having served as Finance Director at BT’s Leeds office, he founded Traveleyes in 2004, offering bespoke travel experiences for the visually impaired. Traveleyes received accolades as Best Assisted/Accessible Holiday Company at the British Travel Awards in both 2019 and 2020. He was recognized as The Outstanding Young Business Entrepreneur of the World by The Chamber of Commerce International and received the inaugural Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur Award from Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou of EasyJet, awarded through Leonard Cheshire Disability. Additionally, he was named Alumnus of the Year by the University of Strathclyde.

Amar Latif OBE, Founder and CEO of Traveleyes, commented:

I never imagined that my achievements would be acknowledged in such a remarkable manner, and I am deeply humbled!

I am immensely grateful to everyone who has supported me along this journey. I have worked tirelessly to challenge the misconceptions surrounding blindness, establishing Traveleyes as the first commercial tour operator dedicated to providing travel for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or fully sighted.

4. Sandra Strong awarded an MBE for her services to exports.

With 35 years of experience in international trade, Sandra’s dedication and contributions to the British Exporters Association and the broader UK exporting community are invaluable. When it was proposed that the association enhance their guides with one on trade compliance, Sandra became the primary resource due to her extensive knowledge of customs, VAT, and export regulations. She was also vital in introducing a free helpline for members, a significant support tool for UK exporters, particularly amid the challenges of Brexit. Furthermore, Sandra generously shares her expertise to educate and nurture others in international trade.

Sandra Strong MBE, Chair of the British Exporters Association, expressed:

I am honored to receive this award in recognition of my efforts for British exporters. I wish to acknowledge the exceptional teams I have had the privilege of collaborating with, notably the British Exporters Association (BExA), whose unwavering dedication to advocating for British businesses in the global market is remarkable.

Additionally, I am thankful for the steadfast support from Strong & Herd LLP, whose expertise in customs and international trade has been invaluable to UK businesses for nearly three decades. This acknowledgment serves to highlight the extraordinary efforts of my teams, partners, and collaborators, and I take pride in working alongside them throughout my career.

5. Dennis Mardon awarded an MBE for his services to vulnerable people in Exeter, Devon.

In 2004, Exeter Citizens Advice faced potential closure but has since evolved into a respected and effective organization, thanks to Dennis’s unwavering commitment and leadership. His managerial experience has led to the formation of a Board of 14 Trustees, reflecting the community’s makeup, enhancing their governance capabilities. Dennis is highly regarded by the staff and was named Volunteer of the Year by the Bureau’s 80+ volunteers in 2019. Under his guidance, the Bureau received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2016 and the Exeter Living Charity of the Year Award in 2017. The success of his leadership over 18 years is evident in the 2020/21 Impact Statement, which reported a 92.3% satisfaction rate from the 29,658 cases handled.

Dennis Mardon MBE, Chair of Exeter Citizens Advice, stated:

I am incredibly proud and honored to receive an MBE. This award reflects the incredible work of Citizens Advice Exeter as much as it does my own. I feel immense pride for all those involved – the volunteers, staff, and trustees – for their remarkable dedication and service. I consider them family, and without their unwavering support, receiving this award would not have been possible.

6. Balbir Kaur Dhillon and Kuldeep Singh Dhillon both awarded a BEM for their services to the community

Balbir Kaur Dhillon and Kuldeep Singh Dhillon are well-known as community pillars, not just for their long-standing commitment as postmasters but also as active contributors who make a positive impact across schools, hospitals, food banks, and local sports teams. During the pandemic’s first lockdown, they collaborated with their Temple to facilitate the preparation and distribution of around 35,000 meals for frontline NHS workers at Warrington and Halton hospitals. Despite the challenges, they took weekends to ensure healthcare workers were nourished. They also proactively support their local food bank by donating from their business supplies, showcasing their deep commitment to their community.

Balbir Kaur Dhillon BEM and Kuldeep Singh Dhillon BEM, Postmasters, shared:

We are truly honored and grateful to receive this award. Our goal is to continue serving the Birchwood community, as it brings us immense joy to help those we consider family.