ApconiX Wins the Queen’s Award for Enterprise
ApconiX is delighted to be honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise. Announced today (21st April) ApconiX has been recognised for its excellence in International Trade.
ApconiX was founded by Dr Richard Knight, Professor Ruth Roberts and Dr Michael Morton, ex-AstraZeneca colleagues with the drive and ambition to create a world-renowned drug safety company. The journey began with the idea to provide life science companies with access to high quality drug safety expertise, normally available only in large pharmaceutical companies. In 2014 (pre-trading) the founders took this idea through the Alderley Park BioHub bootcamp, winning the award for most promising new business idea. In 2017 ApconiX won the Bionow Awards – Start-up company of the year. Bionow is a not-for-profit membership organisation supporting the biomedical, pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors across the North of England.
In six years of operation, ApconiX have grown to almost 40 people, helping our clients all over the world make better decisions on drug safety.
There are three key elements to the business: a consultancy group that advises clients on drug safety; a laboratory that screens new compounds for cardiac safety effects; and Acuity Target Safety Assessments (TSA) that identifies and evaluates potential safety concerns with a new drug target.
Today our laboratory uses the latest generation instrumentation, has expanded to a wide range of assays and is carrying out novel research into seizure risk. At ApconiX, expertise in other important areas has been added including medical devices and biologics.
ApconiX opened an office in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2019 and has associates based in Sweden, Germany, Canada, and Israel.
Exporting is essential for our growth as drug research and development is a truly global endeavour. In 2021, export revenue accounts for around 70% of turnover. ApconiX has a unique business model in this space that has proved to be an attractive choice for clients all over the world who need access to experienced and credible drug safety scientists. This is true of companies of any size in any location.
Principal markets are the US, Germany, France, Belgium, and Switzerland where ApconiX has a growing reputation. We plan to grow our presence in established bioscience markets, whilst also engaging with new clients in emerging markets such as China, southeast Asia, and Australia.
Dr Richard Knight, Director, and Co-founder of ApconiX commented, “The Queen’s Award is the most prestigious recognition for UK business and is a tremendous achievement for such a young company. It is being awarded because of our sustained growth and continued success in exporting ApconiX services to a global client base and therefore our contribution to the UK economy. That this was achieved during the period of COVID is even more incredible and testament to the hard work of the whole team at ApconiX.”
Now in its 56th year, the Queen’s Award for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the country, with winning the award businesses are able to use the esteemed Queen’s Award emblem for the next five years.
About the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the UK. The awards were first established in 1965 and since then over 7000 companies have achieved a Queen’s Award.
The awards celebrate the success of exciting and innovative businesses which are leading the way with pioneering products or services, delivering impressive social mobility programmes, or showing their commitment to excellent sustainable development practices.
This year 225 UK businesses have been recognised for their contribution to International Trade, Innovation, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity (through Social Mobility). 7 of these businesses won double awards meaning that a total number of Queen’s Awards for Enterprise which were awarded in 2022 is 232.
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2022 include:
- 141 awards for International Trade
- 51 awards for Innovation
- 31 awards for Sustainable Development
- 9 awards for Promoting Opportunity (through Social Mobility)
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2023 will be open to applications from 1st May to early-September 2022. Almost all UK businesses (including non-profit) can apply, and the application process is free. All applications must be made online, and you may apply for more than one category. All entry forms, eligibility criteria and information on how to apply is available here.
