From ethical metal recycling to AI-driven edtech and digital identity, twelve exceptional UK-based SMEs have been named today as winners of the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) 2025 Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards.
Now in their third year, the awards celebrate the international growth of the UK’s most dynamic small businesses.
Recognised in the Infrastructure and Engineering category, Maritime Developments Limited (MDL), delivers market-leading equipment and engineering solutions for cable, mooring, SURF and pipelay/replacement operations in the global energy industry. Building up from its start in the Scottish fishing industry, Aberdeen based MDL’s innovative designs allow customers to temporarily convert existing vessels into efficient installation vessels, enhancing capability and fleet utilisation. Its mission is to solve customer challenges, wherever and whatever they may be, applying the skills and expertise harnessed on home shores of the UK.
This award follows MDL achieving the King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade in 2024, as well as the last Queen’s Award in the same category in 2022. MDL continues to work internationally, with exporting being a key growth driver, and it has a steady pipeline of projects in the works that will see it continue to forge new partnerships with overseas clients.
Gareth Thomas, Minister for Services, Small Businesses and Exports, said:
“The innovation and entrepreneurship shown by the businesses entering the Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards demonstrate the best of British business.
“When small businesses export, the whole economy benefits. By celebrating the outstanding international trade achievements of UK SMEs, we hope to encourage more businesses to get on the exporting ladder and take the best of Britain to markets around the world.”
This year’s winners were chosen from hundreds of entries across 12 sector-focused categories, including two new areas—Digital & Technology and Export Services—introduced to reflect evolving global opportunities. Each category includes one winner and up to three highly commended businesses.
In the Digital & Technology category, Porotech stood out for its AR and AI-powered wearables, with 90% of revenue from exports and partnerships with Amazon, Microsoft and Foxconn. Twin Science & Robotics, winner in Education & EdTech, exports to over 40 countries and has seen 70% annual revenue growth through its STEM kits focused on AI, robotics and climate literacy.
Sustainability also remains a major theme across the winners. Osbit, winner in Low Carbon Energy, delivers mission-critical offshore wind technology, with 65% of revenue from exports. Meanwhile, Avon Specialty Metals, recognised in Advanced Manufacturing & Construction, recycles high-performance metals and alloys and has grown international sales by 192% over three years.
Winners like Gerald McDonald & Company (Agriculture, Food & Drink) and LIMB-art (Healthcare) underscore the global demand for British-made, high-quality products. From innovative prosthetics to premium fruit derivatives, these SMEs prove that exporting drives resilience, expansion and innovation.
Ian Murray, Secretary of State for Scotland, said:
“I’m delighted to see Maritime Developments Limited receive this award – the company truly excels in the supply of engineering solutions for the maritime industry, particularly on the exporting front. The company supports a strong workforce in the north east of Scotland and makes an invaluable contribution to the local economy.
“Success stories like this sum up what our Brand Scotland campaign is all about as we sell Scotland’s goods, services and culture to the world, encouraging growth and renewal as part of our Plan for Change.”
Commenting on Maritime Developments’ win, Aleksandra Jurczak, Director of Strategy & Marketing, said:
“We’re proud to be recognised in these notable awards, reflecting the continuous growth of our business overseas, and the strong relationships established with clients over time. Exporting has been key to MDL’s growth, enabling us to bring our proven solutions to global clients, while creating skilled jobs at home as well as supporting the drive towards sustainable energy diversification. This award is a testament to the dedication of One Team MDL and the strength of UK engineering on the international stage, which we will continue to promote the benefits of in future international endeavours.”
This year’s winners will receive a bespoke promotional package, including a one-year membership to the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, a working capital masterclass with Lloyds Bank, an invitation to the winners’ reception in London, professional photography of their business, bespoke promotion on DBT channels and a digital badge, certificate and trophy to commemorate their achievements.
By creating jobs, driving innovation and exporting world-class British products and services, these businesses are making a vital contribution to the Government’s mission to go further and faster for economic growth as part of its Plan for Change.
A key part of this mission is supporting SMEs to grow, scale and enter global markets—recognising that when more businesses trade internationally, the entire UK economy benefits. Exporting supports a fifth of UK employment[1], paying on average 7% higher wages[2] and delivering 21% higher productivity for goods exporters[3].
To help achieve its mission, the Government recently revamped the Board of Trade to boost SME exports and will soon launch its Trade Strategy. This will set out its approach to maximising export opportunities, including those arising from recently signed agreements with India, the US and the EU.
For free help selling to the world, visit business.gov.uk
2025 Winners of the Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards:
- Advanced Manufacturing & Construction – Avon Specialty Metals (Gloucester): Selling to 20+ countries with exporting accounting for 31% of revenue from sustainable alloy/metal recycling and AI-driven processing
- Agriculture, Food & Drink – Gerald McDonald and Company Ltd (Basildon, Essex): World’s largest supplier of premium Japanese yuzu juice, exporting to 4 continents
- Consultancy & Professional Services – Champions Speakers (Loughborough): Exporting to 66 countries, 122% growth in two years
- Creative Industries – Luminous Show Technology (Exeter): Special effects hardware used in Harry Potter and the Commonwealth Games, with 35% export revenue
- Digital & Technology – Porotech (Cambridge): 90% export revenue; cutting-edge AR and AI display tech
- Education & EdTech – Twin Science & Robotics Ltd (London): STEM tools used in 40+ countries, 93% export revenue
- Financial Services & FinTech – Ozone Financial Technology Ltd (London): Exports to 15 countries; 77% of revenue from international markets
- Healthcare – LIMB-art (Conwy, Wales): Stylish prosthetics sold in 10 countries; 30% of revenue from exports
- Infrastructure & Engineering – Maritime Developments Limited (Aberdeen): 92% export revenue from offshore energy tech
- Low Carbon Energy – Osbit (Riding Mill, Northumberland): Bespoke offshore wind equipment exported to 9 countries
- Retail & Consumer Goods – Jenolite UK Ltd (Biggleswade, Bedfordshire): Iconic rust removal brand exporting to 50+ countries, with £2.9M in export revenue
- Export Services – ubloquity (Scarva, Northern Ireland): AI, blockchain and digital identity solutions empowering businesses to scale globally
2025 Highly Commended Businesses:
- Advanced Manufacturing & Construction – Bespoke Stairlifts (Huddersfield), Delta-Xero Distribution Ltd (Fareham), John King Chains (Leeds)
- Agriculture, Food & Drink – Evenproducts Ltd (Evesham), PBS International (Crawley), Nourished (Birmingham)
- Consultancy & Professional Services – Jean Edwards Consulting (Brighton), Landell Mills (Wiltshire), The Config Team (Cumbria)
- Creative Industries – Jesmonite (Shropshire), Rainbow Productions (London), Wild Creations (Cardiff)
- Digital & Technology – Hitomi Broadcast (Maidenhead), iLivestock (Dunfermline), uqudo (Manchester)
- Education & EdTech – Alphablocks (London), Learning Resource Network (London), Lincoln College (Lincoln)
- Financial Services & FinTech – Bueno Europe (Birmingham), Hoptroff (London)
- Healthcare – Black Space Technology (Birmingham), Birmingham Biotech (Birmingham), Novocuris (London)
- Infrastructure & Engineering – Rosehill Polymers (West Yorkshire), Direct Access (Nantwich), Atmos International (Manchester)
- Low Carbon Energy – Munro Vehicles (Glasgow)
- Retail & Consumer Goods – RSscan Lab (Ipswich), Dr.PAWPAW (London), The British Hamper Company (Lincoln)
- Export Services – Intralink (Oxford), Abex Infoway Europe Ltd (London)
