CHEADLE-based hair and beauty company, Beauty Works, has been officially awarded with its Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the category of International Trade, by the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, Mrs Sharman Birtles, in a ceremony that took place on 13th October at Beauty Works’ Cheadle-based premises. The award was accepted by the organisation’s Managing Director and founder, Penelope Cheshire. Describing the win – and the ceremony – as a ‘great honour’, Penelope said the accolade has been the culmination of many years of hard work and tireless efforts by her 60-strong team.
Applying for the award in 2020, Beauty Works was informed of its win in April of this year and is just one of 205 organisations nationally to be recognised with a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise for their contribution in the categories of International Trade, Innovation, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity (through Social Mobility). In addition to the ceremony with the Vice Lord Lieutenant, Penelope will be attending a further event for all Queen’s Award for Enterprise winners at Windsor Castle in November, with HRH the Prince of Wales.
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, now in its 56th year, is the most influential British business award and recognises the success of vibrant and forward-thinking companies that are leading the way by promoting the UK internationally, innovating via pioneering products or services, delivering impressive social mobility programmes, or demonstrating their dedication to excellent sustainable development practices. The award is, quite simply, the crème de la crème for any UK-based organisation.
Beauty Works was founded in July 2010 by Penelope, a widely regarded leader in the hair industry, female entrepreneur and philanthropist. She started the business in a one-bedroomed flat in Liverpool. Yet, under her expert tutelage, Beauty Works has now become one of the world’s most successful and exciting beauty brands, selling hair extensions to more than 4000 professional salons and consumers in more than 180 countries. The company has become a fine example for export and Penelope continues to champion British manufacturing and industry. Over a ten-year period, Beauty Works has become a multi-million-pound global concern with distributors in the US, Europe and Dubai, with its products featuring in Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Grazia Magazine and Glamour, and been awarded at The Hair Awards every year since 2013. They have been worn by Nicole Scherzinger, Olivia Palermo, Bella Hadid and Dame Joan Collins. Three years ago, Penelope established a partnership with social media influencer, Molly-Mae Hague, a collaboration that continues to go from strength-to-strength. The organisation also saw sales surge during Covid-19 – a 65% increase on 2020 – and Penelope continues to employ young women from low socio-economic backgrounds, as well as supporting HideOut Youth Zone, as ‘Founder Patron’, a charity that helps underprivileged children across the Manchester area.
“It is a great honour to be officially awarded with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise and I would like to thank Mrs Birtles very much for giving up her time to visit us at Beauty Works,” said Penelope. “We are under no illusions as to just how special with award is. We are delighted and proud to be counted amongst the very best British businesses and will continue to fly the flag for the UK, overseas.”
