KHL Group wins Queen's Award for Enterprise

International publishing company KHL Group has won the most prestigious British industry award in 2010, the Queen's Award for Enterprise, in the highly competitive International Trade category for continuous outstanding achievement, sustained over not less than six years.

In the last six years KHL has generated more than UK£ 20 million (US$ 30.8 million) of export revenues, creating local jobs in and around the Wadhurst and Tunbridge Wells, UK area.

Speaking from Munich, Germany, where the company is exhibiting at Bauma, the world's largest construction equipment show, KHL Group's managing director James King said, "This award is a huge honour and testimony to KHL's outstanding team throughout the world, and just reward for their efforts over the past few years. More importantly it reflects all their hard work and ingenuity during the recent global downturn."

"Two key reasons why we won the International Trade award have been pioneering initiatives into the two giant world markets of the USA and China. In North America, we now have a company that publishes two market-leading magazines, websites, newsletters and eight employees.

"And we aim to use this company as a vehicle to launch or acquire other titles for the North and South American markets in the future," added Mr King.

KHL Group has always generated over 80% of its revenue from outside the UK. Its ten international magazines for the construction industry now reach every single country in the world and provide vehicles for global companies to reach their international target audience.

"In China, we have a Joint Venture publishing company that produces a Chinese language magazine and provides services for Chinese companies to help market their products globally. China has gone from nothing five years ago, to KHL's third largest market this year. We have seen tremendous growth after employing an excellent team and opening an office in Beijing."

Other key international markets for KHL are Germany, Scandinavia, Italy, France, South Korea, the Netherlands, Japan, Spain, Belgium and Turkey (where KHL has another JV publishing company producing a Turkish language publication).

The winners of this year's awards were announced today, the Queen's birthday, and there are only 95 winners of the International Trade category this year.

The award lasts for five years and previous winners include JCB, Liebherr UK, The Premier League, Bupa, Pearson (FT publishers), Du Pont, BBC Worldwide and British Airways.

There will be an official presentation ceremony at KHL Group's UK headquarters later in the year by the Queen's Lord-Lieutenant.