Tag Archive for: Kings

Bionema Receives the King’s Award

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Bionema Receives the King’s Award: Bionema Group Ltd., a pioneering UK biocontrol technology company, has been awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise – Innovation 2024, recognising its world-leading innovations in sustainable crop protection and soil regeneration.

The prestigious award was formally presented by Mrs. Louise Fleet CStJ, JP, His Majesty The King’s Lord-Lieutenant for West Glamorgan, acting as the personal representative of His Majesty King Charles III, during a grand ceremony held on 15 May 2025 at The Guildhall, Swansea.

Bionema Receives the King’s Aaward

Bionema Receives the King’s Aaward

“This once-in-a-lifetime honour highlights the global impact of Bionema’s nature-based innovations,” said Dr. Minshad Ansari, Founder and CEO of Bionema. “We are proud to lead a movement away from harmful chemicals and toward a more regenerative, sustainable future in farming.

Why Bionema Was Selected

  • Innovative Technology: Patented NemaTrident®, a tri-component nematode-based bioinsecticide system with a biocompatible wetting agent—acquired by Syngenta in 2021.
  • Environmental Impact: Zero residue, safe for non-target species, and free from pesticide resistance, supporting biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.
  • Commercial Growth: 1,882% export growth, 105% increase in total sales, and 62% of turnover driven by innovation.
  • Customer Success Model: Integrated technical training and support to ensure optimal field performance.
  • ESG Leadership: Proven alignment with sustainability goals and environmental stewardship.

Royal Recognition at Windsor Castle

In July 2024, Dr. Ansari was invited to Windsor Castle, where he met His Majesty The King and shared insights into Bionema’s microbial innovations. This rare honour underscored the national significance of Bionema’s leadership in advancing nature-based crop protection.

Award Celebration – The Guildhall, Swansea | 15 May 2025

The formal award ceremony gathered over 70 distinguished guests, including:

Mrs. Louise Fleet CStJ, JP – HM Lord-Lieutenant of West Glamorgan.

Mrs. Diana Stroia, High Sheriff of West Glamorgan, and Mr. Dave Matthews.

Cllr. Paxton Hood-Williams, Lord Mayor of Swansea, and Lady Mayoress Patricia Hood-Williams.

Cllr. Wayne Carpenter, Mayor of Neath Port Talbot, and Mayoress Carol Carpenter.

Prof. David Smith, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University.

Representatives from Swansea University, Innovate UK, UK Agri-Tech Centres, and regional leaders in science, government, and business

Keynote speakers:

Prof. Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, Chairman of Bionema

Dr. Minshad Ansari, Founder and CEO

Stephen Ford, Chief Technology Officer

“This is a proud day for UK science and sustainability,” added Stephen Ford, Bionema’s CTO.

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Kings Lynn GC completes phase 3 of EcoBunker Project

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Kings Lynn GC completes phase 3 of EcoBunker Project: Faced with the challenges of sandy soil and bunker erosion, Kings Lynn golf club has employed synthetic bunker experts EcoBunker to meet their ongoing maintenance challenges. Now in the third phase of a 40 bunker renovation project, the team and members at Kings Lynn are already enjoying the benefits that the EcoBunker system brings to their course.

“We’re a sandy course which can cause real structural problems with the bunkers,” said Michael Fahy, Deputy Head Greenkeeper at Kings Lynn. “Our bunker walls erode very easily, and we have had several occasions where they’ve collapsed completely. With EcoBunker we are getting that strength and integrity along with a sharp looking finish. The members love the looks and the playability, and the team love how easy they are to maintain.”

Kings Lynn GC completes phase 3 of EcoBunker Project

Kings Lynn GC completes phase 3 of EcoBunker Project

With a mix of high wall and low edged bunkers, and several significant height transitions leading into greens, the bunkering at Kings Lynn poses a variety of maintenance challenges. But whatever the type of bunker – all of which EcoBunker offer ultra-low maintenance solutions – the local surroundings pose consistent challenges across the course.

“We have a real problem with soil erosion and rabbit scraping and burrowing, which quickly contaminates the bunker sand,” continued Michael. “To counter this, we have fitted EcoTec bunker liners alongside the synthetic walls to create a fully closed system. This requires virtually no maintenance and eliminates all contamination. Previously we could spend half a day picking out stones, weeding walls and topping up sand on a single bunker, but now we simply brush the faces, knock the sand off and strim the top edge. We’re saving time and budget with every bunker we replace.”

Now in the third phase of renovations, all Par 3’s have been completed and the team is moving on to those bunkers next most in need of attention. Having been trained by EcoBunker during the first installation, Michael and his colleagues, Tim Race and Mason Bernstein, use the EcoBunker system to renovate the bunkers themselves and plan the schedule of work accordingly.

“We re-build a few bunkers each winter, knowing that by the time we get to the last phase, the first EcoBunkers we built will still have many years life left in them, even though it could be a 10 year project. The club are investing for the long term which makes so much more sense than the continual rebuilding and patching of the traditional bunkering on the course.”

For more information on how EcoBunker can help meet the challenges faced at your course, visit www.ecobunker.co.uk

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Masons Kings announces return of Dominic Burt

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Masons Kings announces return of Dominic Burt: Family-run agriculture and professional turfcare dealership, Masons Kings, has announced the return of Dominic Burt as the company’s new General Manager.

The John Deere dealership based in south-west England says this marks a significant step in its commitment to continuing to deliver exceptional service and innovative solutions to its customers.

Masons Kings announces return of Dominic Burt

Masons Kings announces return of Dominic Burt

Dominic brings over 35 years of experience in the agricultural and machinery industry, which includes many years previously working for the company. His extensive knowledge of the industry, combined with a strong track record of driving growth and operational excellence, makes him an ideal fit for Masons Kings. Dominic’s expertise and vision will be instrumental in guiding the company through its next phase of growth and development.

“We are thrilled to welcome back Dominic back into the Masons Kings family,” said Roger Prior, Director of Masons Kings. “His wealth of experience and industry knowledge will be invaluable as we continue to expand our product offerings and enhance our customer service. We are confident that Dominic’s leadership will help us achieve our ambitious goals.”

In his new role, Dominic will oversee all aspects of Masons Kings’ operations, including sales, service, and support. He will work closely with the team leaders to ensure that the company continues to meet the evolving needs of its customers while maintaining the high standards of quality and reliability that Masons Kings is known for. Dominic’s strong long-standing connections to the agricultural industry, along with his passion to develop and grow the turf division, will be key assets as Masons Kings looks to future-proof the company and maintain its family-run business ethos.

“I am excited to be returning to Masons Kings and lead such a talented team,” Dominic said. “Masons Kings has a long-standing reputation for excellence, and I look forward to contributing to its ongoing success. Together, we will strive to deliver the best possible solutions and support to our customers.”

Dominic’s strong relationships with John Deere and numerous other manufacturers will be invaluable in maintaining Masons Kings’ commitment to providing premium support for their premium products.

Peter Endacott, who has played a vital role in the company, will remain with Masons Kings to help with the transition and focus on his selling role. His continued presence will ensure a smooth transition and sustained excellence in our operations.

Masons Kings has been serving the agricultural and horticultural communities for over 40 years, providing a wide range of machinery, parts, and services. With Dominic at the helm, the company is poised to continue its tradition of excellence and innovation, providing premium support for premium products.

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Bionema wins King’s Award for Enterprise

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Bionema wins King’s Award for Enterprise: Bionema Group Ltd, a spin-out company from Swansea University, has achieved a significant milestone. They have been honoured with the prestigious Innovation category award in the King’s Awards for Enterprise, the pinnacle of recognition for UK businesses.

The accolade celebrates Bionema’s groundbreaking NemaTrident®, a revolutionary eco-friendly biological solution for crop pest management. As a leader in biocontrol technology, Bionema is committed to reducing the reliance on pesticides and synthetic fertilisers in food production.

Bionema wins King's Award for Enterprise

Bionema wins King’s Award for Enterprise

The King’s Awards for Enterprise, previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, were renamed last year to reflect His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s by recognising outstanding UK businesses.

The Award programme, now in its 58th year, is the most prestigious business award in the country, with thriving businesses able to use the esteemed King’s Awards Emblem for the next five years.

Bionema Group Ltd started trading in 2013 and works in biotechnology, creating pest management solutions for horticulture, forestry, and other industries.

Amidst the challenges of increasing pesticide resistance and severe environmental and human safety concerns, Bionema Group Ltd has emerged as a beacon of innovation. Their solution, NemaTrident®, competes with chemical pesticides by using microscopic nematode organisms to kill selected insects. This innovative approach is a game-changer in an industry where farmers rely heavily on chemical pesticides.

Nematode-based products have been available since the 1980s, but they consistently fell short of meeting the needs of growers. NemaTrident®, however, is a game-changer. It’s a patented tri-component nematode-based, non-toxic solution for insect pest control. Its unique encapsulation technology, combined with a soil penetrating wetting agent, facilitates nematode dispersal deeper into the soil, increasing the contact rate with target pest larvae and resulting in greater efficacy. Extensive customer education and support programmes ensure its practical application, making it a superior choice for pest control.

Dr Minshad Ansari, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bionema, said:

“I’m proud Bionema has won the King’s Award for Enterprise, especially in the Innovation category. The discovery of natural microbes and developing and formulating advanced products free from pesticides are at the heart of the Bionema business philosophy”.

With greater interest in creating and maintaining a circular economy and due consideration of the UN Sustainability Development Goals, I founded Bionema in 2012 after working for eight years at Swansea University purely to design and develop new biology, emphasising using naturally occurring microbes.

The NemaTrident® IP-protected technology was acquired by Syngenta in 2021, which is the safer, cleaner, and more environmentally friendly solution. We have been fortunate to have received many industry awards and acknowledgements, all praising.

Still, I take immense gratification in receiving this ultimate business honour, especially in recognising our innovation. This will help enhance our platform and generate further interest in our disruptive technology.

This microbe is designed to reduce pesticides and fertilisers in our soil, air, and environment, as well as current societal issues, ultimately providing effective solutions for the benefit of future generations.”

Professor Helen Griffiths, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at Swansea University and Director of Swansea Innovations Limited, said,

“Huge congratulations to the Bionema team on this richly deserved accolade.  As a Swansea University Spin-Out business with over 30 years of experience, Bionema has worked tirelessly on developing research-derived biopesticide technologies, creating and launching a portfolio of commercially viable organic alternatives to damaging chemical pesticides”. 

Supporting enterprise and innovation within higher education is vital to ensuring that our world-leading research can progress from research in university laboratories to the development and launch of products and services that deliver outstanding impact. 

It’s been exciting to have been a part of the initial journey with the Bionema team, and we look forward to continuing to work with the business as they go from strength to strength.”

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The Pitchmark Group receives King’s Award

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The Pitchmark Group receives King’s Award: The Pitchmark Group has been honoured with the first ever King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade.

The Pitchmark Group is one of 252 organisations nationally to be recognised with a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise. Announced today (Monday 6 May), The Pitchmark Group has been recognised for its excellence in International Trade. A total of 257 Awards are made with five companies being recognised with two Awards.

The Pitchmark Group receives King’s Award

The Pitchmark Group receives King’s Award

Employing 29 people, The Pitchmark Group, founded in 2010 and located in Emersons Green, South Gloucestershire, is a market leader in line marking solutions.  The Pitchmark Group’s clients range from grassroots local clubs to iconic international arenas such as Wembley Stadium, Premier League football teams and prestigious events including the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and The UEFA European Championships 2016 in France. The company has a client base that encompasses all aspects of sports.

Tim Rodman, Managing Director of The Pitchmark Group, has this to say about the award:

“We are incredibly proud to have received the King’s Award for International Trade, having previously received the Queen’s Award 5 years ago. The award is testament to the team and proves that the business continues to grow and prosper.”

The King’s Awards for Enterprise, previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, were renamed last year to reflect His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s by recognising outstanding UK businesses. The Award programme, now in its 58th year, is the most prestigious business award in the country, with successful businesses able to use the esteemed King’s Awards Emblem for the next five years.

Applications for King’s Awards for Enterprise 2025 open on His Majesty The King’s Coronation, 6th May 2024 For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/kings-awards-for-enterprise.

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