LORD Lieutenant of Somerset Mohammed Saddiq has officially presented a West Somerset farming business with the King’s Award for Enterprise and International Trade which it achieved earlier this year.

Mr Saddiq visited Wheddon Cross-based Shearwell Data Ltd and was given a tour of the company’s premises, including its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and robotics.

The family-run business is a leading global supplier of animal identification and livestock management systems.

It was recognised by the King for outstanding short-term growth, having experienced a 69 per cent total overseas sales increase in the three years to September, 2023, representing nearly a third of its annual turnover.

Shearwell Data’s products are developed and manufactured in the UK and rigorously tested on the family’s own farms to ensure quality, reliability, and ease of use.

Mr Saddiq said: “Many congratulations to everybody at Shearwell Data on receiving the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise.

“This is an exceptional achievement, these awards are reserved for only a select number of organisations that truly demonstrate excellence in their field.

“You have shown remarkable success, not only through the quality and innovation of your products but also through the impressive growth of your exports.

“Shearwell Data stands as a beacon of innovation, commitment, and community spirit.

“As a major employer in West Somerset and a proud family-run business, you exemplify the very best of what Somerset enterprise represents.”

Shearwell Data co-chief executive Emma Thorne said: “We are deeply honoured to accept the King’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of our outstanding growth in international trade.

“From our humble beginnings working from the kitchen table to where we are today, we have always believed in doing things the right way, with integrity, innovation, and care for our customers.

“That belief has helped us achieve remarkable growth, expanding our reach, our partnerships, and our impact far beyond the UK.

“Receiving the King’s Award inspires us to go even further.

“We see it not as a finish line, but as a beginning, a call to continue growing with the same spirit that got us here.

“We have recently been accredited with approval for a new EID cattle tag in Australia.

“This will allow us to expand our product portfolio there and offer our great customer service to a wider range of producers.

“We are proud to carry forward not just the success of our company, but the values of British enterprise, innovation, and excellence that this award celebrates.”

Shearwell Data is the largest employer in Exmoor National Park and provides tools which enhance the speed and accuracy of animal identification, improves record-keeping for both management and statutory purposes, and promotes livestock health and welfare.

With industry-leading tag retention rates and excellent customer support, the company exports to 35 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, and South Africa.

The King’s Award programme is now in its 59th year and is the most prestigious business award in the country, with successful businesses able to use the award emblem for the next five years.