A Blackburn-based entrepreneur attended a special reception hosted by The Prince of Wales.

Shiraz Master, managing director of Simply Doughnuts was invited to the event which recognised the winners of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2020 and 2021.

Simply Doughnuts which has headquarters at Furthergate Industrial Park, was presented the honour under the category of 'Innovation' last year.

The evening, held at Windsor Castle, was also attended by the Princess Royal, the Countess of Wessex, the Duke of Kent, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra.

Asian Image:

Shiraz is pictured second from left

Shiraz said: “It was a real privilege to attend. It was, of course, an honour to meet and talk to HRH The Prince of Wales, and in such impressive surroundings.

"It was also really good to get a chance to meet other award winners and learn how the title has changed their businesses.

“For us, the Queen’s Award for Enterprise has certainly opened many doors and helped us to display a credibility that is important to so many of our clients. Winning was a pivotal point in the company’s development, and the awards event was a great opportunity to celebrate and to reflect on that.”

Simply Doughnuts products sold through some of the UK’s best known supermarkets. In 2021, a collaborative co-branding project with Bobby’s Foods won the company the Product Launch of the Year award at the 2021 Retail Industry Awards, under the 'Grocery' category.