On Saturday 8th June 2019, Her Majesty The Queen’s official birthday, the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours list was published. With 1073 individuals receiving CBEs, OBEs, MBEs, BEMs, Knighthoods and Damehoods for their fantastic personal achievements. Here’s this year’s round-up:
- 920 candidates have been selected at BEM, MBE and OBE level: 306 at BEM, 399 at MBE and 215 at OBE
- 75% of the recipients are people who have undertaken outstanding work in their communities either in a voluntary or paid capacity
- 508 women are recognised in the List, representing 47% of the total
- 10.4% of the successful candidates come from a BAME background
- 5.9% of the successful candidates consider themselves to have a disability (under the Equality Act 2010)
- 2.8% of recipients identified as being LGBT
Honours for Economic Activity
The Economy Committee is responsible for highlighting hard-working, successful entrepreneurs, emerging sectors and those who have innovated in established sectors and leading the industry.
Industry and the economy make up 13% of the total honours list with CBEs going to Rachel Clacher, Co-founder of MoneyPenny and founder of WemindTheGap for both her services to business and supporting disadvantaged young people. A CBE also went to Paul Clarke, Chief Technology Officer at Ocado.
There were also OBEs for Gillian Docherty, CEO of Data Lab, Maggie Berry, Founder of the Women in Technology Network, and to Catherine Mead for her services to cheese making and the community in the South West.
Charity and Young People
For this year’s Queen's Birthday Honours List, the Prime Minister suggested to the Main Honours Committee that the Honours System should support children and young people to reach their full potential, provide better opportunities, remove barriers, and tackle discrimination.
The Education Honours Committee recommended a knighthood for the CEO of United Learning, Jonathan Coles. CBEs have been awarded to Rebecca Meredith, CEO of Transform Trust and a CBE to Professor Michele Burman, for her work on gender-based violence at The University of Glasgow.
OBEs went to husband and wife co-founders of Operation Encompass, David and Elizabeth Carney-Haworth, for their work with children affected by domestic violence.
Famous Faces
Every list features a number of familiar names, from sporting backgrounds, TV and film, authors and musicians. CBE's were awarded to Oscar-Winning actress Olivia Coleman, author Lee Child, pianist and Head of Piano at the Royal Academy of Music, Joanna MacGregor, and author Joanna Trollope.
Adventure, survivalist and TV presenter Bear Grylls has been presented with an OBE, alongside musician Elvis Costello and the producer of David Attenborough’s critically acclaimed Blue Planet and Planet Earth, Alistair Fothergill.
The List also includes seven individuals who are Holocaust survivors and have dedicated their lives to remembrance and education by sharing their stories with thousands of school children from around the UK.
Who Can Receive an Honour?
The Honours System rewards people for their outstanding achievements, those who have shown great commitment to serving and supporting the UK, and those who have demonstrated exceptional service to their industries, communities and professional disciplines.
If you have made life better for others, led a public service, inspired others with measurable results, or influenced others by excelling at what you do… or you have a friend, family member or colleague who is doing any of the above, you should consider if you or they are eligible for an honour from The Queen – all you need is the nomination to start the ball rolling!
Anyone can be nominated for an Honour. However, the entry process is not to be taken lightly. Read here to find out more about the nomination process.
Get in Touch
If you know someone who you think would be a great candidate to nominate for a Queen’s Honour, get in touch!
Donna has successfully overseen hundreds of Queen’s honours nominations during her career and knows exactly what it takes to succeed. Get in touch today to find out if you could be a potential candidate, or if you know someone who could be in line for an honour.
