The Wine & Spirit Education Trust today announced it is set to receive The Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2015 in international trade at a reception on the 14 July, 2015 held at the Buckingham Palace.

Ian Harris, WSET’s chief executive officer, said: “Originally founded as an organisation for training the UK trade, the team at WSET has worked tirelessly to expand its influence overseas and now attracts the interest of keen amateurs as well as seasoned professionals across the globe. It is fantastic to have our efforts acknowledged by HM The Queen.”

The Queen’s Award for Enterprise is the UK’s most prestigious award recognising British businesses that have excelled in innovation, international trade and sustainable development.

Harris who joined the WSET in 2002 has overseen the Trust during a period of substantial growth. The demand for such courses within the UK stems from the international and dynamic importation wine market found within the country.

He said: “As a country with a historically low domestic production, the UK has always been one of the world’s largest importers of wine.  This exposure to different styles and grape varieties has given the British a rich understanding of wines and spirits from all over the world – making us well placed to be world leaders in the industry’s education.”

The WSET in the 2013/2014 academic year 56, 215 students take courses . The WSET was originally set up in 1969 to help meet the need for wine and spirits education within the UK and is now offered in 18 languages in more than 60 countries. Today 75% of people who sit for the WSET courses are from outside the UK.

Some of the WSET’s biggest success have been in markets that are well-established wine producing regions. France has quadrupled the number of WSET candidates since 2008 and Australia has seen an eightfold increase over the same period. The UK still remains the largest market for WSET courses.