A former INSPIRE Business Awards winner has been presented the King’s Award for Enterprise by His Majesty.

Simon Hood, winner of the Young Business Person of the Year award in 2013, is now the executive director of international moving company John Manson International.

At the time of the award win, Mr Hood worked for the HCR Group based in Basingstoke.

John Manson has been recognised for its outstanding service in international trade.

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Mr Hood acquired John Manson in 2021 via a management buy-out, taking the reins from the Mason family.

Under his leadership in just three years both turnover and overseas sales have more than doubled. Turnover skyrocketed from £6.6m in 2020 to £13.5m by 2022. Simultaneously, overseas sales surged from £5.6m in 2020 to £12.3m in 2022, significantly expanding the company’s global footprint.

Mr Hood said: “When I purchased the company in the midst of a global pandemic, if you had told me then that just three years later we would be winning the UK’s most prestigious business awards, I would have never believed you.

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“Meeting King Charles III at Windsor Castle felt almost unbelievable, and even saying it out loud still seems ridiculous. It was an incredibly surreal day. My children gave me a wonderful send-off with balloons and drawings of me meeting the King. To make it even more special I arrived at Windsor Castle just as the changing of the guards was happening helping to make it even more magical.

“The absolute honour of being personally invited and having the chance to meet him was amazing. I shook his hand and had a meaningful conversation with him about my journey and the rich history and future of John Mason International. I also thanked him for the work he has done with The Prince’s Trust, which has helped me in the past.

“The true significance hasn't fully sunk in yet. It was an unforgettable experience, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity. His personal congratulations and handshake were incredible, creating a memory that will live long in our family history for years to come.”