FOUR businesses from Worcestershire are among this year's Queen's Award for Enterprise winners.

Traditionally announced on the Queen's birthday, the awards are the UK's most prestigious accolades for business-related achievement.

The recipients are Joy Mining Machinery and Yamazaki Mazak UK, both from Worcester; Freeman Technology. from Castlemorton; and Titan Steel Wheels, of Kidderminster.

Richard Lambert, director-general of employer's organisation the CBI, said: "Winning a Queen's Award for Enterprise is a tremendous achievement and this year's winners are very worthy recipients that reflect the strength and diversity of UK plc.

"Whether they have been recognised for their success in international trade, innovation or sustainable development, all are great examples of how enterprise and acumen can improve a business and drive its success."

Yamazaki Mazak, which is based in Badgeworth Drive, Warndon, Worcester, receives the award for its export of the market-leading Mazak range of lathes, machining centres and multi-tasking machine tools.

David Jack, managing director Europe, said: "Being honoured with a Queen's Award for our contribution to international trade is a tribute to the hard work of all our staff.

"We are proud of our export achievements, which have increased by 53 per cent over the last three years.

"Central to that is the facility we have here in Worcester, which not only manufacturers more than 1,400 machine tools annually, but is also maintained as a working showroom that plays host to more than 1,000 overseas customers and potential customers each year."

Joy Mining, of Bromyard Road, Worcester, can trace its roots back to one of one of the city's most famous engineering names - MECO, or the Mining Engineering Company.

With markets across the world, it too wins an award in the international trade section. About 90 per cent of its total sales go overseas and these have increased 117 per cent over the last three years Titan Steel Wheels, from Cookley, near Kidderminster, wins a Queen's Award for the second time, having increased its export sales by 62 per cent to more than £25 million in three years and now exports more than 77 per cent of its production.

Part of Titan Europe plc, it is a leading manufacturer of wheels for earth-moving machines and mobile cranes.

Freeman Technology is one of the smallest companies to win a Queen's Award. It has only eight employees and is based at Boulters Farm Centre in Castlemorton at the base of the Malvern Hills.

It gains an award in the Innovation category for developing the FT4 Powder Rheometer, an analytical instrument for measuring the flow properties of powders, used in a diverse range of industries including pharmaceutical, foodstuffs, chemical, ceramics and building materials.

"Receiving the award is a great testament to everyone who works in or is associated with the company," said its founder and managing director Reg Freeman.

"We are lucky to have a great team, an outstanding environment and very interesting and diverse markets in industry and academia worldwide."