One Hampshire firm had extra reason to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday this week.

Specialist computer manufacturer Captec has won the 2016 Queen’s Award for Enterprise, the UK’s highest accolade for business success.

Captec have been developing specialist computers to industry for more than 30 years.

Since the 1980 the firm has grown from a one-man business created by University of Southampton alumnus, Max Toti, to an industry-leading operation with more than 100 employees and office in Virginia and Ontario.

Captec build computers which can operate in specialist and difficult environments with customers in defence, the oil and gas industry transport and marine sectors. The firm have also designed computers for radiation therapy machines.

The firm’s marketing manager Marc Irwin explained that in simple terms Captec build the “boxes” which will allow their customers’ computer system to run whatever the conditions.

“If for instance you are running a computer on a ship it must be waterproof and able to operate in high levels of vibration,” he said.

Queen’s Award entrants were judged against business impact on society and environment as well as supplier, partner, contractor, employee and customer relations.

The preservation of the environment is a high priority for Captec which recently completed the installation of a 150kw solar plant on the roof of its headquarters as part of a mission to achieve carbon neutrality.

It is also investing in a high tech innovation centre, due to open later this year in Southampton, where entrepreneurs can receive funding and mentoring for ideas in the field of innovation, including wearable technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Captec founder and CEO, Max Toti, said: “We are immensely proud and honoured to have won a Queen’s Award reflecting the growing high tech influence of the South Coast.

“This is down to the hard work and dedication of the entire workforce in creating specialist computing platforms. It is also a testament to the growing talent hotspots created by the South’s universities that we rely on.”

Captec will receive the award at a Buckingham Palace Reception on July 14.