A Hampshire-based reservist has been honoured with an award from the Queen recognising his business’s role in promoting international trade.

Major Justin Crump was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise at the Army Flying Museum in Middle Wallop on behalf of his business, Sibylline. The firm, which provides worldwide risk analysis, was given the award on behalf of the Queen by the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson.

Justin said: “We are extremely proud and would like to thank all our clients and colleagues for making this possible.

“After Covid, it’s great that we can start to get back together with this award hanging on the wall.”

The Queen's Awards for Enterprise were founded in 1965 to recognise businesses which promote international trade, innovation, sustainable development and social mobility around the world. Businesses can nominate themselves, before going through a rigorous selection procedure .

Winners are able to fly the flag of the award at their main office, and use the emblem in their promotion, as well as being invited to a royal reception. The award lasts for five years, with 12 Hampshire businesses being recognised in this batch.

Sibylline was founded in 2010 by Justin, and was slated to be given the award in 2020, but it has only just got to a point where it can be awarded.

“We learnt we got award on March 18,” Justin said, “so it was wonderful timing to get it just before lockdown. We’ve changed venue for this ceremony four times, so it’s been a long time in the making.”

He attributes his businesses’ success to his time in the military, which began at Middle Wallop, with the three factors of people, planning and perseverance.

“It’s weirdly full circle to come back here,” Justin said, “as this is the first place I came to in the military as I got a free flight in a helicopter! It set me on a path to the military reserves and allowed me to work in a bank alongside. I later went full time and it was a relief to get shot at rather than be in a bank!”

The Lord-Lieutenant for Hampshire said that he was “thrilled” to learn that Sibylline had won, saying: “Justin established the company in 2010 and he’s taken it from strength to strength by clearly identifying opportunities. He’s earned the leading and most prestigious business award anyone can win.”