Circular Thinking Kitchen Industry Disruptor Wins The Queen’s Awards For Enterprise!

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Used Kitchen Exchange (UKE) has today been awarded the prestigious Queen’s Awards For Enterprise in recognition of its outstanding achievements for ‘Sustainable Development’ within the kitchen industry, one of only 225 organisations nationally to be recognised in this award category since its inception in 1993.

Founded in 2015, Cheshire based UKE has become a disruptor in the kitchen industry, forging ongoing partnerships with manufacturers and retailers alike to establish a robust, verifiable trade-in model for pre-owned and ex display kitchens, extending product lifespan through circular thinking. To date, bringing these kitchens to market for ethically driven and cost conscious buyers has saved over 12 million kgs of carbon. With 40% of carbon emissions coming from UK households, UKE are playing a vital role in supporting the UK’s Net Zero target by ensuring resources are recirculated and emissions minimised.

The Sustainable Development Award is given to commercially successful products, services and management that benefit the environment, society and the economy. The 2022 Judging Panel commended UKE stating; “UKE has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development because they demonstrate sustainable thinking throughout the whole product process and delivery, including influencing the wider kitchen supply industry.”

Upon receiving the accolade Helen Lord, UKE’s founder commented; “We are exceptionally proud and humbled to receive this prestigious award. UKE has proven that with passion and disruptive thinking, smaller businesses can think big when it comes to sustainability. From what began as a kitchen table business, we have embedded sustainable thinking into the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom industry to give homeowners an ethical and affordable solution when renovating their home. Our success has been a direct result of the commitment and passion of a small by mighty team and we genuinely couldn’t be any prouder than we are today.”

Now in their 56th year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the UK with winning businesses able to use the esteemed Queen’s Awards Emblem for the next five years.

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