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Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to tradespeople who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The royal warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the issuer of the royal warrant; thus lending prestige to the supplier.
In the UK a Royal Warrant of Appointment is a mark of recognition of those who have supplied goods or services to the Households of HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh or HRH The Prince of Wales for at least five years, and who have an ongoing trading arrangement.
The Monarch decides who may grant Royal Warrants. These are known as the Grantors: HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH The Prince of Wales.
The Royal Warrant is the document that appoints the company in its trading capacity, and is granted to a named individual, known as the Grantee. The Warrant gives the Grantee permission, and responsibility, for the display of the relevant Royal Arms in connection with the business.
Today there are around 800 Royal Warrant holders representing a huge cross-section of trade and industry, from individual craftspeople to global multi-nationals. They are united by a commitment to the highest standards of service, quality and excellence. Almost all Warrant holders are members of The Royal Warrant Holders Association which was formed in 1840 to ensure the continued existence of the Royal Warrant as a treasured and respected institution.
Sturgess Motor Group
The Sturgess Motor Group has a long established history as a leading car dealer in Leicestershire. The company was originally founded in 1897 by Walter E. Sturgess when he set up a small shop in the West End of Leicester manufacturing, selling and servicing bicycles known as W.E. Sturgess & Sons. Since 1897, Sturgess Motor Group has grown to become one of the oldest family-operated motor dealers in the UK and also one of the most respected names in UK motor retailing. With a strong reputation for outstanding customer service in the local community and a reputation as a leading motor retailer in the wider community, Sturgess Motor Group has been a trusted name for more than 110 years.
A family-run company to this day, members of the Sturgess family are still actively involved in the running of the company. today, Sturgess Motor Group offer new cars from leading manufacturers such as Jaguar, Land Rover, Hyundai, Volvo, Alfa Romeo and Fiat as well as used cars and aftersales services including parts and accessories, gifts and leisurewear, MOTs and annual servicing. Select a franchise from the list at the top of the page to discover great offers on new cars, high quality manufacturer approved used cars and a full range of aftersales services. As a family firm, the Royal Warrant was granted in 1971 for the supply of Horse & Carriage Trailers.
“We regard the holding of the Royal Warrant as a huge honour and are lucky enough to be amongst a large number of high profile, household name businesses who share that honour.” Chris Sturgess, Chairman of the company explains. “The attitude we adopt is that the Royal Warrant is a mark of quality and has to be a measure of how we treat customers and conduct business. We are truly proud of the Royal Warrant and our association with the Royal family.”
Kinloch Anderson
Kinloch Anderson s a family business renowned as experts in Kilts and Highland Dress since 1868. Over the years, Kinloch Anderson has received many accolades, but particular pride is taken in The Royal Warrants of Appointment as Tailors and Kiltmakers to HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH The Prince of Wales.
“In order to be considered for the granting of a Royal Warrant of Appointment, a company must supply the member of the Royal Family concerned, or their Household, with products or services in significant quantity over a lengthy period of time,” says Deirdre Kinloch-Anderson. “The Royal Warrant has always been recognition of personal service of the highest order. It is granted to a named individual within the company who is then responsible for ensuring that the Warrant is correctly used.”
In 1903, Kinloch Anderson first supplied King Edward VII tartans and the first Royal Warrant was granted by HM King George V, and subsequently by HM King George VI.
As Deirdre continues, “Kinloch Anderson Ltd holds 3 Royal Warrants of Appointment as Tailors and Kiltmakers to HM the Queen since 1955, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh since 1960 and HRH the Prince of Wales since 1980. There has been an unbroken tradition of supplying the Royal Family beginning with King Edward VII in 1903.”
“We regard it as an honour and a privilege to supply the British Royal Family. Our Royal Warrants help to promote our Scottish Company as providing finest quality merchandise and highest principles of integrity and service both here in the UK and overseas. Alongside promoting ourselves the Royal Warrants also help us to promote the institution of the monarchy in Britain.”
Hypnos
Hypnos has over 100 years’ experience in hand crafting bespoke, made-to-measure mattresses and beds for the finest houses and hotels around the world. Voted Bed Manufacturer of the Year twice, holding a Royal Warrant and being a carbon neutral company are all defining factors that set Hypnos apart from many other bed makers.
Based in Buckinghamshire, with a long British heritage, Hypnos is a proud holder of a Royal Warrant first granted to the Keen family, by King George V in 1929 and renewed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Peter Keen, the Chairman of Hypnos, and his family remain behind the steering wheel of the award winning business, personally over-seeing the ‘royal requests’, organising the manufacture of beds and mattresses for the Royal Households, the Royal family and all their palaces. Indeed the Royal Warrant, which acts as a mark of excellence, helps to proudly distinguish Hypnos as a business that has a reputation for outstanding craftsmanship, service and for the very best in British quality.
Chris Ward, Marketing Director at Hypnos explains what this prestigious endorsement has meant to Hypnos as a business.
“There aren’t many businesses which can claim to know the Royal family well, but as their trusted bed provider, Hypnos can. Indeed, we are considered their sleep and bed experts, having made bespoke beds specifically for visiting dignitaries and presenting to the Royal Households at Buckingham Palace, to teach the importance of sleep and its impact on health and wellbeing.”
“Being a trusted supplier to the Royal family has given Hypnos a world of opportunities; specifically we now have a global reach that is able to cater to Royals and dignitaries across the world, both in a retail and hospitality sense. We are a brand that’s recognised as a symbol of excellence supported by our Royal association and our company profile has grown through a reputation for outstanding quality so we are loved and trusted by retailers at home and overseas. The Royal Warrant has been fundamental to this development and become part of who we are as a company and helps to guide us in our constant innovation and pursuit of perfection within our craft.”
“It also underlines our ethical stance and we have synergy with the Royals on our commitment to the environment. All our beds are made using the finest environmentally-friendly and sustainable materials. Our mattresses are made using generous layers of natural breathable fibres such as wool, cashmere and silk. In fact, Hypnos’ responsible approach has led to us to becoming the first carbon neutral bed maker in the country, with all beds 100% recyclable – we even provide all our retailers and hoteliers with a disposal service for old beds which creates recycled raw materials for re-use in other industries! Therefore it goes without saying our royal warrant isn’t just an accomplishment, for Hypnos it’s a way of life and a core value to our business.”
James Cordiner & Son
James Cordiner & Son Limited were awarded a Royal Warrant to Her Majesty The Queen earlier this year so are one of the most recent family firms to have been granted a Royal Warrant.
Cordiners started life in 1870 as a small boat building business in Aberdeen. Today, over 145 years and five generations later, it is still run by the Cordiner family. Keeping pace with the changing face of customer needs and today’s challenging financial climate means Cordiners now supplies all sizes of businesses from multinational companies to sole traders throughout Aberdeen and the UK.
Cordiners deals with a huge range of timber products including construction timber, pallets, boxes, sheet materials, fencing and joinery products.
Commenting on the award of the Royal Warrant, Managing Director Stuart Cordiner said, “My great great grandfather built up Cordiners in Aberdeen with a reputation for quality, customer satisfaction and personal service. It is my privilege to have spent the past 30 years working in this family company. Our customers tell us it is that is our bespoke approach and focus on quality that continues to make Cordiners stand out. The award of a Royal Warrant underlines that family businesses with a personal service can offer a unique approach benefitting their customers. It is my hope that we will carry on satisfying clients in Aberdeen and all over the UK for many more generations to come.”
Three great examples of great British family firms that are proud of their Royal Warrants, their achievements, history and family business heritage too.
