Release Date: 16 September 2011

Local dignitaries have attended a day of celebration to mark the centenary of Payne, the world’s leading tear tape producer and the presentation of the Queen’s Award to sister company Payne Security.

Today’s event (Friday, 16 September) culminated in the formal Grant of Appointment of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, in the Innovation category, by the Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, Sir Andrew Buchanan Bt, KCVO. The award was announced in April for Payne Security’s covert product authentication system. This new security technology delivers a robust and cost-effective solution to governments and industry for protecting against fraudulent and counterfeit activity, by differentiating between genuine and fake products or documents.

Sir Andrew also presented a Queen’s Award to Payne in 1993. Conferring the latest Grant of Appointment in a ceremony at Payne’s headquarters in Giltbrook, Nottinghamshire, he said: “As the representative of all the people of Nottinghamshire I want to congratulate all of you on the success of the business which has led to this award.

“I always scan the list eagerly to see whether an award has been made in Nottinghamshire and I was delighted to see the name Payne.  It is a very great pleasure to be here today to present the Queen’s Award.”

The presentation was also attended by the Member of Parliament for Broxtowe, Anna Soubry MP; the Mayor of Broxtowe, Councillor Jacky Williams; the Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council, Councillor Keith Walker, and the Member for Giltbrook and Newthorpe, Councillor Margaret Handley.

Payne’s Divisional Managing Director Tony Edwards said: “We are very proud to have developed an award-winning technology and we are honoured to receive the Queen’s Award.

“It is a mark of achievement, and I know from speaking to customers and potential customers that it does make a difference, particularly overseas, and I’m confident that it will help us grow and become even more successful.”

The award was received on behalf of the company by Stephen Pinchen, Divisional Business Development Director.

A further celebration for staff was being held on the evening of 16 September in the grounds of Newstead Abbey.