NPT company presented with Queen's Award for Enterprise

Globally known Neath Port Talbot Company presented with Queen's Award for Enterprise

The internationally renowned Neath Port Talbot based broadcast solutions company Quicklink Video Distribution Services has been presented with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation 2018 by the Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan, Byron Lewis.

Headquartered at the Bay Studios on the Fabian Way Innovation Corridor in Neath Port Talbot, Quicklink is one of the leading global providers of software and hardware solutions for the transmission of live and edited video in the field of news, sport, corporate media, entertainment and houses of worship.

Quicklink’s global customer base includes the likes of Aljazeera, BBC, CNN, BT Sport, ITN, Bloomberg, CBS, Fox Sports, STV and MBC Group.

The company won the coveted Queen’s Award for its innovative Quicklink TX solution - a video call management system which allows the integration of live, professional quality Skype video calls for entertainment shows, radio and other live broadcast events.

The award, announced in April this year, is one of the Queen’s Awards made annually in a number of categories by HM The Queen with winners judged to demanding levels of excellence. The win means Quicklink now proudly flies the Queen’s Award flag at its base.

As one of the Queen’s representatives in South Wales, Lord Lieutenant Byron Lewis Esq. officially presented the award to the company at its Bay Studios headquarters on Tuesday, October 2.

The company was helped by grant aid plus support and advice from Neath Port Talbot Council’s Business Team in setting up at the Bay Studios and with the creation of high tech jobs in the Neath Port Talbot area. The winning of the Queen’s Award has been welcomed by Cllr Annette Wingrave, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Sustainable Development.

She said: “The award is richly deserved by Quicklink which is known the world over for its innovative approach to the transmission of live broadcasts. The company has also created specialist jobs for Neath Port Talbot and there is no doubt Quicklink will continue to develop and we look forward to continuing to work with them.”

Richard Rees, the Chief Executive and founder of Quicklink said: “We are truly honoured to receive a Queen’s award for Enterprise in Innovation and are delighted at this recognition of the benefits our solutions bring to our customers.

“I’m grateful for the proactive support and valuable guidance we have received from the NPT Business Team which has stood out from other areas and helped in the setting up of the business operation here at Bay Studios.

“We were excited to move into the Bay Studios - an ideal business location which has easy access to the M4 and the wider region and offers a range of office space for businesses to grow and expand into.”

Mr Rees also praised Bay Studios owner Roy Thomas who also helped Quicklink set up the business at the Bay Studios complex.

Welsh Government Economy Secretary, Ken Skates AM, said of Quicklink’s award: "The Queen’s Award for Innovation is a significant achievement and I’m delighted Quicklink has been recognised for the superb, innovative solutions it offers to its customers world-wide.”

In 2017, Skype TX, the technology behind the Quicklink TX, was also honoured with an Emmy Award for Technology & Engineering. Skype TX has been used by over 1,200 broadcasters internationally and has delivered over 20 million minutes of high-quality Skype calls.