Award Recipients

Company Background

Sesanti designs and manufactures high-performance specialist electro-optic devices from its site in Andover, Hampshire. Boasting more than 30 years’ experience in the military field, the company’s products are designed to incorporate the very latest military grade surveillance technology, including advanced Artificial Intelligence features. Significant investment in research and development enables Sesanti to deliver bespoke solutions for government use, both within the UK and overseas. State-of-the-art products for commercial asset protection, and search and rescue applications are also manufactured at the company’s Hampshire base. Though Sesanti has extensive supply chains reaching right across the globe, it is committed to using local suppliers wherever possible.

What made Sesanti apply for a King’s Award?

We recognise the King’s Award to be the most prestigious award for innovation in the UK. However, the Award’s reach is far greater, and we believed it would enable us to get worldwide visibility for our innovation.

What research did you do about the Awards/application process?

We needed to be sure that our innovation could be described in sufficient detail to be properly considered yet protect the classified nature of the work we do. We sought advice from Awards Intelligence, who have assisted others in the application process, and they were very helpful whilst completing our written submission.

What planning did you do beforehand?

Before we started, we asked for advice on whether our innovation was likely to meet the benchmark for consideration, and whether the company was likely to be successful, i.e. whether our sales were sufficient, and whether any other measurement criteria on company performance would be applied.

How did you find the application process?

The King’s Award application process is secure and we felt confident in sharing high-level intellectual property rights (IPR) with the assessment team through the evaluation phase. We did need to engage our auditors to complete their Accountants Report, but there was sufficient time for this.

Did you learn anything about your own company during the process?

The biggest surprise was just how much the Award meant to our staff – there was a great feeling of achievement across the team when I announced we had won. When the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire came to present the award we had a whole day of celebration at the factory with staff, customers and local dignitaries in attendance. It has engendered a feeling that we are at the top of our game.

Did you engage other team members?

The application was completed by myself and my Finance Director.

Describe any challenges you overcame in the process?

Our innovation is quite technical so we were concerned as to the depth to present the technology but the assessment team are very experienced and highly technical so we need not have worried.

Now you’ve won an Award, what advice would you give to others thinking of applying?

The UK is bustling with companies with great innovative ideas. I can only speak about the KAE for innovation, but it is definitely worth investing in an application if you have a real innovation. Looking at all the winners in the category, it is not about routine product development but about step changes in capability; something which will make a real difference in any discipline.

How will you use your Award to promote your business going forward?

The Innovation Award is recognised around the world as being awarded only to those businesses that have achieved the highest level of advance in their field. We have already received orders from new overseas customers who recognise the King’s Award as a mark of quality; not just the highest quality research and innovation but also a mark of a high-quality company.

Would you consider applying again in future?

Yes, we are constantly innovating and we will apply again when we have the next step change in capability ready and sold. We are now also exporting significantly more products so we would also consider applying for a King’s Award for International Trade in the future.

What do you consider to be the benefits of being a King’s Award holder?

Primarily it is recognition that we are working at the highest level, both in terms of innovation and seen from outside that we are included in “THELIST” of best UK companies to work with. For our staff it is about recognition for all their hard work and dedication over many years of research, and for our customers and potential customers, it is a mark of quality which says clearly that we are innovators and a solid, trustworthy and reliable company to do business with.