Eastbourne business receives royal award

Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for East Sussex, Mr Peter Field, presented the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade to the events agency, Identity, on Thursday (October 15).

Identity’s managing director, Michael Gietzen, welcomed the Lord Lieutenant to the socially distanced presentation ceremony at the company’s HQ in Westham.

Lord Lieutenant Field said, “Many, many congratulations to Identity.

“This award is considered the highest accolade to be bestowed upon a UK business and recognises Identity for having shown outstanding achievement in trade, innovation and sustainable development.”

Mr Gietzen escorted the Lord Lieutenant on a tour of the 30,000 sq ft premises before assembling to receive the cut glass rose bowl in recognition of the agency’s global success.

He said, “I am delighted to welcome the Lord Lieutenant and to accept this most prestigious award on behalf of the Identity team.

“Considering the turbulence created throughout the events industry and indeed, the world, by the Covid pandemic, it is an incredible boost to us all to receive this award.”

Identity was given the prestigious award for its ongoing success in delivering live events in the UK and international markets.

The agency’s team of 100 professionals is said to continue to deliver exceptional events for world governments, leading brands and global blue chip companies.

Mr Gietzen said how the agency has been future proofed for the ‘new global normal’.

He said, “The enforced pandemic lockdown presented Identity with a choice; stand still or completely transform and invest in an even more dynamic model for the business.

“We chose the latter and have just recently re-launched as the first ever ‘human experience’ agency.

“By further investment and a strategic recruitment programme, Identity now provides a vastly enlarged creative offering of live, virtual and hybrid events. We are now the only truly ‘human experience’ agency in the world.”

Identity also achieved a ranking in the latest Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100 table – a league table that ranks the top 100 British companies with the fastest growing sales.