Presentation of the King’s Award for Innovation, 2024
Name of Company
Terumo Aortic
Years of Winning
1988, 2009 (BioValsalva), 2016 (Thoraflex Hybrid), 2024 (Custom Solutions), 2026 (Thoracoflo and Custom Thoraflex Hybrid)
Category or Categories
Innovation/ Technological Achievement
Why did you apply?
We have applied for the KAE on several occasions to highlight the difference our work makes for patients living with complex aortic disease. Our focus is on improving outcomes for individuals who often have limited treatment options, and on demonstrating how our approach is helping to deliver safer, more effective care tailored to each patient’s needs.
For more than 17 years, the Innovation category was a natural choice for our submissions as it reflects our patient‑centred approach to treatment. We develop bespoke solutions that combine surgical and hybrid technologies, allowing us to treat highly complex cases with precision and flexibility. By tailoring treatment strategies to the individual, we aim to reduce risk, improve recovery, and extend treatment options for patients who may not be suitable for conventional approaches. This category best represents how innovation directly translates into meaningful clinical outcomes and tangible quality of life benefits for patients.
What benefits have you seen from being a winner, for example customer feedback, marketing materials, sales impact?
Winning the Queen’s and King’s Awards has further strengthen our credibility within the field and has raised awareness of the work we are doing to address complex aortic disease.
This highly prestigious award represents the highest honour for businesses and individuals in the United Kingdom and recognition at this level helps to build confidence among clinicians, patients, partners, and supports wider adoption of our innovative, hybrid approaches. It also helps to reinforce our position as a leader in advancing aortic care. Ultimately, this recognition has helped us continue to grow, collaborate, and bring meaningful improvements to patient outcomes.
What benefits did you see from employee morale and is it still something you tell new staff about?
Employee morale saw a strong boost because associates felt proud to work for a company that is recognised for excellence. Receiving 10 Queen’s and King’s Awards for Enterprise reinforced a sense of achievement, belonging, and confidence in the business. It also strengthened Terumo Aortic’s reputation internally and externally, helping associates feel they were part of a recognised and successful organisation.
This is absolutely something we share with new associates. We are extremely proud to highlight Terumo Aortic’s Queen’s and King’s Awards for Enterprise as part of our onboarding process. It is a fantastic way to attract new talent, demonstrate our commitment to excellence, and position Terumo Aortic as an employer of choice. We also proudly display our awards certificates on our awards wall, serving as a daily reminder to associates and visitors of the company’s achievements and values.
What advice can you give to a company thinking of applying?
We encourage organisations from all sectors to apply for the King’s Awards for Enterprise. These awards are a valuable way to recognise outstanding achievement, innovation, and success across UK businesses. They help showcase excellence, inspire others, and provide an opportunity for organisations to share ideas and best practice more widely across industries.