emita director Philippa Allan, also a director of the gift wholesaler and retailer Stone The Crows! has been to Buckingham Palace to receive her Order of the British Empire award which she was nominated for in the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Philippa, who is a former chairman of The Giftware Association (GA) and was the first ever female president of umbrella organisation, the British Jewellery Giftware and Finishing Federation (BJGF), has been given her honour in recognition of her services to business in the East Midlands (where her own company is based) and to international trade. 

Philippa, who has long had a special interest in supporting the UK’s exporters, served for several years on the main board of UKTI, where she was a strong voice on behalf of what she terms the ‘seriously small businesses’, the needs of which, she believes, are not always recognised by Government. She retired from the main board of UKTI in 2006 but continues to work with them at regional level in the East Midlands.

Since 2003 Philippa has also been the director responsible for Exports at the BJGF and works closely with the head of the Export Services Department, Mike Josypenko, in fulfilling the Federation’s role as Sector Representative for the gift and home and jewellery industries.

Speaking about her honour Philippa said: “I am totally humbled and really rather embarrassed. Although it is me who has received the honour, this is very much a team effort which would simply not have happened without the help and support I get from the staff at the GA and from the Export Services team at the Federation. Many colleagues and fellow directors within UKTI have no comprehension of what it is like to run a seriously small business, where you need to debate the cost of a stamp – let alone spending the funds necessary to support an export drive. Seriously small companies need money at the coal face not pontification from on high and I am still battling to see if this can be achieved.”

On behalf of all emita staff and directors, we would like to congratulate Philippa upon receiving her OBE award.