By Daniel Calvert, Co-Director, Glazing Store — official Korniche Partner, selling the Korniche range online since 2020. First published: 12 August 2024 · Last updated: 14 October 2026
TL;DR: The Korniche Roof Lantern won The King’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category in 2024. The award went to its designer and manufacturer, Made For Trade of County Durham. It is the UK’s highest business award. The winners were announced on 6 May 2024, and 59 of that year’s 257 awards were for Innovation. King’s Awards are valid for five years, so it still stands today. Glazing Store didn’t win the award. We sell the lantern, and we have been an official Korniche Partner since March 2025. This page explains what the award recognised, the timeline, and what it does and doesn’t tell you when you choose a roof lantern.
Contents
- What award did the Korniche Roof Lantern win?
- What is The King’s Award for Enterprise?
- Award timeline: from announcement to presentation
- Why was the Korniche Roof Lantern recognised?
- What did Made For Trade say?
- What does the award mean when you’re choosing a lantern?
- Where can you buy an award-winning Korniche Roof Lantern?
- FAQs
What award did the Korniche Roof Lantern win?
Made For Trade designs and manufactures Korniche aluminium roof lanterns, bi-fold doors and flat glass rooflights. In 2024 it received The King’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category. The award was made for one product: the Korniche Roof Lantern.
Korniche’s own announcement says the lantern was recognised for “its innovative design, ease of installation and exceptional performance”. It also describes it as the first product of its kind. Made For Trade said it was one of only eight companies in the North East to receive a King’s Award that year.
From behind the counter: to be clear about who won what, the award belongs to Made For Trade, not to Glazing Store. We’re a stockist. We were one of the first online businesses to sell the full Korniche range in 2020, and we became an official Korniche Partner in March 2025. We’re proud to sell an award-winning product, but we won’t claim the award as ours.
What is The King’s Award for Enterprise?
The scheme began in 1965 as The Queen’s Award for Enterprise. In 2023 it was renamed The King’s Awards for Enterprise, and it is still the UK’s most prestigious business award. GOV.UK lists five categories: innovation, international trade, sustainability, promoting opportunity through social mobility, and young founder.
According to GOV.UK, a business that wins an award:
- is invited to a Royal reception
- is presented with the award at its own premises by a Lord-Lieutenant, one of The King’s representatives
- may fly The King’s Awards flag and use the emblem on its marketing
- receives a Grant of Appointment and a commemorative trophy
Awards are valid for five years, so Made For Trade’s 2024 Innovation award runs until 2029.
The 2024 awards were competitive. The government’s announcement on 6 May 2024 lists 252 businesses receiving 257 awards across the UK. Only 59 of those awards were for Innovation.
| 2024 King’s Awards for Enterprise | Awards made |
|---|---|
| International Trade | 161 |
| Innovation (includes the Korniche Roof Lantern) | 59 |
| Sustainable Development | 29 |
| Promoting Opportunity (social mobility) | 8 |
| Total | 257 (to 252 businesses) |
Source: GOV.UK, 6 May 2024.
Award timeline: from announcement to presentation
When we first published this article in August 2024, the Royal reception and the official presentation hadn’t been reported yet. Both have happened since.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 6 May 2024 | The 2024 King’s Awards for Enterprise are announced, and Made For Trade receives an Innovation award for the Korniche Roof Lantern |
| 9 July 2024 | Managing Director Bradley Gaunt attends the Royal reception at Windsor Castle for that year’s winners |
| October 2024 | Mrs Sue Snowdon, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham, visits Made For Trade and presents the award to Bradley Gaunt. She also presents the scroll to founder Richard Gaunt |
| March 2025 | Glazing Store becomes an official Korniche Partner |
| 2029 | The five-year award period ends |
Why was the Korniche Roof Lantern recognised?
According to Made For Trade, most lanterns on the market before the Korniche were PVC-clad aluminium systems. Those were thermally inefficient and needed drilling and cutting on site. Korniche was designed from scratch as a kit that fits and glazes in minutes. It wasn’t adapted from an existing conservatory roof system.
Made For Trade highlights four design features:
| Feature (as described by Made For Trade) | What it does | Why it matters to you |
|---|---|---|
| End caps with no visible fixings | Fit cleanly over the hips and ridge | A neater finish from inside the room |
| Unique glazing retainer | Stops the glass slipping and hides the glass edge | Simpler, more secure glazing on site |
| Single-fix bolts with die-cast aluminium and steel components | Help avoid cross-threading during assembly | Quicker, more reliable assembly |
| Patent-granted boss design | Copies a traditional timber “bird’s mouth” joint | An almost seamless joint between the ridge and the rafters |
These are the reasons builders, roofers and DIY fitters use Korniche. For a step-by-step install, see our beginner’s guide to installing a Korniche roof lantern.
What did Made For Trade say?
When the award was announced, Managing Director Bradley Gaunt said:
“As the managing director of Made For Trade, I’m delighted to announce that we’ve won the prestigious King’s Award for Innovation. At Made For Trade, innovation is our top priority. Winning this award validates our team’s hard work and dedication. It boosts our reputation and opens up new opportunities for growth and collaboration. Thanks to everyone at Made For Trade for their passion and commitment. Together, we’ll keep innovating and achieving success.”
He spoke again at the presentation in October 2024. He said the recognition followed a journey of “over 40 years, started by my father”, and he credited the Made For Trade team.
What does the award mean when you’re choosing a lantern?
A King’s Award for Innovation is an independent award, run by the government, and every winner goes through government checks before being announced. That’s a useful signal when you’re choosing between lanterns that look similar in photos.
It is not a thermal, security or weather rating. Before you buy any roof lantern, check these points:
- Glass U-value: Korniche publishes 1.2 W/m²K for its standard glass and 1.0 W/m²K for its premium glass. Our guide to U-values and energy efficiency explains what those numbers mean.
- Size: Korniche lanterns are made from 850 x 850mm up to 6m x 4m, with bespoke sizes available.
- Guarantee: Korniche lanterns come with a 10-year guarantee as standard.
- Building regulations: rooflights are covered by Approved Document L. Ask for a whole-unit U-value for your exact size if building control needs one.
Trade tip: the award recognises the design, but the finished result also depends on the upstand. A level, square, correctly sized kerb is what makes a Korniche go together in minutes. Measure the outside of the upstand, then order to that size.
Where can you buy an award-winning Korniche Roof Lantern?
We sell the full Korniche range online with UK delivery:
- Browse every glass option and size in our Korniche Roof Lanterns collection.
- Read about the range, watch the install video and see the FAQs on our Korniche Roof Lanterns page.
- For a non-standard size, request a bespoke Korniche quote.
- Call us on 01604 347222 for advice on sizing, glass or delivery.
FAQs
Did the Korniche Roof Lantern win a King’s Award?
Yes. Its manufacturer, Made For Trade, received The King’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category in 2024 for the Korniche Roof Lantern. The awards were announced on 6 May 2024.
Who makes the Korniche Roof Lantern?
Made For Trade, an aluminium glazing manufacturer in County Durham. Richard Gaunt founded it more than 40 years ago, and his son Bradley Gaunt is now Managing Director.
Is the King’s Award still valid?
Yes. King’s Awards for Enterprise are valid for five years, so the 2024 Innovation award runs until 2029.
Did Glazing Store win the King’s Award?
No. The award went to Made For Trade, which makes the lantern. Glazing Store is a stockist and has been an official Korniche Partner since March 2025.
What is The King’s Award for Enterprise?
It’s the UK’s highest award for businesses. It started in 1965 as The Queen’s Award for Enterprise and was renamed in 2023. Winners are invited to a Royal reception and presented with the award by a Lord-Lieutenant.
How many businesses won a King’s Award for Innovation in 2024?
In 2024, 59 awards were made for Innovation, out of 257 awards to 252 businesses across the UK.
Does the award mean the Korniche is the most energy-efficient lantern?
No. The award recognises innovation in design and installation. It isn’t a thermal rating. Compare published glass U-values: Korniche publishes 1.2 W/m²K for its standard glass and 1.0 W/m²K for its premium glass.
Where can I buy a Korniche Roof Lantern?
From Glazing Store online, in standard sizes from 850 x 850mm, or as a bespoke size by quote. Call us on 01604 347222.
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