From sportspeople to academics to community champions, a variety of Scots have been recognised in the New Year’s Honours.

Congratulating Scotland’s Honours recipients, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:

“I am very proud to see so many Scots receive Honours this year. Congratulations to all those who have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to their communities and to our country.

“Their dedication to their respective fields, from charity to business and sport to science, is an inspiration to all.

“I am very pleased to see female sportspeople get the recognition they deserve. I am delighted that Solheim Cup-winning captain Catriona Matthew – Beany to her many fans – has been honored with an OBE for her tremendous contribution to golf. After leading Europe to victory over the United States at Gleneagles in September, I look forward to her captaining Europe to golfing glory again, this time in the USA in 2021. Footballer Rose Reilly blazed a trail for women’s football, and women in sport more generally, and I am very pleased she has been recognised.

“Brian Wilson is honoured with an OBE for his valuable contributions to business in Scotland, while William Gill of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society is celebrated for his many years of service to Scotland’s important agriculture sector.

“I am pleased that Colette Cohen is recognised with a well-deserved OBE for her services to the UK oil and gas Industry. Her efforts have been greatly beneficial to the industry and to Scotland. As chief executive of the Oil and Gas Technology Centre, part of the Aberdeen city deal, she has established it as the go to technology centre for the industry.

“And for her invaluable contributions to literature, Jackie Kay receives an OBE.

“There are also many Scottish recipients recognised for their tireless work in their communities. That includes Arthur Dyke, recognised for his years of invaluable service to Poppy Scotland.

“I offer my heartfelt congratulations to all those who have been honoured by Her Majesty this New Year.”

The full honours list will be published at www.gov.uk/honours/honours-lists from 22.30 on Friday 27 December 2019.

Rob Smith founded The Active Hands Company after overcoming a fall off a cliff and suffering a high-level spinal cord injury leaving him with partial paralysis. The company makes gripping aids for people with hand function disabilities, enabling them to take part in numerous activities as independently as possible. Its gripping aids allow people to hold tightly onto objects such as garden tools, gym equipment, Wii controllers, adaptive bike handles, musical instruments and many more.

The Queen’s New Year Honours list recognises the achievements of a wide range of extraordinary people across the UK and internationally, including exporters, entrepreneurs, and business leaders who are contributing to local and global prosperity. It also includes those who are championed by the Department for International Trade.

Antonia Romeo, Permanent Secretary at the Department for International Trade, said:

Excellent to see Rob Smith recognised in the 2020 New Year Honours List, showcasing the best of British innovation.

Active Hands Company has had huge exporting success, as well as demonstrating dedication to people with disabilities across the world, and I wish them all the best as they grow their business.

The company has provided gripping aids for Paralympic gold medal winners, leisure gardeners, injured military personnel and young children all over the world. In 2018, Active Hands reached a turnover of £250,000 – a 25% increase from the previous year. Exports to countries across North America, Asia, Australia and Europe account for more than half of the company’s turnover.

Rob has been involved in disability sport for many years, including playing at a high level in wheelchair rugby and now as a Team GB T52 wheelchair racer. In 2004, he helped design a wheelchair for children with cerebral palsy in Bangladesh that would ‘grow’ with them.

Last year, Rob was recognised as one of the UK’s most influential people with a disability in the Shaw Trust Power 100 list for his contribution to business and his sporting success.

Rob Smith, Director of the Active Hands Company, said:

The news of this award took me completely by surprise, but I am delighted to be included in the Queen’s New Year Honours list for 2020.

I love what I do for Active Hands and the other projects I am involved in, and I am truly grateful and appreciative of those who nominated me for such a prestigious award. The honour of being recognised in this way is something I will remember always.

The New Year’s Honours List recognises the achievements of a wide range of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom.

Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart has praised the recipients of New Year’s Honours from Wales. Expressing his gratitude for their “unwavering commitment to their communities” Mr Hart congratulated all of those receiving awards.

Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart said:

Every year it is inspiring to read the stories of hardworking individuals nominated for their dedication to benefitting their communities. This year is no exception.

As we enter a new decade I am delighted to see a whole host of Welsh recipients from all walks of life recognised for their roles which include educating and inspiring the next generation or providing outstanding care for elderly or disabled people.

I’d like to extend my gratitude to them for their unwavering commitment to serve their communities and improve the lives of others. Congratulations to everyone honoured today.

Congratulating Sir Keith Thomas FBA, who received a Companion of Honour for services to the Study of History, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said:

Sir Keith has dedicated much of his life to the study and teaching of history at Oxford University, following his upbringing in Wick in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Regarded as a pioneer in the field of social history, he has had an extremely distinguished career in academia and public life and has won numerous awards for his work over the years.

I’m delighted to congratulate Sir Keith on this award which recognises a lifetime of commitment to such a valuable profession.

Congratulating Jade Jones MBE, who received an OBE for services to Taekwondo and Sport, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said:

Jade has become one of the best known sporting personalities of the decade since her triumphs at the London and Rio Olympic Games.

She is an inspiration not only within taekwondo but to all hopeful athletes due to her discipline and dedication. A commitment that’s has allowed her to bounce back from adversity and secure some of her sport’s greatest titles, including most recently her first World Championships.

Congratulations Jade on your momentous achievement.

Congratulating Director of the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales Glynne Jones who received a CBE for services to the public, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said:

This award acknowledges his incredible achievements during his long career in the civil service.

It is a privilege to work with such an inspirational public servant and I am grateful for his unwavering commitment to his team and the Welsh public.

Congratulations Glynne, I look forward to continue working with you, on behalf of Wales, in 2020.

Women’s football is experiencing unprecedented growth in popularity in Wales and around the world. Loren has been central to securing that growth by coaching the stars of the future and demonstrating to women and girls the global heights it is possible to reach within the sport.

Congratulations to Loren and I wish her every success for the remainder of her career.

Congratulating Renate Collins, who received a BEM for services to Holocaust Education, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said:

Renate’s commitment to ensuring people in Wales are educated about the horrors of the Holocaust is commendable. Her story serves as a reminder to us all about the continuing dangers hatred poses to communities in our society.

I’d like to extend my warmest congratulations to her on receipt of this honour.

Congratulating Anthony David White who received a BEM for services to Medicine in Wales, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said:

Through Anthony’s dedication to high quality care, thousands of elderly patients in Wrexham and the surrounding areas are in receipt of specialist treatment which focusses on improved outcomes and their reintegration into the community.

Congratulations to Anthony on his well-deserved honour.

Read the New Year Honours list for 2020 in full on the Cabinet Office website.

ENDS

The London-based entrepreneur started the snack brand in 2011, with more than four million bags of the award-winning snacks flying off worldwide shelves every month – that’s a staggering three bags every second.

Products from the rebranded PROPER line, which includes Propercorn and Properchips, can now be found in 20 countries worldwide, inclucing Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands and Ireland.

The Financial Times recognised PROPER as one of the fastest growning independent businesses in Europe in 2018, and they are currently the number one independent snack brand in the UK.

Propercorn was first sold in the café at Google’s London offices, swiftly becoming the most popular snack amongst employees out of the 48 on offer.

Cassandra then capitalised on this impressive statistic, taking her product to Leon, Chopp’d and Benugo, before the brand was picked up by Tesco and other major retailers for national distribution.

Cassandra Stavrou, co-founder and CEO of PROPER, said:

I always had big ambitions for PROPER. But receiving an honour of this magnitude was never part of the business plan! When I started 10 years ago, successful female entrepreneurs were awarded very little visibility.

If nothing else, I hope acknowledging PROPER’s success in this way, inspires a new generation of female founders to get behind their big idea. It’s an incredible honour and one I share with my brilliant co-founder and team.

The Queen’s New Year Honours list recognises the achievements of extraordinary people across the UK and internationally, including exporters, entrepreneurs, and business leaders who are contributing to local and global prosperity, including those championed by the Department for International Trade.

The investiture ceremonies will take place at Buckingham Palace in the new year.

Antonia Romeo, Permanent Secretary at the Department for International Trade, said:

I am delighted to see Cassandra’s work recognised in the 2020 New Year Honours List for her services to the Food Industry and Exports.

PROPER has seen significant international trade growth over the last few years, and is set for further international expansion.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick spent the evening volunteering on Christmas Day at Birmingham Christmas Shelter.

Birmingham Christmas Shelter is open throughout the day and night during Christmas week and welcomes up to 150 guests daily.

The team at the shelter provide hot food and drinks as well as entertainment, services, clothing and a safe and warm place for vulnerable people to sleep. 

The shelter depends entirely on donations and volunteers who work all year round to prepare for the following Christmas.

Commenting after the visit, Robert Jenrick said:

It was a real privilege to spend the evening with the fantastic team at the Birmingham Christmas Shelter, and meet some of the people who were staying there this Christmas.

The volunteers I met were truly inspiring, and thanks to their hard work the guests at the shelter were able to enjoy Christmas Day, get a proper meal and have a warm place to sleep for the evening. I commend their efforts to support vulnerable people in their community this Christmas.

As Communities Secretary I will put tackling homelessness and rough sleeping right at the heart of this government. This week we announced funding of over £260 million to prevent homelessness and support vulnerable people on our streets and we are committed to putting an end to rough sleeping by the end of this parliament.

Last April the government introduced the Homelessness Reduction Act, the most ambitious reform to homelessness legislation in decades.

This week £263 million has been announced for local authorities to prevent and relieve homelessness in their areas through the Homelessness Reduction Act, including the £200 million Flexible Homelessness Support Grant and the new £63 million Homelessness Reduction Grant.  

In August last year the government unveiled its Rough Sleeping Strategy – backed by £100 million – which set out the next steps towards ending rough sleeping for good.

This forms part of a wider strategy to tackle all forms of homelessness, including:

• investing £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness

• providing £76 million for the Rough Sleeping Initiative to 246 local authorities – including the 83 areas with the highest number of rough sleepers

• this year councils are using the investment to create an estimated 2,600 more beds and 750 additional specialist support staff

• providing £28 million for Housing First pilots in Greater Manchester, the West Midlands and Liverpool to support vulnerable rough sleepers with complex needs

• introducing the Homelessness Reduction Act to ensure people at risk of becoming homeless get help more quickly.

The Communities Secretary also announced £10 million – extended this week by £3 million – for the Cold Weather Fund, which will boost life-saving support for rough sleepers during the cold winter weather. 

This government has committed to ending rough sleeping by the end of this Parliament in 2024 – 3 years earlier than the previous commitment.