Image courtesy SEA
 
The King’s Award for International Trade is an outstanding achievement awarded to UK businesses that have demonstrated exceptional growth in overseas earnings and commercial year-on-year growth over a period of three or six years. A King’s Award is the highest official achievement a UK business can receive, recognising companies that have achieved significant international sales growth.  

 
Richard Flitton, Managing Director of SEA said: “Being awarded the King’s Award for International Trade is an honour and a clear recognition of the strength of our export performance and the growing demand for our advanced maritime defence capabilities. This achievement is a testament to the innovation, drive and expertise of everyone at SEA and showcases how, from all our sites across the South West, we’re delivering leading defence capabilities across the globe.” 
 
Since 2022, SEA has secured multiple international contracts, including the supply of its Torpedo Launcher System for a multiship programme in South America as well as the Philippine Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy. The company has also been awarded contracts deliver two of its KraitSense anti-submarine warfare systems to a South-east Asian navy and to support the communications system upgrade on two Royal New Zealand Navy’s ANZAC frigates. Combined these contracts have a value in excess of £50 million. 
 
SEA’s sustained export success has supported the company in expanding its international footprint, with the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Ottawa, Canada, expansion of its Barnstaple manufacturing facilities and soon to be opened office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  
 
This growth, along with key UK contracts such as a £135 million contract to provide its Ancilia trainable countermeasures system to the UK Royal Navy, has driven a significant increase in the company’s headcount. The business grew by over 100 employees in 2025 and now employs approximately 500 people across its sites in Beckington, Bristol and Barnstaple as well as a wholly owned subsidiary in Canada with offices in Montreal and Ottawa. 
 
Richard Flitton added: “The significant contracts SEA has secured over the past three years have enabled us to double our revenue, supporting the expansion of our team and allowing us to invest in our manufacturing facilities in Barnstaple and Ottawa. This has increased our manufacturing capacity for our key capabilities including our Torpedo Launcher Systems, KraitSense and Ancilia to meet growing global demand.  
 
“As SEA continues to grow, we’re proud to play a leading part of the Great South West as a centre for defence innovation and exports, supporting skilled jobs, local supply chains and new capability development.”