North west companies specialising in pharmaceuticals, languages and clean energy were today honoured in the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2010.

Three firms in the region were rewarded for their achievements in one of the country’s most prestigious schemes to recognise business success.

Applied Language Solutions, based in Delph, Oldham, was handed an award in the international trade category.

The company was founded by Gavin Wheeldon in 2003 to provide translation services to the public and private sector.

It now employs 33 people with offices in the USA, India, Guatemala and Bulgaria, and has clients in 91 countries.

Foreign sales generated 50 per cent of its sales last year.

Mr Wheeldon said: “Understanding local cultures can be the biggest barrier to international growth for businesses and having people on the ground in offices has definitely helped us engage better with our customers.”

Rochdale-based Dunphy Combustion received an award in the innovation category for its work developing a range of green industrial burners.

Dunphy’s burners reduce nitrous oxide emissions, cut running costs by more than 50 per cent and reduce noise.

All the technology has been developed at Dunphy’s manufacturing plant and research centre in Rochdale.

The family firm, founded in 1964, has 62 staff and won another Queen’s Award for international trade 12 years ago.

Chairman Malcolm Dunphy said: “The company has always maintained a policy of high investment in technical research and development.

“We will continue to strive for creative solutions which produce consistently sustainable, low cost and clean energy.”

Cheshire-based Prism Ideas also won an award for international trade.

Prism, based in Nantwich, provides drug development consultancy services to the pharmaceutical industry, helping bring new treatments to the market.

It has grown exports by 169 per cent over the last three years, and these now make up more than 80 per cent of sales.

The company, which employs 19 staff, has an office in Switzerland with plans to open a base in the US this year.

Chief executive Dr James Sawyer said: “The team has worked relentlessly to develop an innovative approach to exporting the company’s services to the international pharmaceutical industry.

“This is a real testament to the commitment of our employees and their thorough understanding of the industry.”