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Today, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy announced that OPRO have won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation, the most prestigious business award in the UK that recognises and celebrates business excellence. On the recommendation of 10 Downing Street, Her Majesty the Queen personally approves of the winners of the prestigious award. Now in its 53rd year, the Queens Award is yet another reason to celebrate OPRO’s seemingly unstoppable trajectory as a company both at home and abroad.

The Queen's Award is presented to businesses for outstanding achievement across four fields: international trade, innovation, sustainable development, and promoting opportunity through social mobility. This year, it has been awarded for the innovation behind OPRO Snap-Fit mouthguard and is the second time OPRO has won the award. As a product that is protected by patent and registered design, the Snap-Fit gum shield is truly unique. The innovation behind Snap-Fit means it is the only self-fitting mouthguard on the market that offers an instant fit with superior retention, without the need to boil and mould the mouthguard before use - ideal for those moments when you have lost or forgotten your mouthguard and also suitable for coach’s, teachers or parent to always have as spares. 

OPRO’s inception began when founder and former dentist turned mouthguard mogul, Dr Anthony Lovat, created bespoke Custom-Fit mouthguards for pupils in schools up and down the country.  Today, OPRO’s innovative products, which include their Custom-Fit, Power-Fit, Self-Fit and Snap-Fit mouthguards, are in demand not only from schools, but also by hundreds of sporting clubs, teams and organisations across the globe including England Rugby Union, New Zealand Rugby; American Youth Football, Pop Warner Little Scholars,  USA Taekwondo, USA Wrestling, GB Hockey, GB Taekwondo and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and many more.

Despite their global reach, OPRO are as proud today as they ever were of their British heritage and family roots. All OPRO mouthguards are made in the UK, inside the OPRO headquarters based in Hemel Hempstead, near London. OPRO will receive their award during a royal reception this summer at their offices in Hemel Hempstead where the Lord-Lieutenant of the County, Her Majesty the Queen’s local representative, will present them with a special trophy.

OPRO founder, Dr Anthony Lovat commented: “We are honoured and proud to receive this award in recognition of all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes across the business. As a company, innovation is at the heart of what we do and ultimately, we do this for the athlete and the consumer who want the very best in mouthguard protection. 

OPRO CEO, David Allen commented “To win the award for our Custom Fit mouthguard in 2007 was a very special time, but to win a 2nd time is incredible and shows that we never stop ensuring athletes of all ages across all sports, are protected by the best gumshield. The amazing fact is we are already working on the next editions to complement our range."