Two businesses in Comet country have been recognised in the 2014 Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

Missile company MBDA, which is based in Stevenage and Willmott Dixon, a construction company, based in Hitchin won awards.

MBDA won in the Innovation category for developing an extra guidance mode for the Brimstone radar guided anti-armour missile.

It provides crews of RAF Tornado GR4 aircraft with a world-leading, low-collateral, precision strike capability.

Welcoming the news of the award, MBDA’s executive group director technical and managing director UK, Steve Wadey, said: “As the highest business award in the UK, an accolade of this significance and recognition is a tremendous achievement and one that we take huge pride in. The technology at the heart of Dual Mode Brimstone is truly world beating and is symbolic of the difference innovation can make for our customers and the crucial role MBDA products have in delivering enhanced military effectiveness.”

Willmott Dixon won its award in the sustainable development category following a series of industry-firsts that have set the benchmark for the sector’s sustainable aspirations.

It comes as the company also pledged to work with its supply chain to repair and refurbish several properties in Somerset and return them to their pre-flood condition.

Willmott Dixon’s group chief executive, Rick Willmott, said: “We’re very proud to achieve such an honour. We have invested considerable time and money over many years to ensure sustainable development is part of our culture and values, and you can see this in the output of what we build. We do it because it is in the best interest of our business, the environment and people in the communities where we work.

“This award is for all of our people who have worked so hard to integrate sustainability into everything we do and will inspire us to strive for even more sustainable solutions for our clients.”