06 May 2025
ACS, Europe’s largest Circular Fashion Hub, is proud to announce it has been awarded its second King’s Award for Enterprise, this time for Promoting Opportunity (through Social Mobility).
This latest recognition celebrates ACS’s long-term commitment to creating meaningful career pathways for disadvantaged groups, including refugees, ex-offenders, people with disabilities, and individuals from low-income backgrounds. Through structured employment, training, and development programmes, ACS empowers individuals to build sustainable futures in the growing green economy.
Following a rigorous independent judging process, His Majesty The King personally approved the Prime Minister’s recommendation that ACS should receive the King’s Award for Enterprise in Promoting Opportunity. This endorsement highlights the company’s exceptional leadership in promoting social mobility alongside business success.
Andrew Rough, CEO of ACS, commented:
"Receiving our second King’s Award for Enterprise is a tremendous honour and a proud moment for everyone at ACS. This award recognises the hard work, innovation, and deep values that drive our business every day. We believe in the power of business to create positive change — empowering communities, advancing sustainability, and building a better future for our industry and the planet."
This achievement places ACS among a very rare group of UK businesses to have won two separate King’s Awards for Enterprise — first for Sustainable Development (2023) and now for Promoting Opportunity (2025) — reflecting the company’s leadership across both environmental and social impact fields.
Founded in 1997, ACS has evolved to help brands and retailers transition from traditional linear models to circular fashion models through scalable resale, rental, and repair services. Guided by the principles of People, Planet, and Prosperity, ACS champions innovation that supports inclusive growth, environmental stewardship, and global collaboration.
ACS would also like to thank the many partners, organisations, and communities it is proud to work alongside — whose collaboration and shared commitment have made this success possible. This Award is a shared achievement, built on the strength of collective effort and a shared belief in a fairer, greener future.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise are the UK’s highest official honours for outstanding British businesses, celebrating those who drive progress in innovation, international trade, sustainable development, and promoting opportunity. Now in their 59th year, the Awards recognise companies not just for their success, but for their leadership in building a better future for the economy, society, and the planet. Winning a second King’s Award places ACS among an elite group of businesses shaping a new era of responsible enterprise. We are proud to carry the prestigious King’s Awards Emblem for the next five years — a powerful symbol of our commitment to people, planet, and lasting positive change.
