The award initiative was launched in 2025 to recognise companies and individuals supporting the British-Polish trade and investment relationship. The winners were selected by a jury of senior experts from the Embassy and the British Polish Chamber of Commerce.
“The economic partnership between the United Kingdom and Poland is stronger today than ever before,” said Dame Melinda Simmons DCMG, His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Poland.
“The second edition of the UK–Poland Business Awards demonstrates how dynamically and on multiple fronts our cooperation is developing — from growing direct investment and trade to joint initiatives in energy transition, new technologies, and security. The recipients of these awards perfectly illustrate the ambition and potential of our cooperation,” Simmons said.
The award highlights cooperation between PGZ and BAE Systems on the production of 155mm artillery ammunition. The partnership brings together UK technological expertise and Polish industrial capability to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity in Poland.
BAE Systems said the collaboration comes at a time of increased demand for artillery ammunition. The award also follows the signing of a defence partnership agreement between Poland and the UK earlier this week in London.
“We are honoured to be recognised in such a positive way alongside our friends at PGZ,” said Miroslaw Janicki, Director, BAE Systems Poland.
“As Poland’s proven defence partner, BAE Systems remains dedicated to the mission of helping to ensure national security through the provision of 155mm artillery ammunition in great quantities and high quality to meet our nation’s objectives,” Janicki said.
In September 2025, PGZ and BAE Systems entered into a strategic partnership to establish a new 155mm artillery ammunition manufacturing facility in Poland. The facility is intended to increase Poland’s production of battlefield ammunition.
The strategic partnership also creates opportunities for further collaboration, knowledge transfer and technology transfer. These opportunities cover a broader range of munitions and components, as well as the manufacture of energetics.
“We are delighted that the British Embassy and the BPCC appreciate the collaboration between Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa and BAE Systems, as evidenced by today’s award,” said Adam Leszkiewicz, President of the Management Board of PGZ S.A.
“This is an example of collaboration with a foreign partner – on the one hand, we are benefiting from BAE Systems’ vast experience and know-how, and on the other, we are opening a path to the British market, where we can introduce our explosives production technologies. I am confident that this collaboration will continue to develop in a direction beneficial to both sides and, above all, the Polish Armed Forces and the Polish defence industry,” Leszkiewicz said.
The collaboration is underpinned by a Strategic Partnership Agreement. BAE Systems said it reflects a shared long-term commitment to industrial development, technology transfer and skills enhancement across the defence sector.
The partnership was developed through an intensive year-long collaborative process. The companies said it has created a strong platform for future joint programmes and export opportunities.
By aligning their strengths, scale and ambition, BAE Systems and PGZ aim to reinforce European defence resilience. The companies said the award marks a major step forward in UK-Poland defence and industrial cooperation.
