Morgan IAT co-founders Sue and Howard Clarke each received an MBE on the same day from Princess Anne – for their achievements in separate fields.

In a rare accolade, the couple were named on the same honours list – on New Year’s Day this year – and received their MBEs on July 14 .

Sue’s award was for outstanding services to business and engineering, while Howard’s was for outstanding services to business and entrepreneurship.

They co-founded Morgan IAT in 1987. Sue served as managing director until February 2018, and is now chairman.

She was responsible for the Petersfield company winning the Queen’s Award for Enterprise (International Trade) in 2011 and 2016.

As a woman in the under-represented Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) field, Sue ensured Morgan IAT has a gender-equal workforce.

Currently, 36 per cent of its engineers, graduates, apprentices and technicians are female.

Sue is also a passionate advocate of a healthy work-life balance, being an early adopter of flexible working programmes.

She has also been instrumental in supporting and guiding other inventors to become entrepreneurs and create new jobs.

In addition, she has worked with universities, medical schools, individuals and start-up companies to encourage innovation.

As well as being an inventor and entrepreneur, Howard is also a passionate advocate of the next generation of innovators, providing mentorship and financial support to individuals and fledgling businesses.

Of Morgan’s annual turnover, 20 per cent is invested in developing innovative products that positively impact society.

Since the 1980s, Howard has gained pioneering status within the medical technology space, creating innovations that treat up to one million patients globally.

His landmark development was the NeuroTherm range of radio-frequency lesion generators that combat acute pain. This success allowed the couple to build a business based on the ethos of making products that “make an impact on society and change people’s lives for the better.”