Recognition for services to sustainable chemicals management, economic growth, international trade, and advancing opportunities for women and young people
Lancaster, UK - Yordas Group is proud to announce that its Chief Executive Officer, Jonathan Lutwyche, has been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in His Majesty The King’s Birthday Honours 2026.
The honour recognises Jonathan’s contribution to sustainable chemicals management, his role in driving economic growth through independent science-led consultancy, his sustained commitment to advancing UK international trade, and his dedication to creating opportunities for women and young people across the regulatory science sector.
A founder of Yordas Group, Jonathan established the business in 2007, originally as The REACH Centre Ltd, in direct response to the evolving global chemicals regulatory landscape. Operating from Lancaster Environment Centre and built in close collaboration with Lancaster University, the business has grown over nearly two decades into a leading international provider of regulatory science consultancy and digital solutions, with offices and representation across Europe, North America, Asia, and beyond. In 2025, Yordas Group received the King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, the UK’s highest official business honour, in recognition of its sustained growth in overseas markets and its contribution to advancing chemical regulatory compliance and sustainable product stewardship globally.
Commenting on the honour, Jonathan said:
“I am deeply honoured and genuinely humbled to receive this recognition. It is an award I accept on behalf of every person who has been part of the Yordas journey. The colleagues who committed their expertise and energy to building this business, the clients who placed their trust in us, and the partners and collaborators who shared the vision of what responsible chemicals management can achieve. None of this would have been possible without them. I am particularly grateful to our co-founders, Lancaster University, and our industry stakeholders for their belief at the outset, and to the many talented women, men and young scientists who have helped shape what Yordas is today. If this recognition helps to show that a science-led business built in the North of England can compete and lead on the world stage, then I hope it encourages others to do the same.”
About Yordas Group
Yordas Group is a leading provider of scientific consultancy services and digital solutions for the sustainable management of chemicals. Founded in 2007 and headquartered at Lancaster Environment Centre, UK, the business supports chemical producers, manufacturers, formulators, and global enterprises in navigating complex regulatory requirements and achieving safe, sustainable product marketability across international markets. Yordas operates through four core business units: Regulatory Intelligence (including the Helix platform), HazCom and SDS Managed Service, Scientific Services, and Global Notifications. The company holds the King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade (2025).
