Damian Hopkins awarded CBE for services to retail

Damian Hopkins, the founder and CEO of PDS Radius Brands, has been awarded the honour of CBE, in King Charles III’s inaugural Birthday Honours List on Saturday (17 June) for his services to the retail and fashion sector. 

Hopkins’ career in retail and fashion spans over 25 years, in which time he has innovated in the retail, brand and licensing sectors. 

His business was one of the early adopters of sustainable and ethical manufacturing processes, and he actively promotes British retailers and brands internationally. 

Along with a long track record in the industry, he has also given a great deal back supporting the retail and fashion industries being closely involved with the Retail Trust charity for over a decade. 

Hopkins chaired the Fundraising Committee from 2018 to 2019 and was instrumental in launching the Mentoring and Ambassador programmes for people in retail and to raise awareness of the charity. 

He is also Retail Ambassador for the licensing sustainability organisation Products of Change and is the current President of The Twenty Club, the retail dining club founded in 1897.

Hopkins said: “I feel profoundly honoured, humbled, and frankly, blown away to be recognised with a CBE in The King’s Birthday Honours List. 

“I will use this honour to continue raising awareness for workers in the retail sector. The retail and fashion industry is a wonderful community of incredibly passionate, dedicated creative people and I feel blessed to be part of it.” 

He added: “My huge thanks go to everyone who has worked with me in whatever capacity over the years and to those who have supported, encouraged and inspired me including my friends and family.”

Being awarded a CBE is the highest-ranking order of the British Empire Award, excluding a knighthood or damehood.