A Brighton-based engineering consultancy has completed a royal hat-trick after doubling its exports between 2000 and 2002.

Mott MacDonald, in Trafalgar Place, has won The Queen's Award for Enterprise - its third in nine years - for its work in more than 100 countries.

The management, engineering and development consultancy, which has a turnover of £470 million, achieved international earnings of £203 million last year.

It was ranked 35th in the Sunday Times/PricewaterhouseCoopers Profit Track 100 table after improving overseas trade.

Its Brighton office is the centre for the company's energy expertise with more than 700 staff working on projects around the world.

It is currently working on a £500 million gas-fired power and water plant in Abu Dhabi and major expansion projects at aluminium plants in Bahrain and Dubai.

The company is also providing technical advice to international lenders on projects in Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, Morocco and Algeria.

Martin Hornsby, managing director of the energy business said the sector was ripe for expansion.

He said: "With the International Energy Authority suggesting there will be 16 trillion dollars (£13.3 trillion) spent on energy developments in the next 30 years, there is plenty of scope for us to expand and help meet the ever-growing demand for electricity around the world and thereby continue the success demonstrated by this latest Queen's Award."

Chairman Mike Blackburn said the award was a testament to Mott MacDonald staff commitment and resolve in meeting and exceeding the expectations of the company's customers.

Thursday April 22, 2004