Business: an honourable omission?

A few years back, honours were being handed out like confetti to national business superstars.
The people leading high-flying Stock Exchange companies were feted like celebrities, and it wasn't unusual to see PLC chairmen and chief executives being turned into Lords, Ladies and Knights of the Realm when the boom economy gongs were being sprayed around.
Not anymore. What is most noticeable about today's New Year Honours List is the limited number of high-profile awards to people working in the private sector.
Here in Nottinghamshire, 15 people were honoured. Only one works in business (and he's actually based in South Yorkshire), with the rest either voluntary workers or people on the public payroll.
No one should begrudge them their awards. They are all dedicated people who make a real difference to services many of us take for granted.
But why the low profile for business?
Here's a theory.
Big business has fallen out of favour with Government, which is wedded to a political narrative which says that banks, fatcats and anyone who pays a big bonus is to blame for the state we're in. At best, that's a sweeping generalisation. At worst, it displays a shocking ignorance of the contribution made to the economy by the vast army of small to medium-sized businesses.
But could it be a reason why there are so few business people in the New Year Honours List?
If it is, it’s a poor justification.
Some would argue that it is business we're depending on to help us survive one of the most severe recessions in living memory and get the economy growing again.
Shouldn't some of the people who are helping us to achieve that be recognised? There are several deserving examples of people whose commitment and professionalism has made a real difference to the Nottinghamshire economy and the people who depend on it.
May be they will be recognised in future.
To be fair, there is another class of people also likely to enjoy a low-profile in honours lists – politicians.
Wonder why that is...