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National Business Awards finalists announced
Over 150 of the UK’s most innovative and resilient public and private sector businesses have been announced as finalists in the National Business Awards in partnership with Orange.
Organisations shortlisted this year range from the well-known – Unilever, Camelot, Marks & Spencer, American Express, Coca Cola, The Co-Operative Group and Kwik Fit – through to the rising stars of Ella’s Kitchen, Freesat, Coffee Nation, Naked Wines, and Cheapflights.
The total number of organisations entering the National Business Awards in 2010 increased by over 40 percent compared to last year despite the challenging market conditions.
Commenting on the encouraging figures and the calibre of entries, Philip Forrest, Chairman of Judges, the National Business Awards, said: “The economic climate continues to present UK businesses with an unprecedented challenge and it is therefore encouraging that the entries in this year’s National Business Awards have shown no drop in quality or performance. Congratulations to all finalists for demonstrating great strength in the ability to adapt and innovate quickly which no doubt reflects the resilience and optimism that are the hallmarks of UK enterprise.”
The finalists will now prepare to make their presentations in person before an independent, expert judging panel towards the end of September.
The 2010 winners will be unveiled on 9th November at the Grosvenor House hotel in London, in what will be a glittering awards evening.
Current title holders include Peter Marks, Group CEO, the Co-op, who won The Orange Leader of the Year in 2009 (pictured above with the then Chancellor Alistair Darling) and Tristram Mayhew, CEO, Go Ape, who won The Santander Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award 2009.
“Applying for the National Business Awards was in itself a good business discipline since it required a rigorous assessment of our strengths and weakness as an organisation. Going on to win an award has been a great boost for all the 350 people who have dedicated themselves to making Go Ape a success. It has given us fantastic PR opportunities right across the country and provided a small company with added commercial credibility”, said last year’s winner of the 2009 Santander SME Award and Go Ape Founder, Tristram Mayhew.
Hoping to mirror the success of fellow SME, Go Ape, in this year’s Awards, is Naked Wines, a finalist in the Orange Innovation Award.
Will that become a toast of success?: Rowan Gormley of Naked Wine
Naked Wines is an online wine market, which was very bravely created by 17 “deranged and passionate” friends during the height of the recession.
The company supports independent winemakers from around the world, investing in them in return for preferential prices which are then passed onto customers. Its proving to be a highly successful business model with huge potential for profitable growth - hence their nomination today alongside all the other finalists who so richly deserve to be named and celebrated. In today’s uncertain market, bravery, energy and creativity are needed more than ever.
A full list of all National Business Awards Finalists 2010:
The Orange Innovation Award
- apetito, Trowbridge, BA14 8RJ
- Autonomy, Cambridge, CB4 0WZ
- Callcredit Information Group, Leeds, LS3 1EP
- Wow! Stuff, Wolverhampton, WV10 9TG
- Clearly Business, a Barclays Company, London, EC1V 2NL
- Naked Wines, Norwich, NR1 4DY
- TelecityGroup, London, W2 4SA
- Speedy Hire, Newton Le Willows, WA12 0JQ
- Trimble MRM, Ipswich, IP2 8SD
- Zeus Technology, Cambridge, CB4 0WS
The Better Regulation Award
- HM Revenue & Customs - National Clearance Hub, London, SW1A 2BQ
- HM Revenue & Customs - Tax Returns, London, SW1A 2BQ
- HM Revenue & Customs - Authorised Investment Funds, London, SW1A 2BQ
- Internet Watch Foundation, Oakington, CB24 3BA
- Lancashire County Council, Preston, PR3 3BN
- National Scores on the Doors user group, Aylesbury, HP18 9AA
- Trading Standards North West (TSNW), Manchester, M32 0YJ
- NPIA, London, SW1H 0NN
- Export Control Organisation, London, SW1E 0ET
- MAPFRE ABRAXAS, Almondsbury, BS32 4NE
The BlackBerry Customer Focus Award
- apetito, Trowbridge, BA14 8RJ
- Drive Assist UK, Tamworth, B78 3LY
- GeoPost UK, Smethwick, B66 1BY
- HMRC Business Liason Team, Birmingham, B15 1BG
- Holiday Extras, Hythe, CT21 4JF
- InterContinental London Park Lane, London, W1J 7QY
- Merseyside Police, Liverpool, L3 4BJ
- Rackspace, Uxbridge, UB11 1ET
- Royal Bank of Scotland International, St Helier, JE4 8PJ
- Sheffield International Venues, Sheffield, S9 3TL
The BlackBerry Customer Focus Award for Small Business
- CarelineUK, New Milton, BH255NN
- Crown Relocations, Southampton, SO15 2EW
- Ella's Kitchen, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 4QG
- Palletline, Birmingham, B37 7HB
- Phoenix Supply, Belfast, BT3 9ED
- Travel Counsellors, Bolton, BL1 1TH
- TSL Education, London, WC1R 4HQ
- Wonga.com, London, NW1 7SN
- World First, London, SW11 3RB
- XLN Telecom, London, SW8 1SQ
The Business Link Growth Strategy of the Year
- Bright Purple Resourcing, Edinburgh, EH2 2PR
- Brooks Macdonald, London, W1K 7JL
- Camelot Group, Watford, WD18 9RN
- Cheapflights, London, WC1E 7EB
- Cyclescheme, Bath, BA1 2LN
- Pathology Group, London, E1 6HB
- powerPerfector, London, W2 1QY
- Ramsden International, Grimsby, DN31 1SJ
- Samworth Brothers, Melton Mowbray, LE13 1GA
- Team24, Banstead, SM7 2NL
The Employer of the Year
- Churchill Retirement Living, Ringwood, BH24 3SG
- Glasgow Marriott Hotel, Glasgow, G3 8RR
- Kwik Fit Insurance, Uddingston, G71 5PU
- Luminus Group, Huntingdon, PE29 3QW
- LV=, Bournemouth, BH21 1NF
- Octopus Investments, London, EC2R 7HP
- PSN World, Alford, AB33 8TA
- Rackspace, Uxbridge, UB11 1ET
- Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, London, W1J 7BX
- Taff Housing Association, Cardiff, CF5 1JD
The Entrepreneur of the Year
- Avi Lasarow, Trimega Laboratories, London, EC4M 7EF
- Caroline Redman Lusher, Rock Choir™, Farnham, GU9 8WT
- Dougal Sharp, The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company, Edinburgh, EH3 8EG
- Gary & Carmen Lewis, A1 Pharmaceuticals, Rainham, RM13 9BP
- Hilary Devey, Pall-Ex, Ellistown, LE67 1FH
- Marcus Simmons, iknow-uk, Leyland, PR25 3GR
- Neal Gandhi, Quickstart Global, London, EC2R 8JR
- Nick Ogden, Voice Commerce, London, EC1V 0BB
- Warren Cowan, Greenlight, London, EC2A 2AW
- Alastair Lukies, Monitise, London, EC2N 2AT
The Excellence in Marketing Award
- Aberdeen College, Aberdeen, AB25 1BN
- American Express, London, SW1W 9AX
- BTC activewear, Wednesbury, WS10 9QY
- Camelot Group, London, WC2E 7EN
- e-mphasis, St Albans, AL1 4AA
- Freesat UK, London, W1T 3NQ
- Grey London- British Heart Foundation, London, EC1N 8JS
- MCBD - Waitrose, London, W1T 1NB
- Renegade Media, Westbury-on-Severn, GL14 1QP
- Romec, Stockport, SK3 0EE
The Health, Work and Well-being Award
- Carmarthenshire County Council, Carmarthen, SA31 3HB
- Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust & Airbus Operations UK, Chester, CH2
- DAS Legal Expenses Insurance Company, Bristol, BS1 6NH
- GE Capital, Reigate, RH2 7RT
- Kwik Fit Financial Services, Uddingston, G71 5PU
- Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, LS6 3QE
- Marks & Spencer, London, W2 1NW
- Metropolitan Police Service, London, SW6 1TR
- Northern Bank, Belfast, BT1 6JS
- Police Service of Northern Ireland, Carrickfergus, BT38 8PL
The Health, Work and Well-being Award for Small Business
- Aquamarine Power, Edinburgh, EH2 2AF
- Novacroft, Northampton, NN6 9AA
- Content and Code, London, EC1Y2BP
- drpgroup, London, WC24 9AN
- Intelenet Global Services Pvt, Plymouth, PL4 6AB
- Maxim Eyes (UK), Sutton, SM1 1EZ
- Mount Anvil, London, EC1A 4HY
- PORT OF BLYTH, Blyth, NE24 3PB
- System Concepts, London, WC2R 0EZ
- Whitebox Digital, London, W1F 8HT
The ICAEW Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Award
- Alumet Systems (UK), Southam, CV47 0NA
- Coca-Cola Enterprises, Uxbridge, UB8 1EZ
- Commercial, Cheltenham, GL53 0DL
- DRP Group, London, WC24 9AN
- Kestrel Liner Agencies, Basildon, SS14 3JJ
- Morgan Hunt, London, EC4M 7EG
- Otter Brewery, Honiton, EX14 4SA
- Redeem, Falkirk, FK2 9EG
- The Co-Operative Group, Manchester, M60 4ES
- Unilever, Leatherhead, KT22 7GR
The Santander Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year
- Abriox, Newport, NP10 8UH
- Analox Sensor Technology, Stokesley, TS9 5PT
- Coffee Nation, London, EC2A 4HH
- Crafter's Companion, Bishop Auckland, DL14 8LG
- Easi-Drive, Wythenshawe, M22 4RW
- Glencairn Crystal Studio, East Kilbride, G75 0YG
- La Fosse Associates, London, SW1Y 4PH
- Make It Cheaper, London, SE1 7UE
- Media Ingenuity, London, EC1R 4RP
- Piccadilly Backpackers (PB), London, W1F 7BR
- SJD Accountancy, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 4AY
- SpiriTel, London, EC4N 7BP
The Grant Thornton Mid-Cap Business of the Year
- Telecity Group, London, E14 9GE
- Wesleyan Insurance Society, Birmingham, B4 6AR
- Retail Decisions, Brookwood, GU24 0BL
- Staffline Group, Nottingham, NG2 1AE
- Renew Holdings plc, Aberford, LS25 3AA
- Matchtech Group, Fareham, PO15 7AF
The 3i Private Business of the Year
- Aquila Group Holdings Ltd, Redhill, RH1 1NJ
- Camelot, Watford, WD18 9RN
- Schneiders FX, London, EC2R 7BP
- Cheapflights, London, WC1E 7EB
- Neptune, London, W6 8DA
- Mott McDonald, Croydon, CR0 2EE
- Ener-g, Manchester, M50 1DT
- Ioko, York, YO10 5ZD
- DCS Europe, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 9YL
- Iceland, Deeside, CH5 2NW
The Coutts & Co Large-Cap Business of the Year
- Alliance Boots, Nottingham, NG2 3AA
- Pearson, London, WC2R 0RL
- Whitbread, Dunstable, LU5 5XE
- The Co-operative Group, Manchester, M60 4ES
- Hiscox, London, EC3A 6HX
- Autonomy, Cambridge, CB4 0WZ
- Intertek Group, London, W1S 2ES
- The Berkeley Group, London, SW8 4PE
- Barchester Healthcare, London, SW10 0XF
- HMV Group, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 1SR
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