SHANGHAI, Nov. 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On 3 November, 11 winners of the 2016 British Business Awards (BBA) were announced at the InterContinental Shanghai Pudong. Hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai, the 2016 BBA consists of eight award categories to recognise excellence in innovation, enterprise and endeavour, in the British business community in China.
Patron of the 2016 BBA, Her Majesty's Ambassador to China, Barbara Woodward CMG OBE, addressed to the guests, "Thank you all for joining this wonderful evening. Whether you have been nominated or not, whether you are British or Chinese, or international, thank you for everything that you do day in, day out to build trade ties between the UK and China. Tonight, above all, is a celebration of that."
Competition was fierce as the quality of this year's applications was higher than ever. Head Judge of the 2016 BBA, and Chairman of the British Chamber Shanghai, Barry Piper, commented, "The applications that we have received across all categories are truly impressive. They represent very different businesses in very different parts of China. But they all have one thing in common; they embody the spirit of enterprise that is at the heart of Britain and China's economic future.
"Tonight we celebrated the leadership in manufacturing and exporting, to education and innovation, and from services to looking after our planet... these awards are rightly the 'Oscars' of great British business."
Liam Fox, UK Secretary of State for International Trade, sent his congratulations via a video message to all the BBA participants and shared his encouraging prospects for future Britain-China collaborations by stating that, "The future between our countries is clearly bright, and as China seeks to expand its service economy, there will be almost unlimited opportunities for British and Chinese business to exchange knowledge and expertise."
The 2016 BBA came in a momentous week for the UK in East China, which saw the second UK-China Regional Leader Summit take place in Shanghai; and eight Vice-Chancellors from the UK's Russell Group universities visit Shanghai to meet with leaders from China's C9 universities.
The 2016 British Business Awards winners are:
Best New Exporter to China Award (Sponsored by the Department for International Trade)
Education Institutional Partnership of the Year (Sponsored by The British Council)
Chinese Investor of the Year Award* (Sponsored by the University of Manchester China Centre)
New Business Award (Sponsored by The British Consulate-General Shanghai)
Innovation Award* (Sponsored by InterContinental Hotel Group)
Best Services Award (Sponsored by KPMG)
Sustainable Business Award* (Sponsored by The British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai)
British Company of the Year (Sponsored by British Airways)
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joint winners |
More about the 2016 British Business Awards -- www.britishbusinessawards.cn
Editor's Notes:
Appendix I -- Winners
Best New Exporter to China Award -- Peak Scientific Instruments
Peak Scientific is a leading innovator in the design, manufacture and support of high performance gas generators. With nearly two decades of experience in reliable gas generator technology, Peak develops market-leading nitrogen, hydrogen and zero air systems for laboratories, as well as nitrogen generators for manufacturing & processing industries. Peak is honoured to be nominated as a finalist, Best New Exporter to China Award Category, especially given the calibre of applicants. Being nominated recognises the success built since entering the market five years ago. Peak Scientific exports to over 125 countries and has a direct presence in over 20 countries. China has become Peak's largest export destination, a true testament to our unrivalled products and services.
Education Institutional Partnership of the Year -- The University of Nottingham Ningbo China
The University of Nottingham is very proud to be a finalist in two categories in the British Business Awards-British Company of the Year and Education Institutional Partnership of the Year. It is fantastic recognition for the University itself and in particular, for the work of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China campus(UNNC). The British Company of the Year category demonstrates the tremendous impact that the University of Nottingham has made in China through knowledge exchange, particularly through its work with businesses. These include multi-million pound collaborations in industries such as the Marine Economy, Aerospace, New Materials, and Carbon Capture. The nomination is recognition for the power of these commercial collaborations to enhance UK-China relations.
Chinese Investor of the Year Award*
Beijing Construction Engineering Group
Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG) is a leading construction and engineering company in China and is already active in global markets. As a major state owned enterprise and with operations in 27 countries, BCEG is a diverse business across a number of sectors around the world. The British Business Award is to recognise enterprises and organisations that have made outstanding contributions to Sino-British trade and relationship, BCEG is honoured to be nominated in the finalist of Chinese Investor of the Year. With its ongoing investment in the UK since 2013, BCEG has shown great dedication to the local City Councils, the Communities and its partners, and has become an ambassador for the two countries. BCEG is currently working on the GBP800m Manchester Airport City project, the GBP700m Middlewood Locks scheme in Salford and the GBP200m St Michael's development in Manchester city centre.
Sanpower Group
Sanpower Group is a large private conglomerate whose expertise in the technology and modern service industries act as a base for its three-pronged business strategy of developing synergies among its businesses in the finance, healthcare and commerce sectors. Reception of this award is a great honour, not only as a recognition of the success Chinese private companies' have achieved through implementing the national "going - out" strategy, but also as a testament to Sanpower's development philosophy and our efforts to draw from western business models and supply chains to achieve industrial transformation and advancement. Through the support of Sanpower, the two major British brands, House of Fraser and Hamleys, are entering the Chinese market and will soon open their first flagship stores in Nanjing, China. Acting as a Chinese investor, Sanpower has not only provided ample funds and strategic support for their domestic developments, but has also helped them open the Chinese market and realise their global expansion.
New Business Award -- The Happy Monk
A cool, yet welcoming, "London-style" cocktail bar/restaurant serving a broad range of drinks and food, bringing an authentic western F&B experience to our predominantly local Chinese customer base. We are truly honoured and to have been shortlisted as a finalist for this year's New Business Award, not least given the high caliber of this year's entrants. British business is synonymous with values such as quality, creativity, enterprise and ethics. We are proud to be associated with such values and proud to be able to share these values with all our stakeholders. In five short years, from our beginnings as a 100% British-owned start-up business, we have become a respected brand in the Guangzhou F&B scene, operating from three downtown locations with a team of almost 150. We thank all our customers and friends and also thank the British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai for the opportunity to take part in this year's BBA.
Innovation Award*
MicroTek Processes
MicroTek manufacture a range of Ultraviolet (UV) products for the treatment of food and beverages using non-thermal sterilisation technologies. Being a finalist is a fantastic endorsement of our China strategy. It would also provide evidence of our unwavering focus on the technical excellence of our product and the wider public benefit as well as the huge benefit to our clients. MicroTek teamed up with its Chinese equipment manufacturer and Business partner to design innovative and cost effective solutions for Chinese producers the MP5 UV system was specifically redesigned for the Chinese market partly due to the financial restraints these companies can find themselves under we found that prices we charge in Europe cannot be charged in China so we adapted the designs to allow us to provide the same level of innovation but at a cheaper cost this R&D was undertaken in China with our partner.
Sensewhere
Sensewhere is a British company with its head office located in Edinburgh and offices in the USA and China. We deliver low cost, scalable and accurate indoor positioning by automatically mapping radio-frequency signals inside buildings along with top-shelf software algorithms developed in Scotland. We license our software to Tencent. We aim to help fill the world's GPS blackspots for people to get connected inside or out, and being shortlisted for BBA really endorses our efforts. We are all about technology innovation and advancement, having been selected as finalists in this category is an acknowledgement of our ambitions for connected future.
Best Services Award
SIP Project Management
The whole team at SIP Project Management -- China's leading, independent construction project management consultancy -- is honoured to have been shortlisted in the Best Services category for a 2016 British Business Award. As a British firm operating solely in China, we have spent the past 23 years working hard to build and nurture a stable, local team; to evolve a suite of services that's built upon British best practice but is entirely specific to the China market; and to lead our peers, partners and China's future engineers in initiatives designed to continually improve our industry in China. To have those efforts recognised with this nomination is wonderful.
Sustainable Business Award*
BP China
BP is an international oil and gas company. It has operations in over 70 countries and its major business activities include exploration and production, refining and marketing, petrochemicals and lubricants. BP has been operating in China since the early 1970s and is one of the leading foreign investors in the oil & gas sector in China. We are proud of being selected into BBA Finalist for our efforts made for sustainability. Our Values & Behaviours are set for ensuring continuous work and improvement of sustainable business and social contribution. We aim to create long-term value for shareholders by helping to meet growing demand for energy in a safe and responsible way.
Unilever
Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries. Our ambition is to double the size of our business, whilst reducing our environmental footprint and increasing our positive social impact. Unilever seeks to be a responsible employer, business partner, good corporate citizen, and continues to deliver sustainable growth in China. To be a British Business Award finalist provides us with high recognition for the business in China. It demonstrates that we are on the right path to deliver the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan and develop sustainable business model in China. It encourages us to keep striving to raise the bar as we set the example for the world as a business that leads the way on sustainable living and consistently delivers sustainable growth. Unilever China has developed its sustainability agenda with clearly identified vision and set of values, successfully embedding sustainable business strategy and practices across the operations in China.
British Company of the Year
Jaguar Land Rover China
Since arriving in China in 2010, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the UK's largest car manufacturer, has increased sales more than 300%, established itself as the fourth largest automaker in the premium automotive segment, become the largest British exporter to China and put into action a local production strategy that will secure its long-term sustainable future. For JLR it is a great honour to be nominated for the Sustainable Business Award. Over the last six years, JLR has been committed to developing sustainably in China and with China by utilising the latest technology to ensure that all its business practices, including manufacturing and throughout its supply chains, are carried out in the most environmentally friendly and sustainable manner possible. As well as providing our customers with world-class products and services, we manage an award-winning CSR programme, which is improving lives in local communities, and have Apprentice Training Programmes in 10 Chinese cities.
Appendix II -- Awards Sponsors intro
British Airways
An airline that has been flying to Mainland China for over 30 years, British Airways triumphed in the 2014 Business Traveller Awards, winning Best Airline, Best Short-Haul Airline and Best Frequent Flyer Programme. The airline has held on to the top spot for another year after winning these three categories at the 2013 awards. In February 2014, British Airways was named the UK's Consumer Superbrand of 2014, securing the top position against 1,500 other brands.
British Council
The British Council is the UK's international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. They work in arts, English, education and society, including science and sport. The British Council's first office in China opened in 1943 and now work in five cities in China. In Beijing they operate as the cultural and Education section of the British Embassy. In Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing they operate as the Cultural and Education Section of the British Consulates-General respectively.
The British Consulate-General Shanghai
The British Consulate in Shanghai represents the UK government Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanghai and Zhejiang, and provides services to British nationals. Our work covers a range of issues including increasing mutual economic prosperity, climate change & energy, establishing stronger people to people ties and supporting British nationals in China.
The Department for International Trade
The Department for International Trade is the Government organisation that helps UK-based companies succeed in an increasingly global economy. Department for International Trade also helps overseas companies bring high quality investment to the UK's vibrant economy acknowledged as Europe's best place from which to succeed in global business providing support and advice to investors at all stages of their business decision-making.
InterContinental Hotels Group -- sponsor of the Innovation Award
InterContinental Hotels Group is a global company with 9 hotel brands. With over 4,700 hotels and nearly 674,000 rooms in almost 100 countries around the world, we know hospitality. Our vision is to become one of the great companies in the world by creating Great Hotels Guests Love. We will deliver this through our portfolio of preferred brands, our talented people and best-in-class delivery systems. At the heart of our culture is a commitment to act responsibly in everything we do.
KPMG
Today, KPMG China has around 10,000 professionals working in 17 offices. We are part of a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. Our client focus, commitment to excellence, global mindset and consistent delivery have helped us build trusted relationships, which are at the core of our business and reputation.
University of Manchester China Centre
University of Manchester China Centre is part of the University of Manchester, one of the UK's original 'redbrick' universities with a proud history, including 25 Nobel Prize winners among its legacy. In 2008 MBS opened its China Centre in Shanghai, demonstrating a long-term commitment and sustainable growth with its Chinese partners. The triple international accreditations (AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS) ensure MBS remain one of the best providers of world class business education in China.
The British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai
The British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai has a long history of serving members' needs in Shanghai. The combined expertise of the membership spans industries ranging from financial services, legal services, business consulting, engineering and manufacturing to agriculture, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, research and development, logistics, aerospace and more. As such, the Chamber aims to satisfy a broad spectrum of needs and interests.
Appendix III -- About the British Business Awards
The British Business Awards are a unique showcase for outstanding UK companies in China. Organised by the British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai, the Awards recognise and promote excellence in innovation, enterprise and endeavour in the British and Chinese business communities.
The Awards are held every two years and have grown in stature to become a prestigious feature of the business calendar. Consisting of eight award categories, the British Business Awards highlight organisations and individuals from a variety of disciplines who are achieving outstanding results and who demonstrate commitment to trade and investment in China
This year's Awards have received support from the British Consulate General Shanghai, The British Chamber of Commerce in China, British Chamber of Commerce Guangdong, The British Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong, The British Chamber of Commerce Southwest China, British Council, CBI, CBBC, City of London, Manchester China Forum, UKTI and Visit Britain.
Appendix IV -- About The British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai
The history of the British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai dates back to 1915, when it was first founded. Now 100 years on, as the oldest foreign Chamber still operating in China, the Chamber's original ethos of helping each other in the interests of growing British trade with China, is as true today as it was 100 years ago.
By holding over 120 events every year, the Chamber offers a vast amount of information and is able to promote the exchange and sharing of expertise among its professional community. The large network to which we offer access to also assists members to raise their profile locally and rapidly expand their business contacts here in East China. Currently, the Chamber represents over 350 companies with around 1500 cardholding members.
Membership Services & Benefits: Focus Groups, Events, Membership Directory, Business Referrals, Marketing Promotion, Privilege Club, HR Support, CSR, and etc.
Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20161107/0861611714-a
Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20161107/0861611714-b
