Showcasing the strength of UK-China Partnership
BEIJING, April 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ --
The British Business Awards 2012 was successfully launched in Beijing at the British Embassy on the evening of the 26th of April. The event was hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce in China. The Awards' patron and Her Majesty's Ambassador, Sebastian Wood gave the opening speech encouraging British companies and returning Chinese alumni to actively get involved in the awards.
"The British Business Awards will play their own important role in highlighting the skills and expertise which British business can offer to China. The Awards will again, this year, recognise and promote British business excellence and highlight the strengths of the UK across many sectors.
In addition, the Awards are an excellent way to recognise those Chinese alumni of UK universities who, on their return to China, have gone on to notable achievements. The UK is home to around 100,000 Chinese students. The skills and knowledge they obtain in the UK are valuable to their subsequent careers in China; and this is our chance to celebrate their achievements, and the overall strength of the UK education sector in China."- Her Majesty's Ambassador, and Patron of the British Business Awards 2012, Sebastian Wood
The Awards, supported by the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), British Embassy and Consulate Generals in China, the British Chambers of Commerce in China, amongst other key British organisations and business, seek to highlight the UK as a leading business partner of choice for Chinese companies through the celebration of successful British businesses in China, and promote Sino-British trade relations.
While showcasing hallmarks of British spirit – innovation, enterprise and endeavour, and acting as testimony to the depth, breadth and success of British business operating in China, the Awards also give recognition to excellent achievements of returning Chinese scholars from the UK, as well as Chinese businesses operating in the UK.
Applications are now open and the British Business Awards invites all eligible individuals and organisations to enter. Five finalists in each of the eight categories will be chosen by an independent panel of judges and announced at a Finalists Event in late June. The highlight event of the Awards, a Gala Awards Dinner will take place on the 8th November, when the winners will be announced.
Application deadline is 18th May 2012.
More information is available at www.britishbusinessawards.cn
For further information, and/ or for interview arrangements, please contact:
Carole Kurowski, The British Business Awards 2012 Project Manager Tel: 0086 (21) 6218 5022 – 14 Email: carole.kurowski@britishchambershanghai.org
More about the British Business Awards 2012 –www.britishbusinessawards.cn
Appendix I: The British Business Awards 2012 Awards Categories
Sustainability Award Sponsored by BP The Sustainability award seeks to recognise organisations who have demonstrated a commitment to the building of a sustainable business in China.
Chinese UK Alumnus Award Sponsored by the British Council This Award will go to a Chinese national who has studied in the UK and received a bachelors degree or higher degree from a UK university and who can best demonstrate the positive influence that British education and culture has had on their chosen occupation.
Entrepreneur of the Year Award Sponsored by COSTA The Entrepreneur of the Year award recognises individuals and registered small companies who have demonstrated courage, skill and entrepreneurial flair in developing their new business in China. The award is open to start ups and new businesses which have been operating for less than six years.
Innovation Award Sponsored by GKN The Innovation award recognises British organisations in the engineering, technology or science sectors, who have demonstrated excellence in bringing innovative products or processes to the China market.
Chinese Investor of the Year Award Sponsored by Hogan Lovells This award seeks to acknowledge those Chinese companies who have established a business in the UK and can best demonstrate strong growth, innovative strategies and market leadership
Creativity Award Sponsored by Jaguar Land Rover The Creativity award recognises those organisations from within the creative industries (Fashion, the Arts, Architecture & Design, Advertising, Publishing, Film, Music & other Digital Media) that represent the best of the UK's creative energy in China.
Financial & Professional Services Award Sponsored by Manchester Business School The Financial & Professional Services award recognises British organisations who have demonstrated excellence in supporting the development of their sector in China.
British Company of the Year Award Sponsored by UK Trade and Investment The British Company of the Year Award seeks to celebrate those British organisations operating in China, who best demonstrate the UK's commitment to developing a sustainable business partnership between our two nations.
Appendix II: The British Business Awards 2012 Award Sponsors
BP BP is one of the world's largest oil and gas companies. BP has been operating in China since the early 1970s. By end of 2011, BP was operating 26 active joint ventures and wholly-owned BP business entities. With a total investment of nearly US$4.8 billion at the end of 2011, BP is one of the leading foreign investors in China. BP's business activities include deepwater exploration and offshore gas production, petrochemicals manufacturing and marketing, aviation fuel supply, oil product and lubricant retailing, and the sales of chemicals technology.
The British Council The British Council is the UK's international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We work in over 100 countries worldwide to build opportunity and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people. We work in the Arts, English, Education and Society, including science and sport. Our first office in China opened in 1943 and we work in five cities in China. In Beijing we operate as the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy. In Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing we operate as the Cultural and Education Section of the British Consulates-General respectively. For more information, please visit www.britishcouncil.org.cn.
COSTA COFFEE Started in 1971 by two Italian Brothers in Lambeth London, under two old railways arches where Coffee is still roasted today, COSTA COFFEE currently has over 2000 stores in 30 countries. In China we have nearly 200 stores in 20 Chinese cities and continue to expand rapidly. Our mission is to give our customers A Great Coffee Experience, our people a great place to work and above all to save everyone from Mediocre Coffee.
GKN GKN is a global engineering group – our technologies and products are at the heart of vehicles and aircraft produced by the world's leading automotive manufacturers. Established in 1759, GKN employs more than 44,000 people in over 35 countries. Over twenty years ago, GKN was the first automotive supplier to invest in China. Today, GKN employs over 5,000 people and is committed to a strategy of long term growth with its partners in China.
Hogan Lovells Hogan Lovells is a global legal practice with over 2,500 lawyers operating out of more than 40 offices in the U.S., Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia covering all the main areas of practice. Having been in China for over 20 years, we are now one of the largest international law firms in mainland China, providing local and international clients with a full service offering for both outbound and inbound transactions, corporate and commercial advice, as well as intellectual property, construction and dispute resolution matters.
Jaguar Land Rover Jaguar Land Rover is a British automaker possessing two premium brands: Jaguar and Land Rover, both of which boast of vehicles with stunning design, cutting-edge technology and breathtaking performance. Since its entry to China, it has been enjoying rapid growth in the country. With a long-term commitment to China, Jaguar Land Rover established a national sales company in the country in 2010, and now offers its full model line-up in the market.
Manchester Business School Founded in 1965, MBS is one of the first business schools in the UK. It is currently ranked first in the UK for business research and its doctoral programme is ranked No.1 in the world by the Financial Times. MBS is triple accredited by AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. The UK government body HEFCE ranks MBS teaching capabilities as ‘Excellent', the highest category. MBS has a network of 7 international centres and over 40,000 alumni worldwide. In 2008, MBS opened its China centre in Shanghai, bringing British world class education to the Chinese market, and demonstrating a long term commitment and sustainable growth with its Chinese partners.
UK Trade and Investment UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is the British Government organisation that helps UK-based companies succeed in an increasingly global economy. UKTI's multi-sector teams are at your service in the British Consulate-General Shanghai and at the other diplomatic posts in Beijing, Guangzhou and Chongqing. We use our expert sector knowledge and unbeatable official access to Chinese government and business, to help you develop your business in China. UKTI also helps overseas companies bring high quality investment to the UK's dynamic economy; providing support and advice to investors at all stages of their business. For more information please email: Commercial.shanghai@fco.gov.uk.
