SHANGHAI, June 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The British Business Awards 2020 was launched yesterday at The Langham Shanghai Xintiandi by the British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai. The Awards, supported by Department for International Trade (DIT), The British Council, China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), Confederation of British Industry (CBI), and British Chambers in Beijing, Guangdong and Southwest, seek to celebrate the fantastic work being done by British businesses across China and the ever-growing trade between China and the UK.
Established in 2008, the biennial British Business Awards have grown to become a prestigious feature of the business calendar, recognising and promoting excellence in innovation, enterprise and endeavour in the British and Chinese business communities. Through ten categories in 2020, the Awards act as a testimony to the depth, breadth and success of British businesses operating in China, as well as recognise the excellent achievements of Chinese businesses operating in the UK.
"The UK and China have fostered a constructive trade relationship over recent years. 2019 saw record volumes of UK-China bilateral trade. Total bilateral trade reached GBP 104.5 billion. China remains the UK's third-largest export market after the EU and North America. The UK is the global No.1 destination for foreign direct investment in Europe and was the largest recipient of Chinese investment in Europe in 2019. We have also seen high levels of UK foreign direct investment flow into China, reaching GBP 3 billion (RMB 27.4 billion) in 2018, up 159% on 2017.
Although the epidemic has indeed hit hard trade around the world, including trade between our two countries, Britain and China maintain confidence in the prospects for future economic and trade cooperation. British and Chinese businesses will be at the heart of the recovery and of that cooperation - helping not only to exchange knowledge and expertise but also to maintain and build trade ties between the UK and China. The British Business Awards will play a hugely important role in highlighting the skills and expertise which British businesses can offer to China." - British Consul-General in Shanghai, Chris Wood
Chairman of the British Business Awards 2020, Ray Chisnall, introduced this year's Awards, "This year, we expand the Awards by introducing three new categories, British Exporter of the Year Award, Leadership Award and Best Employer Award. By doing so, the Awards cover more areas and aspects to recognise and reward the best that British companies offer to China." Ray also encouraged applicants to build a bright future for both Chinese and British economies in this challenging time with their entrepreneurial spirit and cooperative stewardship. "We are living in truly unprecedented times, and it is only by working collaboratively across all boundaries that we can overcome the challenges and make sure business continues to grow between the UK and China. The Awards are a recognition of the tremendous work being done, and it is vital we continue to build on the strong foundations that exist. I encourage all companies to seize the opportunity this presents to showcase their business in the UK, China and beyond."
Award categories of the British Business Awards 2020 are:
Applications are now open, and the Awards invite all eligible individuals and organisations to enter. Five finalists in each of the ten categories will be chosen by the corresponding independent panel of judges and announced at a Finalists Event on 3 September. The highlight of the Awards, an Awards Gala Dinner will take place on 29 October, when the winners will be announced.
Application deadline is 31 July 2020.
More information is available at www.britishbusinessawards.cn.
About The British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai
The British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai is a non-for-profit membership organisation with a history extending back to 1915. For more than 105 years, the Chamber has always implemented its original ethos of helping each other in the interests of growing British trade with China.
Currently, the Chamber represents over 300 companies with around 1500 member individuals.
By organising over 170 online and offline events, as well as committee meetings 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 strong and diverse 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.
In May 2019, four British chambers of commerce in mainland China launched the inaugural Position Paper for UK business in China. This report was a special milestone, as it represents the culmination of two years of reform of the British chambers of commerce in China. Four British chambers of commerce representing Beijing (China), Shanghai, Guangdong, and the Southwest are now working together for members representing a single combined voice of British business in China.
This report was the culmination of feedback from a number of roundtables, interviews and surveys focusing on the business environment and market access issues for UK member businesses operating in China. The second Position Paper was launched on 9 June 2020.
Appendix I: The British Business Awards 2020 - Awards Categories
Innovation Award Sponsored by bp
The Innovation Award seeks to recognise British excellence in bringing innovative ideas, products or processes to the Chinese market, which has contributed to the growth of their sector, or leverage existing approach in a new and creative manner. |
Sustainability Award Sponsored by Houghton Street Consulting
The Sustainability Award seeks to recognise organisations that have demonstrated a commitment to the building of a sustainable business in China and to help promote the benefits of a sustainable business model in the Chinese market. |
Education Institutional Partnership of the Year Award
The Education Institutional Partnership of the Year Award will be presented to a UK higher or further education institution that has partnered with a Chinese organisation to deliver significant impact in the last 24 months. |
Entrepreneur of the Year Award Sponsored by The British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai
The Entrepreneur of the Year Award seeks to celebrate the risks that entrepreneurs take to ensure that businesses can grow and thrive, and the fantastic contribution these risk-takers make to China-UK business relations. |
Chinese Investor in the UK Award
The Chinese Investor to the UK Award seeks to acknowledge Chinese companies that have established a business in the UK and demonstrates strong growth, innovative strategies and robust market presence. |
British Exporter of the Year Award Sponsored by CBBC
The British Exporter of the Year Award celebrates British success and innovation in exporting to China. It is open to companies who can demonstrate sustained exports to the Chinese market for at least three years and the positive impact this has had on the UK economy. Applicants can be UK manufacturers who export to China from third markets with products that utilise British IP / Patents / Knowledge. |
Leadership Award Sponsored by The University of Manchester China Centre
The Leadership Award seeks to acknowledge and celebrate exemplary leadership that has successfully led strategy for outstanding performance. A strong leader demonstrates a unique ability to guide and inspire others. |
Best Employer Award Sponsored by Smith+Nephew
The Best Employer Award seeks to recognise the business that goes above and beyond for their employees and provides the best overall place to work. The company values employee development and retention on the same level that it values productivity and business growth. It places high levels of importance on corporate culture and a happy and healthy work environment for their staff. |
Best Services Award Sponsored by KPMG China
The Best Services Award recognises services organisations that have demonstrated excellence in supporting the development of their sector in China, brought positive impact on better regulation or improved market environment, or provided a novel or outstanding service to the Chinese market. |
British Company of the Year Award Sponsored by SpiraxSarco
The British Company of the Year Award seeks to recognise British organisations in any industry sector in China that exemplify the UK's commitment to developing sustainable business and cultural relations between our two countries. |
Appendix II: The British Business Awards 2020 - Award Sponsors
bp
www.bp.com; www.bp.com.cn
WeChat: BP_BPCHINA
Headquartered in London, bp is one of the world's leading integrated energy companies. It has operations in 79 countries and its major business activities include exploration and production, refining and marketing, petrochemicals and lubricants etc. bp has around 70,100 employees worldwide and its shares are traded at the London and New York stock exchange markets.
bp's purpose is reimagining energy for people and our planet. Its ambition is to be a net zero company by 2050 or sooner, and to help the world get to net zero. To deliver that ambition, we are reinventing bp to become a more focused and integrated company. We also commit to performing while transforming--operating safely and reliably as well as delivering on the promises we've made to shareholders.
China-Britain Business Council (CBBC)
www.cbbc.org
WeChat: CBBC_China
The China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) is the UK's national business network promoting trade and investment with China. Since 1954 we have acted as the independent voice of business, located at the heart of the action, engaging across both countries in every sector and region. We support our members and partners by delivering the advice, analysis and access which they need in order to seize the China opportunity.
Our diverse membership includes leading UK companies and universities, many of the UK's most dynamic SMEs, and an ever increasing number of Chinese companies exporting to and investing in the UK.
Houghton Street Consulting Limited China
www.houghtonstreet.org
Houghton Street Consulting (HSC) has been designing and creating health & life insurance solutions globally for mobile citizens over a decade now, whether they are employees of companies, schools, international organisations or individuals. We understand your concerns and anticipate your needs. We adapt to new challenges with tailor-made solutions to facilitate your daily health management through innovative products and services. As a leader in international School Employee Benefits, with over 100 school clients, HSC has a very strong track record in business development values from fortune 500 companies, international schools and SMEs. We believe every client is unique therefore we always provide tailor-made services and solutions. If you would like to efficiently manage time and grow your business, we are here for you.
KPMG China
EN: home.kpmg/cn/en/home.html; CN: home.kpmg/cn/zh/home.html
WeChat: KPMGChina
KPMG is a global network of professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 147 countries and territories and have more than 219,000 people working in member firms around the world.
KPMG works with the top companies in every sector, both in China and globally. Our clients trust us to help them with their biggest challenges. We run a large managed services centre in China for major banking players and serve top insurance companies for industry-leading digital transformation and innovation initiatives. KPMG China was also voted one of China's best employers in 2019.
Now KPMG China is based in 24 offices across 22 cities with around 12,000 partners and staff. We are trusted to help shape the future of business in China and bring China to the world.
The University of Manchester China Centre
www.uom.ac.cn
WeChat: UoM_China
Founded in 2008, The University of Manchester China Centre has devoted herself to being a successful ambassador of the University of Manchester and making UoM alumni community visible and respected in China. Through the education resources sharing, scientific research creation, and the win-win business development between two countries, China Centre has become the model in terms of education cooperation, cultural exchanges and talents cultivation.
The University of Manchester China Centre is committed to cultivate talent with global exposure, through providing programmes including: Manchester Global Part-time MBA, Kelley-Manchester Global MBA, Tongji-Manchester Global MBA, MSc Financial Management, MSc International Fashion Marketing, MA Educational Leadership, etc.
Smith+Nephew Medical (Shanghai) Limited
www.smith-nephew.com
Smith+Nephew is a portfolio medical technology business that exists to restore people's bodies and their self-belief by using technology to take the limits off living. We call this purpose 'Life Unlimited'.
Our 16,000+ employees deliver this mission every day, making a difference to patients' lives through the excellence of our product portfolio, and the invention and application of new technologies across our three global franchises of Orthopaedics, Advanced Wound Management and Sports Medicine & ENT.
Founded in Hull, UK, in 1856, we now operate in more than 100 countries, and generated annual sales of $4.9 billion in 2018.
SpiraxSarco Engineering (China) Co. Ltd.
www.spiraxsarco.com/cn
WeChat: spirax_sarco_china
SpiraxSarco provides professional knowledge and solution for steam and thermal users all over the world. It helps you to improve equipment performance and system efficiency observably, and save energy to achieve sustainability target. SpiraxSarco Engineering (China) Co., Ltd. was established in 1995 in Shanghai.
During the past 25 years, we focus on promote effective application and control of steam, hot water, compressed air and other industrial fluid in China. We have 42 sales and service offices national wide. Chinese customers build or update their steam systems with SpiraxSarco techniques and products, which improve system efficiency and save energy. SpiraxSarco is recognised as steam experts for steam and thermal system solution.
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