LinkedIn launches European Business Awards in association with Cisco WebEx

First awards to recognise success as a result of business collaboration

Win the chance to be mentored by a global business expert

LinkedIn, the professional networking site, is partnering with Cisco WebEx online collaboration, the web conferencing and collaboration solutions specialist, to launch the inaugural LinkedIn European Business Awards. The awards will recognise exceptional business success both on a personal and company wide level, specifically rewarding innovation and collaboration in business.

The European Business Awards are open to all members of LinkedIn across Europe, with individuals and companies of any size eligible to enter. Entrants can either nominate themselves or others for the awards online at www.linkedinbusinessawards.eu.

The awards will be judged by LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, PY Gerbeau, the famous French entrepreneur and business consultant, and James Campanini, the head of Cisco WebEx for EMEA and Latin America. The winner of each category will be awarded a live WebEx session with one of the judges, with the final overall winner receiving an expenses-paid trip to travel to London for their personal meeting with PY Gerbeau.

The award categories include:

Best Business Startup - from idea to success, this award goes to a company that started trading after September 2008, has beaten its original forecasts, and can demonstrate outstanding long-term potential

Business Leader of the Year - for creating an outstanding workplace based on a set of values that has led to a committed, effective and motivated workforce

Best Business Innovation - this award will go to the organisation that can best demonstrate a proven ability to create, grow and develop innovations or processes that substantially improve the commercial performance or prospects of the company

Rising Star - recognises a non-board level individual whose initiative and determination has made an exceptional contribution to the success of the business and has demonstrated exceptional ability in working with clients, suppliers, colleagues and stakeholders to make a difference

To win, professionals and businesses will have to demonstrate how they have found exceptional business success as a result of collaboration and sharing ideas and provide tangible proof of achievement.

Kevin Eyres, European MD at LinkedIn, commented: LinkedIn and Cisco WebEx share common goals in helping professionals to be more productive, share information and work smarter through collaboration. The aim of the awards is to recognise which professionals in Europe are striving to achieve this every day. For the winners of each category is the chance to get time with highly successful entrepreneurs to learn how they do it.

James Campanini of Cisco WebEx added: When so many businesspeople are focused on minimising the effects of the recession and looking forward to economic recovery, it's easy to forget the hard work being done day-in and day-out by professionals everywhere. With these awards, we want to recognise and give credit to the individuals who are making new business happen and making existing businesses work smarter and be more successful.

The deadline for entries is Friday December 31st 2009. The winners will be announced in April 2010 in an awards presentation via a live Cisco WebEx.

To enter, businesses will need to complete the online entry form for their specific category at www.linkedinbusinessawards.eu