National business awards now open for entries

The National Business Awards, sponsored by Orange, recognises and rewards excellence, innovation and success. Uniquely open to organisations of all sizes and from any industry sector - public or private, companies from across the country are now being invited to take part in this yearís celebration of business excellence. The closing date for entries is Wednesday 25 July 2007.

Allowing the best of British businesses to showcase their achievements and benchmark their successes against firms and bodies of all types, the combined turnover of entrants in 2006ís national programme was 366 billion with a profit of 32billion, while it represented 1.8 million UK employees and 250,000 personnel overseas.

Made up of 18 categories, short listed finalists will be announced in late August before preparing to make their presentations in person before an independent expert judging panel in late September/early October. Winners will be unveiled at a glittering gala awards ceremony and dinner at Londonís Grosvenor House Hotel on 13 November.

The categories are:
- The 3i Growth Strategy of the Year Award
- The AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award
- The Badenoch and Clark Business of the Year Award
- The BRE Better Regulation Award
- The Business Innovation of the Year Award
- The Cable and Wireless Award for Customer Focus
- The City and Guilds Employer of the Year Award
- The ClarityBlue Marketing Strategy of the Year Award
- The Corporate Social Responsibility Award
- The Credit Suisse Award for the Outstanding Woman in Business
- The Credit Suisse Entrepreneur of the Year Award
- The Daily Telegraph Award for a Decade of Excellence
- The Health, Work and Well-being Award
- The IMechE Engineering the Future Award
- The Investors in People Outstanding Workplace of the Year Award
- The Orange Best Use of Technology in Business Award
- The Orange Business Leader of the Year
- The Tenon Award for Entrepreneurial Spirit

2006 winners included ARM Holdings as Business of the Year Award, Kevin Whiteman, chief executive of The Kelda Group was The Orange Business Leader of the Year. Other winners were Jaguar and Land Rover, Robyn Jones of Charlton House, Bigmouthmedia, Shepherd Neame, Helen Colley of Farmhouse Fare, ADM Milling, epyx, Department for Transport, and Overbury. ARM Holdings subsequently won the CMS Cameron McKenna Business of the Year in the 2007 European Business Awards in Brussels.

Neil Laidler, Vice President Business Services, Orange UK, said:
Entrepreneurship, innovation and determination to succeed are the central characteristics of every thriving business. People want to be inspired to learn from the success of others and The National Business Awards continue to provide an excellent benchmark of this business success. Supporting business excellence is something Orange is very passionate about. Our continued involvement with the National Business Awards provides the opportunity to engage with the UKís leading organisations and celebrate their achievements.

To obtain further information or enter, please visit www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk, telephone 020 7378 1188 or email nba@questmedia.com