Organisations shortlisted include a range of private, public and third sector companies, including National Grid, Marks and Spencer and London Early Years Foundation.
The finalists together represent an annual turnover in excess of £135 billion and collectively employ over 700,000. They cover activities as diverse as digital marketing, international road haulage and logistics, water engineering and life sciences: sectors that reflect key areas of UK capability with high potential for international expansion. The diverse size of the companies entering is also huge – ranging from a business with an annual turnover of less than £50k to high growth and high value companies with multi-billion pound revenues.
Baroness Virginia Bottomley, Chair of Judges said: “This year has been a challenging environment for British businesses: these finalists demonstrate how companies are succeeding in the current climate through innovation, originality and tenacity. It’s good to see a broad range of companies both in sector and size – an impressive representation of the potential British businesses have. Congratulations to all our finalists.”
Alex Evans, Programme Director of the National Business Awards said: “This year’s finalists paint a picture of the new landscape of business. Organisations of all shapes and sizes have realised the value of talent; developing the internal entrepreneurs who will create and sustain growth and nurturing a collaborative and creative culture to drive the innovation needed to compete for, and keep, customers at home and abroad.”
Finalists were chosen from the hundreds of businesses that entered or were nominated for the prestigious titles. They will now prepare to be filmed, or make presentations in person at London’s iconic Gherkin, in front of expert juries who will decide the category winners, which will be announced at the awards ceremony on 13th November in London.
Co chair of the National Business Awards, Prof. Dominic Swords, Henley Business School and Economist said: “The finalists are a good representation of the British business landscape. This list should give the wider business community reassurance about the bright future of British business.”
Martin Stiven, Vice President of Business at Orange, part of Everything Everywhere, said: “Now in their eleventh year, the National Business Awards highlight fundamental principles of business – innovation and an endeavour for excellence – key Orange company beliefs. The entries this year have really raised the bar. All finalists have shown a great ability to adapt, successfully exploiting markets to improve their performance. Many congratulations to all finalists and best of luck with the next stage of the competition.”
