LONDON, May 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Winners of 2014/15 European Business Awards Programme Crowned at Gala Event in London
EUROPE's best businesses are celebrating after being named winners in the 2014/15 European Business Awards, sponsored by RSM, at an exclusive awards ceremony in London last night attended by leading business leaders, politicians, ambassadors and academics from across Europe.
The winning businesses have achieved their success after 16 months in the largest, and one of the toughest, business competitions in Europe, which this year attracted over 24,000 businesses and generated over 170,000 votes from the public.
Business VIPs presented trophies to the 11 category winners of the competition, as well as the 'European Public Champion', and the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Adrian Tripp, CEO of the European Business Awards, added: "These brilliant businesses are the best of the best. They are adapting, innovating, achieving financial success and creating strong growth opportunities. Together they are forging a stronger business community in Europe and creating a better future for us all."
Jean Stephens, CEO of RSM, the 7th largest network of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, said: "The calibre of this year's competition finalists is outstanding. The extraordinary entrepreneurialism, innovation and business success demonstrated by the Ruban D'Honneurs and the overall category winners shows how much can be achieved in challenging market conditions. At RSM, we believe it is important to champion business excellence as successful and thriving companies are an integral force in driving growth and stimulating economies. All those involved are a credit to their country and we wish them every success for the future."
The 11 category winners went through a process of written submissions, video entry judging and face-to-face interviews, and were shortlisted as one of 709 National Champions and 110 Ruban d'Honneur recipients before reaching the final.
In the 2014/15 competition, all EU member markets were represented plus Turkey, Norway, Switzerland, Serbia, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The combined revenue of the entrants exceeded €1.5 trillion, and together they generated profits of over €60 billion and employ over 2.5 million people.
Supported since their inception by lead sponsor and promoter RSM International, the European Business Awards' is now in its 9th year and its primary purpose is to support the development of a stronger and more successful business community throughout Europe. For further information about the European Business Awards, its winners and RSM please go to http://www.businessawardseurope.com or http://www.rsmi.com.
THE WINNERS
Category Winner Country The RSM Entrepreneur of the Year Award BMZ Germany The UKTI Award for Innovation ALMAC GROUP UK The ELITE Award for Growth Strategy of the Year ANTARES VISION Italy The Award for Environmental & Corporate Sustainability SAMHALL Sweden NOTTINGHAM CITY The Award for Customer Focus TRANSPORT UK MERCEDES-BENZ FINANCIAL SERVICES The Employer of the Year Award TURKEY Turkey The Import/Export Award AUSA Spain The Business of the Year Award [turnover EUR0-25m] DOK-ING Croatia The Business of the Year Award [turnover EUR26-150m] CLINIGEN GROUP UK The Business of the Year Award [turnover EUR150m+] TOMRA SYSTEMS ASA Norway The European Public Champion UTILITY WAREHOUSE UK The Chairman's Selection Award BARON DE LEY Spain The Lifetime Achievement Award SIR JOHN MADEJSKI UK
About the European Business Awards:
The European Business Awards' primary purpose is to support the development of a stronger and more successful business community throughout Europe.
For all of the citizens of Europe, our prosperity, social and healthcare systems are reliant on businesses creating an even stronger, more innovative, successful, international and ethical business community - one that forms the beating heart of an increasingly globalised economy.
The European Business Awards programme serves the European business community in three ways:
• It celebrates and endorses individuals' and organisations' success
• It provides and promotes examples of excellence for the business community to aspire to
• It engages with the European business community to create debate on key issues
The European Business Awards is now in its 9th year. It attracted over 24,000 businesses to the competition last year and in the public vote generated over 170,000 votes from across Europe.
http://www.businessawardseurope.com.
About RSM International
RSM is the 7th largest network of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, encompassing over 112 countries, 700 offices and 37,400 people internationally. The network's total fee income is US$4.4 billion. RSM is the 6th largest provider of tax services and audit and accounting services worldwide.
RSM is the lead sponsor and corporate champion of the European Business Awards promoting commercial excellence and recognition of entrepreneurial brilliance.
RSM is a member of the Forum of Firms. The objective of the Forum of Firms is to promote consistent and high quality standards of financial and auditing practices worldwide.
RSM is the brand used by a network of independent accounting and advisory firms each of which practices in its own right. RSM International Limited does not itself provide any accounting and advisory services. Member firms are driven by a common vision of providing high quality professional services, both in their domestic markets and in serving the international professional service needs of their client base. http://www.rsmi.com
About UK Trade & Investment:
UKTI works with UK based businesses to ensure their success in international markets through exports and encourages and supports overseas companies to look at the UK as the best place to set up or expand their business.
About ELITE:
ELITE is an integrated service designed to help SMEs prepare and structure for the next stage of growth through access to long term financing opportunities.
ELITE targets SMEs with a sound business model, clear growth strategy and a desire to obtain funding in the near future.
ELITE offers an innovative approach, including a training programme, a working zone supported by a tutorship model and direct access to the financial community through dedicated digital community facilities. It is "capital neutral" to any financing opportunity, providing access to Private Equity and Venture Capital Funds, debt products, etc. ELITE was successfully launched in Italy in 2012 and in the UK in 2014. It now accounts for more than 200 companies of different sizes and sectors, more than 150 partners and more than 70 long term investors. It is a European platform deeply rooted in each domestic market, through partnership with local institutions combined with the opportunity to access international support and advice.
It will be a community of excellence: companies, advisors, investors and stakeholders with an interest in supporting SMEs. The larger the community, the wider the range of business and growth opportunities offered to ELITE members.
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