Dragons are all hot air! - Business Works

Dragons are all hot air!

National Business Awards

C ompany founders have been the inspiration for the success of the vast majority of top award-winning managers (not nationally recognised business leaders), new research reveals.

The dedication, will to succeed, innovation and foresight of a host of relatively-unknown business founders and former bosses were cited as the inspiration behind their successful companies that spurred their determination to achieve business excellence.

25% entry fee discount

Every Business Works reader will receive a 25% discount off their entry fee (a saving of £43.75 on the £175 cost per entry) when entering the Awards before June 20th 2010. To register simply call Michael Ruocco at the National Business Awards entries team on 020 7234 8755 and quote the following promotional code: Business Works NBA 2010.

External CEO celebrities such as Sir Alan Sugar and the Dragons’ Den judges failed even to get a mention as role models from National Business Awards (NBA) winners and finalists from 2002-2009. Only Sir Richard Branson was suggested in the unprompted research.

The research into the effects of winning awards also showed that around two thirds of organisations believed that winning made them more attractive to potential customers (62%) while a similar number said that it boosted internal morale (68%).

Almost all (93%) said it enhanced their organisation’s credibility and reputation in the market and exactly half added that it gave them a marketable point of difference over their competitors.

Successful businesses are a cut above the rest for a variety of reasons, but some core aspects appear essential to all of them. Four out of five businesses (81%) said that their success had stemmed from developing their own ideas rather than basing their plans on the ideas of others.

Steve Pateman of Santander with Tristram Mayhew
Steve Pateman of Santander with Tristram Mayhew

Go Ape’s Founder (“Chief Gorilla”), Tristram Mayhew, says, “Applying for the National Business Award was in itself a good business discipline since it required a rigorous assessment of our strengths and weakness as an organisation. Going on to win the award has been a great boost for all the 350 people who have dedicated themselves to making Go Ape a success. It has given us fantastic PR opportunities right across the country and provided a small company with added commercial credibility. I would recommend entering the Awards to any business keen to challenge themselves and the competition.” Go Ape won the Santander Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year category at 2009’s National Business Awards.

Martin Stiven, VP of Business for Orange, added, "It has been a tough couple of years for business, but despite that we have seen real innovation enabling new ways of achieving success. Entering the National Business Awards is a great way to highlight that success, while customers and employees will all recognise the strength of the finalists and winning organisations".


What are the National Business Awards

A harsh business climate has made the steep path to success more treacherous over the last year, with only the most sure-footed businesses emerging as leaders in their respective sectors. For these exemplary businesses to prove their dominance, and inspire the wider industry, they need recognition on a national level.

The National Business Awards (NBA) are open to organisations of all sizes from all sectors across the UK. The NBA, in partnership with Orange, is the UK’s most prestigious independent business recognition platform with its particular emphasis on excellence, innovation and ethical business. The Awards connect the nation’s professionals through the annual awards ceremony; year-round conferences and round-table events; and are United Business Media’s leading awards programme.


NBA 2010 now open to entries

Business Works has joined the National Business Awards in partnership with Orange, to empower SMEs and entrepreneurs across the UK to get the recognition they deserve.

Categories open to entries

  • The Orange Innovation Award
  • The Santander Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award
  • The Blackberry Customer Focus Award
  • The Blackberry Customer Focus Award for Small Business
  • The Health, Work and Well-being Award
  • The Health, Work and Well-being Award for Small Business
  • The ICAEW Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Award
  • The Business Link Growth Strategy of the Year
  • The Entrepreneur of the Year Award
  • The Excellence in Marketing Award
  • The Employer of the Year Award
  • The Better Regulation Award

Categories by nomination only

  • The Orange Leader of the Year
  • The Daily Telegraph Award for a Decade of Business Excellence
  • The Coutts & Co Large-Cap Business of the Year
  • The Grant Thornton Mid-Cap Business of the Year
  • The 3i Private Business of the Year
Now in its ninth year, the NBA have uncovered hundreds of examples of business leaders and entrepreneurs who have taken a unique approach to overcome major challenges and achieve success, whilst maintaining the respect of their peers, co-workers and employees.

The Awards have seen titans like Pearson taking on Kingfisher for the prestigious Orange Leader of the Year accolade, Gü chocolate puds battle it out with Innocent drinks and Admiral Insurance take on moneysupermarket.com to name a few. Typically, all entrants have one thing in common: they are determined to reward their employees for their outstanding work and the NBA do exactly that.

The National Business Awards now invite public and private sector organisations of all shapes and sizes to enter the 2010 competition. There are 12 categories to enter open to public and private sector organisations – see insert.

As part of its drive to promote excellence and education throughout the year, the National Business Awards have launched a series of Business Growth Summits. This free conference tour presents senior executives and entrepreneurs around the country with qualified views on the current challenges facing SMEs plus insights on new solutions and approaches to business. Feedback has so far been extremely positive, with delegates coming from all over the country to network, debate and learn about new business services and solutions that can help them to grow in the right way.

There are two further summits planned for 27 May 2010 in Birmingham and 11 June in London. Both will be hosted by broadcast journalist John Stapleton and Ardi Kolah (CEO of Guru in a bottle) will give a keynote speech in Birmingham. The London keynotes are not finalised, but check out the details online and register for a free place at www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk/summits.

You can also watch a Master Class with the UK’s top leaders on why entering awards are beneficial to business at wwww.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk.


Why enter the National Business Awards?

The benefits of entering the National Business Awards extend far beyond picking up one of the prestigious trophies at the annual awards ceremony in November. Here are five great reasons:

Measure your performance

A benchmarking report (included in your registration fee), will assess the strength of your entry against others in your category. Unlike industry-specific Awards you will be able to gauge how your business compares against the very best in all UK industries.


Differentiate your business

What better way to make your business stand out than being a national Award winner in the UK’s most prestigious, cross-industry Awards programme? Demonstrate to your current and future customers, employees and competitors that yours is an exceptional business.


Positive PR

Being selected as a finalist and winner is a great achievement and a real opportunity to generate positive publicity for your business across all media.

Reflect on your success

In the busy environment of everyday business, achievements can be easily forgotten. Completing the entry form allows you to pause and consider what contributed to your success and where you can go from here.

Celebrate your achievements

A representative of all short listed finalists is invited to attend the award ceremony and gala dinner free of charge and you will have priority on table bookings for the night. A fantastic event celebrating business excellence and an opportunity to meet people from other successful businesses.


For more information:
w: www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk
Remember Business Works readers get a 25% discount on the entry fee – contact:
Michael Ruocco
t: 020 7234 8755 and quote promotional code: Business Works NBA 2010




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