The British Chambers of Commerce and Travelex are searching for UK's best exporter

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and Travelex are encouraging the UK’s exporting companies to enter the Export Business of the Year Award - one of this year’s Chamber Awards. Now in its second year, the Chamber Awards 2005 aim to recognise outstanding business achievement within the UK business community.

The Export Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Travelex, will be given to the company that demonstrates exemplary standards in the export of goods and services in a foreign country. Entrants must provide details of how export strategies were developed, how products and services were tailored for the market, and how the company structured itself to deal with export trade.

Tony Wilson Director, Commercial Foreign Exchange EMEA Travelex, commented;

“Making a success of a company on your own turf is quite an achievement in itself but taking it into new markets is a different game altogether. It takes not only a great product or service but strong management, courage and determination. We are delighted to be rewarding those companies that are keeping the UK export market alive.”

There are eight different categories of awards and companies can enter as many as they wish. The categories are:

• BT Award for Most Promising New Business
• Award for Innovation Through Technology
• Entrepreneur of The Year
• Award for Skill and Workforce Development (New)
• Business Commitment to The Community (New)
• Export Business of the Year
• Export Communicator of the Year
• Business of the Year

The Chamber Awards will be judged in two stages at both a regional and national level and will be celebrated at a Gala Dinner at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on the 24th November 2005.

Each national level finalist has the chance to win the top prize of £25,000 cash for outstanding business achievement, courtesy of Microsoft. Last year this was won by DB Shoes LTD from Rushden, Northamptonshire. The company used database technology to pull itself back from the brink of receivership and enter itself into new and profitable niche markets - even whilst fighting off competition from cheaper overseas competitors.

David Frost, Director General of the BCC commented;

“The is no doubt that UK’s exporting businesses are doing a great deal for the UK economy both in terms of productivity and employment. In fact that is why the BCC does so much to support and encourage them. We hope that through this award we can raise the profile of the companies that are setting the new exporting standards”

Entry forms and judging criteria can be obtained by visiting www.chamberawards.co.uk. The forms can be downloaded, completed and submitted by email or alternatively printed off and sent by mail. The closing date for all entries is 27th June 2005. The awards are open to any member company of a Chamber of Commerce.

ENDS

For further information or requests for interviews please contact:

Judy Osborn at Purple Rabbit
Tel: 07834 60 20 30
Email: judy.osborn@purplerabbit.co.uk

Notes to the editors:

1. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is the authentic voice of British businesses. The BCC sits at the heart of a powerful nationwide network of Accredited Chambers of Commerce serving business across the UK, which employ over five million people.