sponsored by NatWest
Gavin Brooks, Director of Business Development at NatWest Commercial Banking said, “We see it as our role as a large banking partner to the region to help recognise the success of local businesses. Too often over the last couple of years the talk has been quite negative when there continues to be innovation and business success. Despite the recession a number of businesses continue to grow, having adapted their business models to the challenges of the recent economic environment. That is why we think it is important to take stock and recognise the successful businesses there are locally.
Peer group recognition is also a very important thing. Success in awards such as these can also be a useful marketing tool, as it helps people to understand the business and recognise their goods and service proposition. We have an entrepreneurial spirit regionally and these awards recognise that, and we feel it is important a lot of people hear about it.”
This award is open to all businesses involved in selling products or services overseas and to companies or organisations involved in facilitating, supporting or promoting international trade to and from the UK, including the transport, logistics, forwarding and cargo processing sectors. Therefore it is likely that your entry falls into one of these two areas: Companies importing or exporting a good or service they sell of produce OR those companies and organisations involved in logistics of facilitating import and export for third parties.
The judges will be looking not only for evidence of sales growth but for an innovative and enterprising approach to exporting / importing or export/import-related services.
- Success – identify your main areas of achievement and how you measure your success. For exporters / importers, the judges will pay particular attention to the level of export/import sales in relation to the size of the company and how cultural issues have been addressed. For organisations supporting international trade, the judges will focus on quality of service and long-term relationships.
- Business Evolution – research into the product/service being exported / imported or into the service / systems offered to support the overseas trade activities of clients, including the use of any business plan and any funding solutions required.
- Strategy – Do you have a flexible business plan which can be altered and developed as the business responds to changing market conditions or new opportunities? Are you able to show evidence of future planning – where do you see your business being in five years’ time?
- Support – detail any use made of external organisations/agencies which have been influential in the development or pursuit of your strategy.
- If you are a logistics provider what is the volume / value of goods that you have handled in the last year and how does this compare with the previous two years?
