East Mids firms gear up for UKTI awards
A record number of firms have applied for the East Midlands International Business Awards 2010, said the UK Trade and Investment Agency. Sixteen companies have been shortlisted for awards across the region, after almost 100 nominations were received.
Leicestershire has the highest number of companies on the shortlist with seven and is the only county to be represented in all categories.
The UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) awards celebrate success of companies that have excelled in international trade, demonstrating the importance of exporting for business growth and sustainability.
The awards cover seven categories, including including one for the overall winner.
Northamptonshire’s Bambino Mio is shortlisted for both the 'Established Exporter' award in the worldwide category and also the 'International Business Communications Award' – an accolade it has won for the previous two years. The firm manufactures reusable nappies which are sold in 70 countries worldwide through a network of distributors.
Cromwell Tools, also from Leicester, is shortlisted for two awards - the 'Established Exporter' award for BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and the worldwide category. Cromwell is a leading independent supplier of maintenance, repair and operations type products, with global distribution channels in South Africa, India, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia and across Europe.
Peter Hogarth, UKTI’s East Midlands International Trade Director, said: “We’ve been delighted with the record number of applications this year, particularly as the standard has been exceptionally high throughout, making the shortlisting selection very, very tough.
“It’s encouraging that so many of our local businesses have continued to grow, by maximising overseas sales which is so vital to the economic recovery. We also noted that they were several applicants who were relatively new to business, yet were succeeding overseas.
“This shows that the traditional view of having to build your domestic market first to give a strong foundation on which to build exports is not always the case - some firms are now born to be global.”
