HSBC calls for business talent to enter European Business Awards

In a statement issued on Monday, HSBC invited companies that have innovated and have managed to grow under continued challenging conditions of the last year to submit their entries.

In 2010, HSBC said the awards' organisers contacted over 15,000 compaines from a diverse group of organisations ranging from renewable energy and light aircraft to skincare and other industries with a combined turnover greater than €766 billion (6% of EU GDP). The businesses together employed over 3.5 million people.

"Companies will be selected to become country representatives and each finalist will be awarded a Ruban d’Honneur in each of the ten categories. The overall winners will be awarded the European Business Award."

"The winners will be announced at a premier European location in November 2011 before an audience of hundreds of Europe’s senior figures in politics, business and the media."

Richard J. Cottell, HSBC Malta Head of Commercial Banking, said: “Last year we saw a good number of Maltese businesses demonstrating real resilience in tough times, highlighting that there are real opportunities for businesses to thrive. Many have taken valuable lessons from the challenging external environment and employed new strategies to build better and stronger business models for the future.

"The European Business Awards provide an excellent opportunity not only to crown business leaders in their field, but set the example for other organisations to learn from such experiences. We encourage organisations across sectors and business size to get involved," he added.

“The European Business Awards provide dynamic and forward thinking businesses with a platform to showcase their achievements and share their success with other like- minded companies. Now, more than ever we need to consider how the European economy trades globally and we need brave enterprising European businesses who invest in innovation and excellence to lead the way," he said.

"This is an opportunity for Europe’s brightest businesses to gain the recognition they deserve on a global stage,” said Adrian Tripp, CEO of the European Business Awards," Cottell said.

President and Founder of Softonic, Tomas Diago, an EBA 2010 category winner commented that “Softonic entered the European Business Awards to showcase our success and achievements. It gives our employees something to be proud of. It also helps us achieve recognition and brand awareness across Europe – therefore expanding our market outside of our domestic market, Spain.”

Past judges and references for the European Business Awards have included Wim Kok, former Dutch Prime Minister; José María Aznar, former Prime Minister of Spain; Petar Stoyanov, former President of Bulgaria; and Emil Constantinescu, former President of Romania.

Entries close on 14 April 2011. HSBC invited businesses that want to register their interest in the awards should make contact with their HSBC Relationship Manager or Business Banking Direct on 2380 8000 or send an email to [email protected] for more details.