NATIONAL CHAMPIONS ANNOUNCED FOR 2014-15 EUROPEAN BUSINESS AWARDS

The European Business Awards sponsored by RSM International, has today named 709 companies from 33 countries across Europe as ‘National Champions’ in the first stage of the 2014-15 Europe-wide programme.

A panel of independent judges, including business leaders and senior academics, selected the National Champions after the European Business Awards engaged with over 24,000 companies this year, resulting in a 40% increase in entrants, a record-breaking number for the competition now in its eighth year.

Many of the categories saw a rise in entrants, with key increases in the Business of the Year Award category in the two turnover brackets of €0-25m and €150m or higher, and the RSM Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The top three sectors represented this year are IT technology, manufacturing, and food and drink.

Adrian Tripp, CEO of the European Business Awards said: “The European Business Awards is going from strength to strength, inspiring businesses to greater success and helping to improve the competitive edge of companies across Europe. Congratulations to all our National Champions, it is a great achievement and I wish them all luck in the next stage.”

Jean Stephens, CEO of RSM International, the leading global audit, tax and advisory network, said: “Each year the programme gets more competitive as the number of companies and countries involved increases, and the range of applicants diversifies across industries and sectors. The National Champions announced today have shown commercial excellence in their field and we wish them all the best in the next round of the competition.”

Details of the winners can be found at here >National Champions 2014/15

The next round requires the National Champions to make a presentation video, telling their unique story and explaining their business success. The judges will view all of the National Champions’ videos, and award the best of this group the coveted ‘Ruban d’Honneur’ status. Ruban d’Honneur recipients will then go on to be part of the grand final in 2015.

Separately, the National Champion videos will be made public on the European Business Awards website www.businessawardseurope.com as part of a two stage public vote, which will decide the ‘National Public Champions’ for each country. Last year over 93,000 votes were cast as companies from across Europe were publicly supported by their clients, staff and peers, as well as the general public.

Set up to recognise and reward excellence, best practice and innovation in companies of all sizes and sectors across the European business community, The European Business Awards is supported by key influencers including the former EU Trade Commissioner, Karel De Gucht.

For further information about the European Business Awards and RSM please go to www.businessawardseurope.com or www.rsmi.com

Ends

EBA: Vanessa Wood at the European Business Awards on +44 (0) 796 6666 657 or email vanessa.wood@businessawardseurope.com

RSM: Gillian Hawkes at the RSM newsroom (gillian.hawkes@rsmi.com) or Cubitt Consulting: Rose Schreiber (Rose.Schreiber@Cubitt.com)

About the European Business Awards 2014/15:

The European Business Awards recognises and rewards excellence, best practice and innovation in companies across the European Union. The competition is free to enter and open to organisations of all sizes and from any industry sector. The European Business Awards programme serves three purposes for the European business community: • It provides examples for the business community to aspire to • It celebrates and endorses individual’s and organisation’s success • It provides case studies and content for learning from these exceptional organizations An innovative, strong and thriving business community makes a successful and prosperous Europe. www.businessawardseurope.com.  

About RSM International

RSM International is the seventh largest network of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, encompassing over 110 countries, 700 offices and 35,000 people internationally. The network’s total fee income is US$4.2 billion. RSM International is the lead sponsor and corporate champion of the European Business Awards promoting commercial excellence and recognition of entrepreneurial brilliance.

RSM International is a member of the Forum of Firms. The objective of the Forum of Firms is to promote consistent and high quality standards of financial and auditing practices worldwide. RSM is the brand used by a network of independent accounting and advisory firms each of which practices in its own right. RSM International Limited does not itself provide any accounting and advisory services. Member firms are driven by a common vision of providing high quality professional services, both in their domestic markets and in serving the international professional service needs of their client base.

2014 marks an exceptional year for RSM International as it celebrates its 50th Anniversary. www.rsmi.com

Additional Europe-wide supporters: UKTI

UK Trade & Investment is the Government Department that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy. We also help overseas companies bring their high-quality investment to the UK’s dynamic economy acknowledged as Europe’s best place from which to succeed in global business. www.ukti.gov.uk