THE EUROPEAN BUSINESS AWARDS FOR 2015-2016 ARE OPEN

The European Business Awards and lead sponsor RSM have today announced the opening of the 9th European Business Awards; Europe’s largest business competition, showcasing Europe’s best.

The competition was set up to recognise and reward excellence, best practice and innovation across the European business community. Last year it attracted interest from over 24,000 organisations from 33 countries, generated over 150,000 votes for businesses by the public, and final entrants have had a combined revenue of over €1 trillion and profits of over €50 billion.

Adrian Tripp, CEO of The European Business Awards, said: "To solve many of the challenges we face in Europe we need more successful businesses. We are glad the Awards are helping many of Europe's best business become more successful; helping them to win new business, create new relationships and generate greater visibility.”

He continued: "We wouldn't be able to do this without the support of our sponsors and we are pleased to announce RSM as our lead sponsor again this year, supported by UKTI, ELITE (the Pan European programme set up by London Stock Exchange Group), and PR Newswire.”

Jean Stephens, CEO of RSM, the seventh largest global network of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, said: “It has been a pleasure to be so closely involved with the European Business Awards over the past eight years. We have built lasting business relationships with many of the companies and individuals involved and have seen first-hand the benefits the Awards can bring to the businesses that enter. I am delighted we are continuing our sponsorship and look forward to another year of celebrating global business excellence."

The competition is free to enter, and includes three phases of judging, two phases of public voting and involves over 130 high calibre judges to decide the final winners of the 11 categories.

To enter this year’s European Business Awards or for more information about the competition please go to www.businessawardseurope.com or call 0207 234 3535.

Ends

For further press information or for case studies/interviews, please contact:

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 Executive Office (gillian.hawkes@rsmi.com) or Cubitt Consulting: Rose Schreiber (Rose.Schreiber@Cubitt.com)

About the European Business Awards 2015/16:

The European Business Awards recognises and rewards excellence, best practice and innovation in companies across Europe. 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 in which to aspire

• It celebrates and endorses individuals’ and organisations’ 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 7th largest network of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, encompassing over 112 countries, 700 offices and 37,400 people internationally. The network’s total fee income is US$4.4 billion. RSM is the 6th largest provider of tax services and audit and accounting services worldwide

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. www.rsmi.com

About UK Trade & Investment:

UKTI works with UK based businesses to ensure their success in international markets through exports and encourages and supports overseas companies to look at the UK as the best place to set up or expand their business. www.gov.uk/ukti

About ELITE:

ELITE is an integrated service designed to help SMEs prepare and structure for the next stage of growth through access to long term financing opportunities.

ELITE targets SMEs with a sound business model, clear growth strategy and a desire to obtain funding in the near future.

ELITE offers an innovative approach, including a training programme, a working zone supported by a tutorship model and direct access to the financial community through dedicated digital community facilities. It is “capital neutral” to any financing opportunity, providing access to Private Equity and Venture Capital Funds, debt products, etc. ELITE was successfully launched in Italy in 2012 and in the UK in 2014. It now accounts for more than 200 companies of different sizes and sectors, more than 150 partners and more than 70 long term investors. It is a European platform deeply rooted in each domestic market, through partnership with local institutions combined with the opportunity to access international support and advice.

It will be a community of excellence: companies, advisors, investors and stakeholders with an interest in supporting SMEs. The larger the community, the wider the range of business and growth opportunities offered to ELITE members.

About PR Newswire

PR Newswire is the leading global provider of PR and corporate communications tools that enable clients to distribute news and rich content. We distribute our client’s content across traditional, digital and social media channels in real time with fully actionable reporting and monitoring.

Combining the world's largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimisation network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire enables the world's enterprises to engage opportunity everywhere it exists. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in Europe, Middle East, Africa, the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region, and is a UBM plc company.

For more information on PR Newswire please visit www.prnewswire.co.uk