THE EUROPEAN BUSINESS AWARDS FOR 2016-2017 ARE OPEN

The European Business Awards and lead sponsor RSM have today announced the opening of the 10th 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 32,000 organisations from 33 countries, generated over 170,000 votes from the public, and the chosen companies had a combined revenue of over €1.2 trillion.

Adrian Tripp, CEO of The European Business Awards, said: “For all of us as citizens of Europe the success of our business community is critical. We are pleased to play our part by showcasing and promoting the best companies, sharing knowledge, and stimulating the debate about the future shape, form and substance of Europe. We look forward to doing this again this year because we believe in the future of Europe.”

He continued: "We wouldn't be able to do this without the support of our sponsors and we are pleased once again to announce RSM as our lead sponsor this year, supported by ELITE and PR Newswire.”

Jean Stephens, CEO of RSM, the sixth largest network of audit, tax and consulting firms and the lead sponsor of the European Business Awards, said: “It has been a pleasure to be involved with the European Business Awards since its inception and we are proud to remain lead sponsor as the programme moves into its tenth year. The longevity and rising popularity of the Awards is testament to the benefits it brings to businesses across the continent and beyond. We look forward to supporting another hard-fought competition between the best companies in Europe."

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@rsm.global

About the European Business Awards: The European Business Awards’ primary purpose is to support the development of a stronger and more successful business community throughout Europe. For all citizens of Europe, prosperity, social and healthcare systems are reliant on businesses creating an even stronger, more innovative, successful, international and ethical business community - one that forms the beating heart of an increasingly globalised economy.

The European Business Awards programme serves the European business community in three ways:

• It celebrates and endorses individuals’ and organisations’ success • It provides and promotes examples of excellence for the business community to aspire to

• It engages with the European business community to create debate on key issues

The European Business Awards is now in its 10th year. It attracted over 32,000 businesses to the competition last year and in the public vote generated over 170,000 votes from across Europe. www.businessawardseurope.com.

About RSM

RSM is the sixth largest network of independent audit, tax and consulting firms, encompassing over 120 countries, 760 offices and more than 38,000 people internationally. The network’s total fee income is US$4.64 billion.

RSM is the lead sponsor and corporate champion of the European Business Awards promoting commercial excellence and recognition of entrepreneurial brilliance. RSM is a member of the Forum of Firms, with the shared objective 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.rsm.global

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