Some of the UK’s strongest mid-sized and growth businesses are recognised in the shortlists for the 2012 Growing Business Awards, hosted by Real Business and the CBI, and in association with Lloyds Bank.
Anesco, a fast-growing Reading business that helps organisations improve carbon efficiency, is a contender for Young Company of the Year, with CEO Adrian Pike also shortlisted for Entrepreneur of the Year. Lawrence Jones’ Manchester-based IT hosting company, UKFast, is the other double-nominee in an outstanding set of candidates for the most prestigious and established celebration of UK growing businesses.
Unconventional thinking and internationalisation are key themes among candidates. Opus Energy (Company of the Year, Larger Firms) is challenging the big energy providers; Brainjuicer (Company of the Year, Mid-sized) brings new thinking to global market research.
A new award, “Innovator of the Year”, recognises businesses bringing new thinking to their market and challenging conventional rules. Candidates here include MindGym, which is shaking up the world of management consultancy; and First Mile, which opens up recycling opportunities to a new market of businesses.
For the first time in the Growing Business Awards 14-year history, there will be two awards for Company of the Year, the ultimate accolade that has been won in the past by UK business giants such as Sophos and Betfair. This year, judges will be asked to assess “Company of the Year – Larger firms”, for which candidates include Wonga and World First; and “Company of the Year – Mid-sized”, where the contenders include Gritt-it and Brand Learning.
We will be profiling all the Growing Business Awards candidates in the coming weeks. The awards ceremony, which is hosted by Olympic legend Steve Cram, takes place on Tuesday November 27 at the London Marriott Grosvenor Square, and will be attended by many of the UK’s finest entrepreneurs, alongside candidates, senior political leaders and partner organisations.
The awards ceremony, hosted by Steve Cram and in partnership with Lloyds Bank, the Financial Mail, Land Rover, Visa, Cass Business School, Spring Law and McLaren, takes place on November 27 at the London Marriott Grosvenor Square. To book a table, visit the awards website or contact Katie Allner at [email protected]
