Welcome to THE K&BZINE News 30th June

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The MX Group Acquires the 'Durastone' Shower Tray Range

The MX Group, the UK shower tray manufacturer, has announced that it has acquired the assets and tooling for the 'Durastone' shower tray range from Polypipe Bathroom & Kitchen Products Ltd.

This development means that the MX Group is now able to supply all types of shower trays to suit any installation requirement.

Sasha Davies, Marketing Manager of the MX Group, said: ‘The addition of the Durastone range complements the MX product portfolio. We now offer the most comprehensive range of shower trays by type, size and colour. Allied to this, all of our shower trays feature the latest technology in design and production, whilst retaining their quality, stunning simplicity and incorporating easy installation.’

Nick Robinson, Divisional Managing Director, said: ‘We are the major manufacturer in the European shower tray market. Over the last 18 months, we've installed the most up-to-date production facilities available in the UK. The addition of the Durastone range enables MX to manufacture and supply all types of shower trays with any combination of shape and colour.’

Tel: 01684 293311
Email: sales@mx-group.com
Web: http://www.mx-group.com


Norske Interiors’ Sell 54,000 Metres of Click-Seal Profiles

Norske Interiors is celebrating the success of its popular Click-Seal profiles - a two-part, self-sealing profile system for use with Mermaid waterproof wall panels and Mermaid ShowerWall panels. 54,000 metres of Click-Seal profiles have been sold since they were launched last year, indicating how effective they have proved to be at creating a watertight corner joint without the use of sealant.

Bathroom installers have traditionally been unsure of how much sealant to use with corner profiles - too much sealant results in a messy installation and too little leaves the join inadequately sealed. Now with Norske Interiors’ latest Click-Seal design, featuring an easy click mechanism and a self-adhesive barrier tape, installers can guarantee a watertight join without the use of sealant. The two parts of the profile system simply click together, with the Mermaid wall panel in between, to seal and enhance where Mermaid panels meet in corners. Bryan Benfield, of Bathrooms Inc in Rugby, commented, 'our installers endorse this product as they know it can save them time, it is easier to install and gives a better finish'.

Click-Seal profiles have been rigourously tested independently by FIRA for watertightness and Norske Interiors has also carried out demonstrations to the trade using water tanks to illustrate just how effective the new system is, even when tested under extreme conditions. Norske Interiors has commissioned the Click-Seal profile system in a variety of colours to co-ordinate with every Mermaid panel. Alternatively, highly polished chrome aluminium profiles are available to create a more striking impression in bathrooms and shower enclosures.

Tel: 01472-240832
Email: sales@norske-int.co.uk
Web: http://www.norske-int.co.uk


Chief Executive for the BMA

Ted Goold, BMA President has announced that Yvonne Orgill (pictured) has been appointed Chief Executive for the Bathroom Manufacturers Association with immediate effect.

Ted Goold commented ‘The BMA continues to grow in representation, status and credibility, now firmly established as the voice of the Industry the Association has adopted a pro-active stance in addressing some of the major challenges that face our industry today. The Management Team feels that the time is right for the Association to appoint a Chief Executive, who will report to the President and provide an increased level of strategic and tactical leadership thereby enabling the aims and objectives as set down by the membership to be advanced.

‘With 20 years experience working on behalf of our industry Yvonne is well equipped to meet the challenges of this important new post. I am sure that the members will join me in congratulating Yvonne on her new appointment and offer our full support in her new role’

Yvonne says of her appointment, ‘I am thrilled to have been given this new challenge. Throughout my time at the BMA I have striven to ensure that the activities and initiatives of the Association fully address the needs and priorities of its members. Whilst not underestimating the demands of the role I am confident that with the continued support of the team I can provide the necessary leadership to enable the organisation to move forward.’

For further information please contact:
Yvonne Orgill:
Tel: 01782 747123
Email: yvonne.orgill@bathroom-association.org.uk


Cool Deals from Bosch

Bosch is offering savings of up to £100 on tall fridge and freezer packages from now to August 31st 2006.

The high-end price reduction applies to the Bosch Logixx KSR 38430 GB 185cm high fridge and matching Frost-Free freezer, the perfect solution for family sized storage problems and a cooling combination that allows food to be kept fresh and nutritious for as long as possible. Both appliances are A+ energy rated, offer the very latest in cooling technology with precise electronic controls, and together represent an affordable and spacious alternative to an American Style fridge-freezer. They look good too with the sleek Bosch High Door design and high quality interiors.

Customers can also save up to £75 on the Bosch Exxcel tall fridge and freezer combination, that boasts a deluxe interior design, and up to £50 on the Bosch Classixx combo.

A whole range of point of sale material to help retailers support the promotion is available from your local Bosch Area Sales Manager.


De Dietrich Offers Free Fagor 16-Piece Pan Set with Purchases of any Touch Control Induction Hob until 30th August 2006

De Dietrich is offering a free 16-piece set of Fagor saucepans and accessories with any purchase of a touch control induction hob from its 2006 range until 30th August 2006.

Four different sized saucepans (14cm, 16cm, 18cm and 20cm) plus frying pan feature lids with liquid strainers. Removable handles make it convenient to place a pan in the oven, without the need for transferring food into another dish. Each has a separate plastic lid, for when you want to store cooked food in the fridge, and the pans stack easily; saving space in the kitchen.

‘De Dietrich is the market leader in induction and is the pioneer of this fantastic technology,’ says the company. ‘Induction hobs are economical, energy saving, super quick, totally controllable and extremely easy to clean. De Dietrich touch control induction hobs come with new fewer than 7 safety features including anti - overflow, anti-overheat, child lock, residual heat indicator, automatic stop, automatic pan detection and small object detection.’

To obtain the free pans claim forms or to find out more about De Dietrich induction hobs, please call your De Dietrich Area Sales Manager.

De Dietrich Sales (Trade) 01256 308 067
Email: sales@fagorbrandt.com
Web: http://www.dedietrich.co.uk


Genus Offers an Energy Saving Alternative for Consumers

Organisations such as the Energy Saving Trust have called for changes in consumer behaviour to help combat climate change and this, coupled with recent increases in fuel prices, has made energy efficiency a key concern for consumers and the government.

According to research carried out by Stoves; eight out of ten consumers now consider energy efficiency important when making the decision to purchase a new appliance, looking for environmentally friendlier products that will be more cost effective in the long term.

Using up to 50 per cent less energy than conventional cooking methods, Stoves' intelligent Genus 90cm built-in double oven offers an efficient alternative for environmentally conscious consumers. Steve Dickson, built-in product manager for Glen Dimplex Home Appliances, comments:

‘As Genus cooks food up to four times faster than conventional ovens it saves both time and energy, resulting in fuel bill savings over time. These are all key selling points, offering retailers the chance to meet modern consumers' needs with an efficient appliance which offers genuine lifestyle benefits.’

Genus is available in stainless steel or black finishes. Incorporating 16 interactive functions plus an additional eight high-speed cooking modes programmed to cook food perfectly up to four times faster than conventional ovens, it gives customers flexible cooking options - conventional or high speed - depending upon the time they have to spend.

In Genus mode the oven uses a combination of convection, conduction and radiant heat plus Genus technology to increase the speed and efficiency of the cooking process and heats food uniformly throughout - rather than from the outside in as with conventional cooking, or the inside out as with microwaves. No turntable is needed and any kind of tray, including metal, can be used inside the oven.

Despite its advanced technology, Genus is simple to use. In conjunction with an independent home economist the cooking times for most foods are already pre-programmed. Customers simply switch to Genus, select the programme that suits their meal, input the conventional cooking time and Genus will then recalculate the new time required.

Tel: 0870 458 9663
Web: http://www.stovesgenus.co.uk


In-Sink-Erator Welcomes Inclusion of Food Waste Disposer in BSI Code of Practice

In-Sink-Erator, the specialist in food waste disposers, has welcomed the British Standards Institution (BSI) inclusion of food waste disposers in its code of practice as a waste management tool for new construction projects.

A new British standard, BS 5906:2005 Waste management in buildings code of practice, states; 'Food waste disposers are easily installed and eliminate the need to store biodegradable kitchen waste on the premises; they can deal with 15 to 20 per cent (by weight) of the total average output of household waste. They are a complementary tool to methods of waste storage and collection.'

Commenting, Ashley Munden, Sales & Marketing Director for In-Sink-Erator said; 'BSI’s acknowledgement of food waste disposers is fantastic news for the food waste disposer market, and in the long run, for UK consumers. Disposers are an ideal appliance for building developers to install in new construction projects from both a planning and purchasing perspective. They are low cost appliances with a high perceived value that can significantly increase the desirability of a property.'

The BSI Code of Practice continues; 'Food waste disposers enable segregation of waste types at source, without which recycling of different types of waste is not possible. The potential for hygienic collection and recycling of various dry recyclables such as paper, glass and metals is increased with the reduction of contamination of food waste.'

Housing developers such as Taylor Woodrow are quickly realising the benefits of installing food waste disposers in new build properties. Taylor Woodrow has recently specified In-Sink-Erator food waste disposers as standard in its luxury Landmark and Metro apartment styles. They are also offered as add on options on many other developments.

Continuing, Ashley Munden said; 'While food waste disposers are a relatively new concept for the UK market, this is a dynamic sector with massive growth potential. Current market penetration is around six per cent. Waste management costs and landfill reduction are primary issues for local authorities. Incorporating food waste disposers in proposed new build developments could mean planning applications are viewed more favourably, particularly in high density, urban areas where refuse collection can be an issue. Building developers and associated businesses, such as Builders’ Merchants, also have the opportunity to take advantage of this growth and realise greater profitability through food waste disposer sales.'

Web: http://www.insinkerator.co.uk


Combilift Dominance of Long-load Handling Market to Continue with €10 Million Investment in New Global Headquarters

On Thursday, 22nd June, 2006 Irish Enterprise Minister Micheal Martin TD officially opened the new €10 million global headquarters of Combilift in Monaghan, Ireland, which will pave the way for the company’s continued dominance of the global long-load handling market.

The €10 million investment will create 100 new jobs over the next four years and see the company's turnover rise to €100 million by 2010. A high proportion of the new jobs created will be high-skilled requiring technical and engineering qualifications.

Combilift manufactures the world's first engine-powered multi-directional forklift. The company was set up in Clontibret, Co Monaghan in 1998 by entrepreneurs Martin McVicar and Robert Moffett. In just eight years the company has grown to become the market leader in the world in the long-load handling market.

Combilift has developed a space-saving forklift for materials handling, which solves the issue of needing a number of forklifts to handle long and awkward loads. The company exports 94% of all its forklifts to over 45 countries around the world.

Three new models were unveiled, enhancing the wide range of Combilifts already available. The TeleCombi was originally developed to meet the specific requirements of a major UK aluminium extrusion customer Alcoa (UK) Ltd. Fitted with a 1 stage boom mounted on a moving carriage, the TeleCombi has a reach of 3m when carriage and boom are fully extended and can reach across the full width of a trailer at all lift heights.

This key feature enables the driver to offload from one side only, representing considerable savings on time and space. The moving carriage eliminates the need for constant height adjustment associated with conventional boom machines working in confined spaces. The TeleCombi has a capacity of 3000kg at 500m load centres, and is available in both diesel and LPG versions.

The new GT stand-on forklift, is capable of working in even narrower aisles than a conventional Combilift as it features a stand-on rather than a ride-in cab. In common with all of the Combilift range, it is designed for flexible indoor and outdoor operation, and this model is available with 3 - 4.5 tonnes (imperial 6,000 - 10,000lbs) lift capacities. A key option on the 4-wheel steer electric GT is an optical guiding system, which eliminates the need to install mechanical guide rails for operation within the very narrow aisles. Optical cameras mounted on the truck monitor a tape bonded in the centre of the aisle floor to enable automatic steering. A major benefit of the self steer system is the ease of operation for the driver, allowing the operator to concentrate on other functions.

The Semi - Rough Terrain C 5000L (C10,000L imperial) forklift is designed to handle long loads in narrow retail and wholesale yards, two examples include timber and steel. With larger solid pneumatic tyres, it is especially suited to unpaved yards and semi-rough terrain including snowy conditions and offers added suspension for more comfortable material handling for the operator. An extra 150 mm (6") in cab size allows for better operator ergonomics and comfort. This forklift is suited to outdoor and indoor environments.

Minister Martin said: ‘The international success of Combilift, and other Irish entrepreneurial companies, is one of the foundation stones of Ireland's remarkable economic performance over the last 10 years.’

Commenting on the announcement, Martin McVicar, Managing Director of Combilift, said: ‘This new facility in Monaghan will help us to strengthen our dominant position in global markets by developing our product range, and significantly expanding our output.’


JJO plc eco Range Proves to be a Success

Lancashire-based J&J Ormerod (JJO plc), the UK kitchen manufacturer, has revealed that following the unveiling of its entry-level eco kitchen range at KBB 2006 in January of this year, the company has seen sales of its eco kitchens go from strength-to-strength, and is predicting it to become brand leader by the end of the year as sales growth exceeds 400 per cent of target to-date.

The eco kitchen range was launched to enable kitchen retailers, builders' merchants and contractors to offer the quality of kitchen associated with the Colonial brand at a highly competitive price point - prices for an eco sink base start at £85 including VAT.

JJO plc also offers a generous trade discount allowing kitchen retailers and builders merchants to offer lower priced, quality kitchens with no loss to the generous margins currently enjoyed on Colonial products.

‘The main reason for developing the eco brand, was to give retailers and builders' merchants the opportunity to reclaim sales from the medium-sized builder/developer which had been lost to the big sheds,’ said Richard Proctor, Sales Director, JJO plc. ‘eco allows us to offer a high quality, lower cost kitchen, and not only that, we offer a 24/48 hour turnaround that means builders can rely on JJO plc's eco kitchens, which is important when working on a job where time is money!’

The eco range comprises of 12 door designs in four different colourways which are all available on a standard carcass. The range offers more than 50 different units and a choice of drawer pack widths for optimal use of kitchen storage space.

The eco kitchens can be enhanced using the full collection of Colonial accessories as additional extras, including shelf lights, halogen downlights and more than 100 different handles, to create a look that fits around every taste and lifestyle.

JJO plc says that it places a special focus on customer service and support. As a consequence, by purchasing the eco range, a dealer can purchase value kitchens without compromising on the levels of service that it has come to expect under the Colonial range. JJO plc manufactures about 700 kitchens and bedrooms per week, has approximately 440 staff, is a corporate member of the KBSA (Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialist Association), a long term member of ASFI (Association of Suppliers to the Furniture Industry) and a supporter of FIRA (Furniture Industry Research Association).

Tel: 01706 877877
Email: npeters@jjoplc.com
Web: http://www.jjoplc.com


Accent Kitchens Shine at Industry 'Oscars'

Two prestigious Yorkshire housing developments have picked up top industry awards with the help of Accent Kitchens UK.

Lister Mills, developed by Urban Splash, in Bradford, and Oakapple Homes’ Oliver Heights, in Scarborough, which both feature Accent kitchen designs, were honoured at the Resi Prop (Residential Property) Awards 2006.

The Oliver Heights development incorporated the Accent range for its first phase of 67 dwellings and won the award for Best Transformation of the Year at the ceremony at the Queen’s Hotel in Leeds.

Best Conversion/Restoration of an historic building award was presented to Urban Splash for The Silk Warehouse, at Lister Mills, which is the first phase of a major redevelopment of the Lister Mills complex. Accent Kitchens UK designed and supplied bespoke handle-free kitchens, including Smeg appliances and LG-HI mac worktops for the first phase of 133 apartments, ranging from one-bed studios to Penthouses.

Accent Kitchens UK, part of the Arnold Laver Group, also featured in six other developments nominated for Resi Prop awards.

Andy Robinson, National Sales Manager at Arnold Laver Contract Kitchens Division, said: 'The Resi Prop Awards are considered as the Oscars of the residential property industry so it is a real honour to be involved with many of the winning and nominated projects.

'Whether developers were converting old mills into top of the range apartments, or building new homes, we were able to offer bespoke designs and kitchens of the highest quality.

'Accent Kitchens UK provide a first class service to the contracts market – from the initial planning and design stages through to supply and installation – and these awards highlight our continued commitment to flexibility and attention to detail.'

Yorkshire’s Resi Prop awards were launched in 2004 to celebrate the success of the region’s residential development sector, best new build homes, their developers and designers.

The award ceremony, hosted by Yorkshire Variety Club to raise money for their Children’s Charity, was this year presented by Calendar’s Christine Talbot.

Over the past three years, the event has raised over £250,000 for disabled and disadvantaged children in Yorkshire.

For more information about Accent Kitchens UK call 01274 230865, email sales@accentkitchensuk.com or visit http://www.accentkitchensuk.com.

Picture caption: Kitchen creations…Accent Kitchens UK’s bespoke kitchen designs fitted at the Lister Mills development, in Bradford.


Qualitas Works with Appliance Manufacturer SMEG

For the last twelve months, Qualitas has worked with appliance manufacturer SMEG towards customer service excellence. Sourcing the right raw materials and producing good quality products are the cornerstones of any manufacturing business, but as more consumers and retailers look to manufacturers to solve their problems, it is important to avoid the harm that unjustified complaints can do to the bottom line.

The manufacturer is no longer immune to customer complaints - retailers often pass their customer complaints back to the manufacturer, so although they have no direct contract with the consumer, manufacturers frequently find themselves in the retailer's shoes. The manufacturer then has to juggle its obligation to the retailer (and future business) against what the consumer may be entitled to.

Chief Conciliation Officer Michael Morgan commented: ‘When we first started working with SMEG I think it fair to say that they may have had some reservations about how far Qualitas could help. But we have been involved in on-site inspections, telephone advice, even helping prepare responses to consumers' letters and court claims. It's been proof in progress that Qualitas isn't just about retailers’.

Manufacturers often still believe that they have no direct legal obligation to the consumer, and where they do offer to do something, this is just out of goodwill.
‘Not so says Michael Morgan, ‘since 2003, guarantees given by a manufacturer are legally enforceable by the consumer. So a manufacturer cannot hide behind the retailer's contract with the consumer.’

In essence, a consumer will have statutory rights against the retailer, but also a claim under any manufacturer's guarantee - and a shrewd consumer will weigh up which gives them what options, and go for the best option. Qualitas offers a telephone helpline to its members, giving access to independent expert advice on legal, technical, and customer service issues.

SMEG (UK) Ltd, a manufacturer of kitchen appliances, has a dedicated Customer Relations department to support the company’s customers and retailers. Although there is this dedicated support, Lisa Smith, Assistant Customer Relations Manager explains: ‘Customers aren't discerning as to who their contract is with - if they see our name on the product, it's us they come to with their problem. Although we make electrical appliances not kitchen furniture, using Qualitas to help solve our problems is ideal. The principles are broadly the same for fridges as for furniture, and Qualitas' obvious experience pays off – the company has often seen a problem before and can give us guidance on where to draw the line, and who is responsible for what’.

Complaints, by their very nature, are something every manufacturer wants to avoid, but even the best-run business will get them, and handling them effectively is the key. Find out more at http://www.askfira.co.uk, email mmorgan@fira.co.uk or call 01438 777700.


Darlington Hospital & Wilsonart Team up to Fight MRSA

Darlington Memorial Hospital in County Durham is the first hospital in the UK to install a unique, new shower panel system containing a specially developed anti-bacterial surface.

As part of the hospitals overall £M refurbishment programme, some of the shower and toilet areas have been completely modernised to allow easier access and create a more user-friendly was area. Included are a number of shower panels developed locally by Wilsonart International in Shildon, County Durham, one of the worlds leading manufacturers of innovative laminate surfaces.

The new Spabord panels are surfaced in hardwearing decorative laminate and have been specially treated with an anti-microbial surface to prevent the establishment and growth of micro-organisms typically found where pathological germs may occur.

As Paul Howell, Business Mnager as Wilsonart explains, 'Spabord has been created to offer a cost effective alternative to tiling, particularly for shower and bathroom areas, in both domestic and commercial environments. As a manufacturer market forces demand that we constinously look towards product innovation to meet increasing changes in decorative surfaces, particularly in the healthcare market. This is the case at Darlington Memorial Hospital with panels treated with Hipercare, providing a surface that is permanently effective against bacteria strains with antibiotic resistance, such as MRSA.'

Hipercare contains active agents designed to naturally release their effectiveness once direct contact with the surface has been made and continue to be effective throughout the entire life cycle of the product. Independent testing at one of Europes leading laboratories has led to the approval and certification of Hipercare.

'Wilsonart approached us to test their new waterproof Spabord shower panels at a time when we were look to refurbish some of aour washroom areas and raise overall hygiene standards,' comments Kevin Oxley, Director of Darlington Memorial Hospital. ' the lightweight panels present a simple and fast solution with a finish that is both pleasing to the eye and very practical to maintain. The inclusion of a proven anti-bacterial treatment provides further qualified support in our ongoing fight to combat healthcare acquired infection.'

In addition to the high quality technical properties and aesthetic characteristics of laminate the 12 standard designs in the Spabord range are complimented by a wider collection of colours and designs in Hipercare.

Homag Success with Edgebanding Open House

Homag U.K. continued to enjoy successful business and gratifying visitor numbers and interest at the company’s latest and most recent ‘focus on’ open house exhibition - in this case, edgebanding.

The exhibition saw the launch of the new Brandt 200 series of hi-spec but low cost single-sided edgebanders.

The following Brandt machines were on show:
The new Brandt Optimat KDN 210 with a compact length of 3450mm and a workpiece thickness capability of 8-50mm. Feed speed at 9m/min and units include ed snipping, flush trimming and scraping.

The Brandt Optimat KDF 340 is a slightly larger edgebander with 11m/min feed speed as well as pre-milling added to the unit specification.

The Brandt KDF 550C has a 14m/min feed speed, in-line control for all units which include pre-milling and corner rounding. The KDF670C allows workpiece thickness up to 60mm, all the relevant units and a feed speed of 16m/min.

Also on live show was the Ligmatech ZHR01 ‘boomerang’ panel return unit which is so popular with many companies for its efficiency and cost savings and very fast payback time.

Edgebanding from Homag AG included the super efficient Optimat KAL310 with a variable feed speed of 18-24m/min and a full compliment of units and advanced controls for fast setting.

Apart from the edgebanders other machines on show included the Holzma HPP250 beam saw, The Weeke Venture 3 CNC machining centre, an example from the wide range of Bütfering widebelt sanders and a Martin T60 sliding table saw.

The exhibition saw a new agreement between Homag U.K. and the Bank of Scotland to launch an entirely new Homag Finance package.

Any one who was unable to attend the open house is welcome to contact Homag for details of the machines on show or any others in the extensive ranges.

Tel: 01332 856500
Email: info@homag-uk.co.uk


Robert Dyas Stocks Up with Pack-Mate® AnyLock™

Scott Brothers announces that its award-winning Pack-Mate® AnyLock™ reusable food freshness storage bags are now available in all Robert Dyas stores as well as through the retailer's website www.robertdyas.co.uk.

The Pack-Mate AnyLock provides a new way to protect and store fresh foods in the refrigerator, cupboard, freezer or packed lunch. The bag's sealing rods provide an airtight, watertight and odour-tight seal ensuring that contents are kept fresher for longer while also containing the smell of certain troublesome foods such as fish, meat and onions. The AnyLock system is also suitable for transporting foods for picnics or school packed lunches.

Robert Dyas says that it decided to stock Pack-Mate AnyLock because it is the only product of its kind to combine all the advantages of sealable bags and airtight plastic containers. Furthermore, the AnyLock sealing rods provide a unique selling point for retailers since they can be used to re-seal almost any food packaging bag, such as breakfast cereals, rice, pasta and sliced bread, once opened. Scott Brothers has been supplying Robert Dyas with a diverse range of products since 1999.

Headquartered in Leatherhead, Surrey, Robert Dyas operates 95 stores spread across the south of England with the aim to increase this number to 150 by 2007. The retailer serves its customers offering them complete ranges of houseware and hardware products including kitchenware, electrical appliances, home office, gardening products, power tools, china, giftware, glassware, DIY and ironmongery.

Pack-Mate AnyLock is very easy to use. It takes just four simple steps
* Fold the bag
* Insert the rod tip under the fold
* Slide the rod collar over the fold
* Check it is fully sealed

Pack-Mate AnyLock is available in four sizes to satisfy every food storage need, and retails from £4.99 for a pack of four rods and eight bags. All AnyLock products also come complete with a full 12-month guarantee. AnyLock is the newest addition to the Pack-Mate range, further strengthening Pack-Mate's position as an expert in home storage.

Pack-Mate AnyLock is exclusively distributed in the UK by Scott Brothers Ltd. For further information on AnyLock, please call Scott Brothers on 01606 837787 or email sales@scottmail.co.uk

http://www.robertdyas.co.uk


British Companies Compete on European Stage

The European Business Awards is open for entries to companies from across the European Union until the 31st July. Outstanding British businesses still have time to enter and showcase their successful stories in front of the entire continent.

The European Business Awards, like its British equivalent The National Business Awards, is a programme which celebrates the most successful businesses of any size and from any sector. Entrants from across the EU will be judged on the basis of three underlying principles of success, innovation and business ethics, ensuring that young innovative businesses will compete alongside to giant corporations with equal chances to lift the award.

Winners from the relevant categories of the UK based National Business Awards (1) will qualify for The European Business Awards ensuring a first class British participation to the programme.

Group Director Mike Faulkner says: 'Often companies are shy or think they are too small to compete. That is wrong! This is the chance for every successful business in Europe to shout about their own achievements. We want to hear inspirational stories of entrepreneurial spirit, business leader attributes and innovative thinking. The winners will stand as a model for the whole of the European market.'

Winners will be announced at an 'invitation only' event to be held in the Conrad in Brussels on 31st January 2007. The eight categories which will be the centre of the competition are:

* The CMS Business of the Year Award
* The Business Leader of the Year Award
* The Entrepreneur of the Year Award
* The Siemens Business Innovation of the Year Award
* The Grey EMEA Growth Strategy of the Year Award
* The Société Générale Award for Customer Focus
* The AXA Award for Corporate Sustainability
* The Lifetime Achievement Award

AXA recently joined the sponsor panel together with Grey EMEA, CMS, Siemens, Société Générale and the Official Media Partner The Wall Street Journal Europe. Claire Dorland Clauzel, AXA's Senior Executive Vice President of Communications, Brand and Sustainable Development comments on the decision to support The AXA Award for Corporate Sustainability: 'AXA's vision of its business of Financial Protection focuses on helping its clients to be life confident. To meet this objective, AXA seeks to manage more completely the social and environmental impacts of its business. As a result, AXA will emphasise risk prevention in managing its relationships with its clients, individuals as well as businesses. We expect the AXA Award for Corporate Sustainability to be a means to support corporations which demonstrate strong involvement in managing social, environmental and governance risk prevention.'

A registration form can be downloaded at http://www.businessawardseurope.com or obtained by post by calling the entries team on +44 (0) 20 7378 1188.

1. Organiser Quest Media is a UK based agency responsible for the UK National Business Awards, the leading business success recognition event in the UK, described by Chancellor Gordon Brown as 'UK's Business Oscars'

The relevant categories of The National Business Awards are: The Business Innovation of the Year Award, The CMS Cameron McKenna Business of the Year Award, The Customer Focus Award, The Corporate Social Responsibility Award, The Orange Business Leader of the Year Award, The Growth Strategy of the Year Award, The Credit Suisse Entrepreneur of the Year Award.


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