The National Business Awards has announced finalists across all 15 categories. The furniture and interiors industry is well represented, with companies including Ikea, Vispring and DFS making the shortlist.
Vispring is one of 10 businesses up for the Inflexion International Growth Business of the Year award, alongside companies such as Tangle Teezer, Scuf Gaming and Bulldog Skincare for Men. A recent international focus has led to rapid growth for Vispring, with international orders now representing 40% of total sales, which secured finalist status for this prestigious award.
DFS is nominated in the Corporate Citizenship Award category, and will be facing opposition from Samsung, Experian and Telefonica, amongst others. The award will be judged by Caroline Diehl, CEO of The Media Trust, who comments: “The scale of DFS' reach into the communities where it works is impressive, and includes widespread staff engagement and innovative fun initiatives involving customers, staff and partner charities, as well as generating great media coverage.”
Also named as a finalist is Ikea, nominated for The ICAEW Sustainable Business Award. The category, which contains stiff competition from Amey, Anglian Water Services and Webmart, will be judged by Stephen Ibbotson FCA, director of business at ICAEW, who says: “Exceptional financial performance has resulted from the consistent application of simple but effective strategies at Ikea. Consumers have been educated in sustainable thinking while buying contemporary, good value products. Staff and external partners are important stakeholders in its sustainability plans.”
MHA Lighting, manufacturer of an extensive range of LED solutions for the commercial and industrial sectors, was also named a finalist for the Innovation Award, which will be judged by John Welsh, MD of digital & content at UBM Live.
Alex Evans, programme director of the National Business Awards, says: “The diversity and quality of this year’s finalists have firmly established the National Business Awards as the talent scout for UK plc, with market-leading household names recognised alongside the best emerging business brands. With a variety of industries represented, these recovery-leading businesses have demonstrated the return on investment in people, innovation, customer service and leadership.”
Finalists were chosen from the hundreds of businesses that entered or were nominated across 17 award categories. They will now prepare for live presentations to expert juries who will decide the overall winners that will be revealed at the awards ceremony on 11th November.
Visit www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for a full list of all finalists, and to attend the event.
