Finalists Announced for 2012 National Business Awards

London (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Finalists collectively turnover in excess of GBP135
billion per year and

employ over 700,000 -

Today, the National Business Awards in partnership with Orange
has revealed over 150 of Britain's leading businesses and business
leaders as finalists in the prestigious awards programme.
Organisations shortlisted include a range of private, public and
third sector companies, including National Grid, Marks and Spencer
and London Early Years Foundation.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120814/554594 )

The finalists together represent an annual turnover in excess of
GBP135 billion and collectively employ over 700,000. They cover
activities as diverse as digital marketing, international road
haulage and logistics, water engineering and life sciences: sectors
that reflect key areas of UK capability with high potential for
international expansion. The diverse size of the companies entering
is also huge - ranging from a business with an annual turnover of
less than GBP50k to high growth and high value companies with
multi-billion pound revenues.

Baroness Virginia Bottomley, Chair of Judges, said: "This year
has been a challenging environment for British businesses: these
finalists demonstrate how companies are succeeding in the current
climate through innovation, originality and tenacity. It's good to
see a broad range of companies both in sector and size - an
impressive representation of the potential British businesses have.
Congratulations to all our finalists."

Alex Evans, Programme Director of the National Business Awards,
said: "This year's finalists paint a picture of the new landscape of
business. Organisations of all shapes and sizes have realised the
value of talent; developing the internal entrepreneurs who will
create and sustain growth and nurturing a collaborative and creative
culture to drive the innovation needed to compete for, and keep,
customers at home and abroad."

Finalists were chosen from the hundreds of businesses that
entered or were nominated for the prestigious titles. They will now
prepare to be filmed, or make presentations in person at London's
iconic Gherkin, in front of expert juries who will decide the
category winners, which will be announced at the awards ceremony on
13th November in London.

Co chair of the National Business Awards, Prof. Dominic Swords,
Henley Business School and Economist said: "The finalists are a good
representation of the British business landscape. This list should
give the wider business community reassurance about the bright future
of British business."

Martin Stiven, Vice President of Business at Orange, part of
Everything Everywhere, said: "Now in their eleventh year, the
National Business Awards highlight fundamental principles of business
- innovation and an endeavour for excellence - key Orange company
beliefs. The entries this year have really raised the bar. All
finalists have shown a great ability to adapt, successfully
exploiting markets to improve their performance. Many congratulations
to all finalists and best of luck with the next stage of the
competition."

Visit http://www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk [http://www.nation
albusinessawards.co.uk/Content/National-Business-Awards-Judges-2011/2
] for a full list of all finalists and to book a table at the event.

The National Business Awards supports Help for Heroes, a charity
that offers support and advice for wounded soldiers.

Notes for editors:

Awards categories 2012

Categories open to enter:

- The Orange Innovation Award
- The BlackBerry Growth Strategy of the Year
- The ICAEW Sustainability Award
- The Santander Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year
- The Huawei Customer Focus Award
- The Croner Employer of the Year
- Transformational Change of the Year
- The Start-up Business of the Year Award
- Small Online Business of the Year
- E-Commerce Strategy of the Year
- Business Enabler of the Year
- The Entrepreneur of the Year

Categories run by nomination only:

- The Orange Leader of the Year
- The Daily Telegraph Award for a Decade of Excellence
- The 3i International Growth Business of the Year
- The Leadership Diversity Award
- The Coutts FTSE 100 Business of the Year

The Grichan Partnership is the official executive search partner
for the National Business Awards.

About the National Business Awards

Open to organisations of all sizes from all sectors across the
UK, the National Business Awards in partnership with Orange is the
UK's most prestigious independent business recognition platform with
its particular emphasis on excellence, innovation and ethical
business. Now in its eleventh year, the National Business Awards
connects the nations' professionals through its annual awards
ceremony; year-round thought leadership and round table events; and
is UBM plc's flagship awards programme. Visit
http://www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for further information or
follow us on Twitter @businessawards.

About Help for Heroes

Help for Heroes (H4H) was founded by Bryn and Emma Parry after a
profoundly moving visit to Selly Oak Hospital in the summer of 2007.
Bryn and Emma met some extraordinarily brave young men who had been
badly wounded and they just wanted to do something to help. The
charity was launched in October 2007 and provides direct, practical
support for those wounded, injured or who have become sick in the
line of duty and their families.

About Orange UK

Orange is the key brand of the France Telecom Group, one of the
world's leading telecommunications operators. With almost 131 million
customers, the Orange brand now covers Internet, television and
mobile services in the majority of countries where the Group
operates. In the UK, Orange provides high quality GSM coverage to 99%
of the UK population, and 3G coverage to more than 93%.

Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in
this material are trade marks of Orange Brand Services Limited.

On July 1 2010, the company became part of Everything Everywhere,
one company that runs two of Britain's most famous brands - Orange UK
and T-Mobile UK - with plans to transform the industry by giving
customers instant access to everything, everywhere, offering them the
best value, best choice and best network coverage in the country.
Everything Everywhere Limited is the UK's biggest communications
company, with a combined customer base of almost 28 million people
and more than 720 retail stores across the country. Everything
Everywhere Limited is registered at Hatfield Business Park, Hatfield,
Hertfordshire, AL10 9BW under the registered company number 02382161.

For more information please call the Orange Press Office 0870
3731500, or visit http://www.orange.co.uk/newsroom.

For further information or interview opportunities contact:
Rachel Branigan
PR Manager
UBM Awards and Partnerships
Tel: +44(0)207-955-3843
Email: Rachel.branigan@ubm.com
Annelle Botha
Head of PR and Marketing
UBM Awards and Partnerships
Tel: +44(0)207-234-8753
Email: annelle.botha@ubm.com

Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120814/554594

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