Press Release: The British Business Awards 2009 30 finalists announced for this year’s Awards after an intense competition. Awards enter final phase with online voting and finalist interviews. Beijing, September 22nd 2009 Last night’s event brought together over 130 leading representatives from the British business and diplomatic community in China, candidates from UK companies active in China across a wide range of sectors, and UK-educated Chinese individuals entering the Awards’ hotly contested Alumnus of the Year category. This year, the British Business Awards has 6 Award Categories. Finalists for this year’s awards, in alphabetical order by last name or company name, are as follows: Alumnus Award: Sponsored by The British Council · Cui Tao - Belle Group (General Manager – Fashion Division). London College of Fashion/University of the Arts London. · Gan Chao - Shanghai Media Group (Deputy Director). University of Bristol. · Professor Li Shirong - Chongqing Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Commission (Deputy Director General). University of Reading. · Chris Liu - Chris and Tibor Ltd. / CL Design UK Ltd (Creative Director). London College of Fashion/University of the Arts London. · Nancy Wang. ITV Global Entertainment (China Representative), The University of Westminster. Innovative Product/Service of the Year Award: · BBC World Service · British Education · Laird Technologies · Rouse · Victrex Green Award: Sponsored by BP · Arup · CBRE · Eversheds · HSBC · University of Nottingham Most Promising New Business: · British Education · CRCC Asia · Ecotek · TECAtech · Zeus Education The Right Partner Award: Sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank · Airbus · GKN · Pilkington · Queen Mary · Royal Botanical Gardens Edinburgh Company of the Year Award: Sponsored by UK Trade & Investment · Atkins · Benoy · Laird · Romax · Tesco The British Business Awards are organised by the British Chamber of Commerce in China with the support from UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), British Council, China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Her Majesty's Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, Sir William Ehrman, is Patron of the Awards. Now in its second successful year, the British Business Awards recognise and reward individuals and organisations who champion British business in China as well as Chinese alumni of UK universities who are contributing to furthering Sino-British business relations. Duncan Clark, Chairman of the British Business Awards 2009, commented: “The British Business Awards 2009 have seen very active engagement from candidates across China and the UK, with a substantial increase in the number of applicant numbers, building on last year’s successful inaugural event. Thanks to the excellent support we received from the British Chambers of Commerce in Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Shanghai we have managed to diversify the entrant base substantially, both geographically and by industry and academic background. The involvement of UK-Chinese alumni and of innovative UK-Chinese partnerships in this year’s Awards has been superb.” Sir David Brewer, Chairman of the China-Britain Business Council, and who is visiting Beijing from London inaugurated the Finalists Event and commented: “The China-Britain Business Council is proud to support the British Business Awards and to witness first hand the excitement and engagement that the Awards have sparked from all corners of China and the UK”. Brian Outlaw, Lead Judge for the British Business Awards and Executive Director of the China-Britain Business Council, added: “The quality of applications as well as the number entering this year’s British Business Awards has impressed all of us involved in judging, making it a challenging but fascinating task to identify the most outstanding candidates”. Nigel Clark, Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in China in Beijing, commented: “We are pleased to see the British Business Awards go from strength to strength, and look forward to the celebration in early November when the six winning entrants will be announced. Thanks to the support of our colleagues in the British Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai the British Business Awards will take place in Shanghai in September 2010, making the Awards a fixture in the British business calendar in China.” Online voting (20% of the determination of the winners) will commence on Wednesday September 23rd and run until October 9th. Interviews will be conducted with all Finalists in the coming weeks. The Awards Ceremony will take place in Beijing on Tuesday, November 3rd. The British Business Awards are organised by the British Chamber of Commerce, Beijing, to recognise and reward people who are building businesses and brands or  sponsor of the Company of the year Award
United Kingdom Trade and Investment aims to enhance the competitiveness of companies in the UK through overseas trade and investments and attract high level of quality foreign direct investment to the UK.  sponsor of Alumnus of the year Award
British Council connects people worldwide with learning opportunities and creative ideas from the UK and builds lasting relationships between the UK and other countries. For more information, please contact Ms. Jazreel Goh at Jazreel.Goh@britishcouncil.org.cn
 sponsor of the Green AwardBP has been operating in China since the early 1970’s. Our business activities include offshore gas production, chemical production, aviation fuel supply, LPG import and marketing, oil product and lubricant retailing, to solar power installations and manufacturing, and the sales of chemicals technology. With around a $4.6 billion investment to date, more than 30 JVs and over 4000 employees, BP is one of the leading foreign investors in China’s energy sector.  sponsor of The Right partner Award
Standard Chartered has one of the largest foreign bank networks – with 15 branches, 37 sub-branches, 1 representative office and a Village Bank in China. In 2008, Standard Chartered China clinched the Asian Banker’s Best Foreign Retail Bank in China Award, and the “Outstanding Corporate Award of 2008 Corporate Social Responsibility Ranking in China” by China Business Network. Contact Info Awards & Sponsorship: Media Inquiries: Tahsin Bhanji Weber Shandwick | 
