Garmin Europe Ltd

The Awards

Three awards are open for entries in 2008.  They are:

• The Bond Pearce Innovation Award
• RBS International Trade Award
• KPMG Company of the Year

The Bond Pearce Innovation Award

For the business best demonstrating how outstanding innovation has achieved commercial success and created increased opportunities for the business.

Businesses innovate in different ways - through new methods of working, by overcoming problems, in bringing exciting new goods or services to the market or in exploiting new ideas.

This award recognises innovation in its widest sense.  The innovation must however be with a view to creating new commercial opportunities for their business,  increasing their profitability or exploiting a gap in the market and capitalising on it for the benefit of their organisation.

As the region’s leading commercial law firm we understand the importance of fostering innovation within our own organisation to achieve and maintain a successful business. The Bond Pearce Innovation Award champions the role that innovation and technology can play in the growth of a successful business.

Judging criteria:

• The judges will make the Award to the organisation that can best demonstrate a proven ability to create, nurture and develop an innovation or process that can be shown tangibly to improve or to have the prospect of improving the performance of that business.
• The innovation can be based on the development of a specific project, product or service, or the innovative culture within the organisation.
• The business which enters the award must be able to demonstrate that either the innovation has been carried out by a team based in Hampshire or the Isle of Wight or that the innovation has been carried out by a team working for a business which is headquartered in Hampshire.
• The innovation must have been developed or launched within the past three years.
• The sucess of the innovative new process, product or service can have reached beyond Hampshire.

"Innovation is a vital ingredient in the continuing success of any business. More importantly, it is this ability to think and act in a unique way, or approach a business challenge from a different angle that characterises market leaders. By supporting this award, Bond Pearce highlights the innovative achievements of businesses in Hampshire and celebrates the role that innovation plays in commercial success."

Nick Page, Partner, Bond Pearce.

RBS International Trade Award

The winner of this award will be a company, which has shown a marked increase in its international activity over the last 12 months. Applications should be supported by evidence of increased international business, together with a summary of the strategy that resulted in this successful growth.

The judges will be looking at a wide range of criteria including the following:

• Commitment to international trade.
• Evidence of versatility, imagination and persistence.
• Increased export or import turnover.
• Sales into new markets.
• Innovative product / service being exported or imported.
• Training of staff in winning and delivering import / export business.

The award is open to all Hampshire and Isle of Wight based companies or subsidiaries of national and international businesses with a major presence in the county.

"Hampshire has a long tradition of international trade and I am looking forward to meeting with businesses that have fully embraced the global marketplace. Over the past five years the entry standard for this award has been excellent. I am sure that we will continue to see some innovative strategies which clearly demonstrate that Hampshire business talent can be world class."

Simon Pickett, Head of Corporate Banking, The Royal Bank of Scotland

KPMG Company of the Year

A strong financial track record, the ability to think strategically, keep abreast of new developments and illustrate plans for future growth, are all qualities that the winner of Hampshire's top-flight business award must display.

A market leader, the winner will demonstrate dedication to excellence in products and services and will have a dynamic approach to quality and innovation. Hampshire’s premier company will exhibit a strong commitment towards its employees’ needs and aspirations.

• The judges will be looking at the following criteria:
• Excellence in both products and services to customers.
• Past achievements and future plans.
• Financial performance.
• The identification and exploitation of new markets.
• Commitment to the training and development needs of employees.
• Contribution to enhancing Hampshire's business reputation and protecting the county's environment.

The award is open to all Hampshire or Isle of Wight based companies or subsidiaries of national and international businesses which have a major presence in the county.

"This award recognises those companies that have achieved all-round business excellence in their products, services, results and strategic direction. Every year I am delighted by the quality and range of entries that we receive - this just proves that Hampshire has a wealth of business talent."

Phil Cotton, South Coast office senior partner at KPMG LLP.

Hampshire Business Awards 2008 is sponsored by

in association with