2006
(06/04/2006) North West businesses shortlisted for AXA 'Business Oscars'
AXA today announced that four North West businesses have been shortlisted as finalists and a further four highly commended in the AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award category of this year's prestigious National Business Awards - dubbed by Gordon Brown as the 'Business Oscars'.
The shortlisted businesses battling to win the title of the North West AXA Small to Medium Business of the Year are as follows:
- Farmhouse Fare Ltd, Clitheroe ( www.farmhousefare.co.uk ) - Specialist manufacturers of premium chilled desserts supplying to major UK supermarkets and biscuits and traybakes to Waitrose coffee shops.
- Baa Bar Ltd, Liverpool ( www.baabar.co.uk ) - One of Liverpool's first style bars and helped regenerate a derelict area, the firm has now expanded to Manchester and Wigan.
- Version One Ltd, Poynton ( www.versionone.co.uk ) - Specialists in paperless office technology, offering document management and imaging software solutions to UK businesses.
- Valueworks Ltd, Wigan ( www.valueworks.co.uk ) - Providers of sourcing, procurement and strategic cost management services to a wide range of private and public sector organisations.
Finalist and last year's North West AXA Small to Medium Business of the Year winner, Farmhouse Fare, is delighted to be nominated for the second time in two years. Helen Colley, Managing Director of the firm, said: "It was a dream come true to win the AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award in 2005 and we're absolutely thrilled to be nominated in the same category for the regional awards this year. We're very supportive of the National Business Awards as they do so much to encourage new businesses to thrive and prosper."
The Highly Commended North West businesses in the AXA Small to Medium Businesses of the Year Awards are:
- Elitetele.com, St Helens
- Avalon Solicitors, Warrington
- Hall Fire Protection Ltd, Manchester
- Warren Partners Ltd, Northwich
The winner of the North West AXA Small to Medium Business of the Year Award category will be announced in July and will not only receive a day's support from an AXA Business Consultant but will also get the chance to go forward to the National Business Awards final at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on 7 November.
The AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award will recognise businesses for their entrepreneurship and innovation and will seek to highlight the importance of management excellence in maintaining a successful business today and continuing to grow it in the future.
In addition to winning a day with an AXA Business Consultant, if the regional winner is successful in the national grand final they will win a place on the AXA Small to Medium Sized Business Masterclass that takes place at a chateau in France. Over the three-day course the delegates will have their management and business skills finely tuned by some of AXA's leading business experts.
Mike Butler, the AXA North West Regional Judge, said: "I am delighted to have been asked to take part in judging the North West finalists in the second year of the AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Awards. It was a difficult decision selecting the finalists from the large number of excellent businesses in the region, which is why a further four companies received Highly Commended awards. They are all outstanding examples of the North West 's most dynamic companies and we wish them all the best of luck in the regional final."
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About AXA
AXA is a world leader in financial protection. AXA's operations are diverse with major operations in Western Europe, North America and the Asia/Pacific area. AXA employs 120,000 staff and tied agents and, as of 31 December 2005, had € 1,064 billion in assets under management. AXA reported total IFRS revenues of € 72 billion and IFRS underlying earnings of € 3,258 million for the full year 2005. Our previous company performance is not a guide to how we may perform in the future.
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