2006
(06/04/2006) Wales and West Country businesses shortlisted for AXA 'Business Oscars'
AXA today announced that four Wales and West Country businesses have been shortlisted as finalists and one has been 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 Wales and West Country AXA Small to Medium Business of the Year are as follows:
- 7Side Ltd, Cardiff ( www.7side.co.uk ) - Specialist providers of corporate and property services.
- Eatonfield Group of Companies, Mold ( www.eatonfield.co.uk ) - Property development group operating in the industrial, commercial, retail, leisure and residential property sectors as well as in the business financial services sector.
- Silver Software Consultants Ltd, Swindon ( www.silver-software.com ) - Specialists in the development of high integrity systems for global leaders and government organizations.
- Prescription Eyeware Ltd, Malmesbury ( www.glassesdirect.co.uk ) - Providers of prescription glasses over the internet, phone and mail-order, significantly undercutting high-street opticians.
The Highly Commended Wales and West Country business in the AXA Small to Medium Businesses of the Year Awards is:
- Infinite Group, Swindon
The winner of the Wales and West Country 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 15 delegates will have their management and business skills finely tuned by some of AXA's leading business experts.
Lou Macari, the AXA Wales and West Country Regional Judge, said: "I am delighted to have been asked to take part in judging the Wales and West Country 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 firm received a Highly Commended award. They are all outstanding examples of the Wales and West Country's most dynamic companies and we wish them all the best of luck in the regional final."
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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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