The Lloyds Bank National Business Awards is now in its 15th year and the prestigious event has today released the 2016 shortlist, to recognise the best in British business and reward excellence across all sectors in the UK.
Last year’s winners include The Body Coach: Joe Wicks, Chairman of Berkeley group, Tony Pidgley CBE New Entrepreneur of the year Joe Carnell from ÜGOT and Carolyn McCall CEO of easyJet.
The Awards have a range of categories suited for any successful organisation within the UK, whether public, private or third sector, regardless of size or industry. Past winners have been anything from large private and public companies through to thriving entrepreneurial businesses, promising start-ups and established SMEs.
Making it into this year’s shortlist are a variety of different, large and small UK brands. Companies nominated include Zopa, Anglia Ruskin University, Hotel Chocolat, Handmade Burger Co. and OVO Energy.
New research of 2000 UK adults from the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards revealed that over a third of Brits would like to run their own business but 17 per cent wouldn’t know where to start and 14 per cent believe it too big a risk. 14 per cent also admitted they would one day like to be a successful entrepreneur, and 20 per cent like the idea of being in control of their own earning capacity.
According to figures from the Centre for Entrepreneurs, 608,110 businesses were started in the UK in 2015 compared to 581,173 in 2014 and 526,447 in 2013; showing that regardless of a strong economic recovery in the UK and an increase in net job creation, more people than ever are deciding to strike out on their own.
Tom Broughton, Programme Director of the National Business Awards said: “We are delighted to see the return of the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards for its 15th consecutive year. As ever, we seek to recognise and celebrate the quality and diversity of businesses driving economic growth in the UK, and with brand new categories added this year, our awards are applicable to more businesses than ever before.”
As we observe a sustained cultural shift towards entrepreneurialism rather than a short-term response to the financial crisis and a poor job market, the National Business Awards want to highlight the importance of business networking and awards in order to grow, develop and nurture businesses.
