Finalists Announced for Lloyds Bank Small to Medium-Sized Business of the Year Award

LONDON, July 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

10 businesses announced as finalists for Lloyds Bank Small to Medium-sized Business of the Year Award 

-Finalists announced for 2015 National Business Awards-

-Visit http://www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for shortlist-

Over 140 of Britain's leading businesses, business leaders and social enterprises have today been revealed as finalists for the 2015 National Business Awards, including 10 companies shortlisted for the Lloyds Bank Small to Medium-Sized Business of the Year Award.

The finalists for this category are:
Andrew James UK Ltd
Autorama UK Ltd
HelloFresh
EnviroVent
Frugi
Give A Grad A Go
Home Leisure Direct
ILG
People Source Consulting
Pooch & Mutt

Celebrating the contribution of SMEs to the UK economy, this award recognises the Lloyds Bank Small to Medium-Sized Business that has maintained consistent growth and strong financial performance, understands its customer, has an engaged workforce with effective leadership, and is continually innovating to support future growth.

Gareth Oakley, Managing Director, SME Banking said: "Growing a business can present its own challenges but the shortlisted companies have done exceptionally well to get to this stage amid tough competition. The award recognises the vital role that businesses play in providing growth in our economy through strong leadership and innovation. I wish all the finalists the best of luck."

Finalists were chosen from the hundreds of businesses that entered or were nominated across 18 award categories. They will now prepare for live presentations to expert juries who will decide the overall winners that will be revealed at the awards ceremony on 10 November.

Andy Beresford, MD of Home Leisure Direct, a finalist in this category has said: "We are absolutely delighted to be shortlisted as finalists for both Small to Medium Sized Business and Digital Business for 2015. We are so proud of our website, our showrooms and our unrivalled customer service reputation. We are the only place to come to for an awesome games room product - whether it's a pool table, or pinball, jukebox or table tennis table. Our rapidly growing team are so excited to be recognised in the shortlists for such prestigious awards. We can't wait to see if we can pick up one of these incredible accolades."

This year's finalists represent award categories such as The Grichan Partnerships Sustainable Business Award, The Lloyds Bank New Business of the Year Award and the Inflexion International Growth Business of the Year Award.

Patrick Drake, co-founder of HelloFresh, another finalist in this category, has said: "Our entry to the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards 2015 has been three and a half years in the making. It's three and a half years since we started from my living room and have now grown to become the market leader in our sector. We're really excited to be shortlisted."

An all-encompassing range of industries are represented in the shortlists for this year's awards, with companies from recruitment and children's clothing, to pet food and online marketing being selected for the chance to win a coveted National Business Award. The scale of the finalists is just as varied, with companies turning over less than a million pounds to over £25 million, employing 20 people or over 70,000 people.

Tom Broughton, Programme Director of the National Business Awards said: "To stand out as an SME is no simple task. This award recognises those that have successfully established themselves in their sector and show clear potential for prolonged, sustainable growth."

Visit http://www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for a full list of all finalists and to book a table at the event on 10 November 2015.

About the National Business Awards  

Organised by UBM who operates in over 23 countries and organises many of the world's largest, most important exhibitions, conferences, awards, directories, websites and publications across a wide variety of industries, the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards is the flagship awards programme that recognises and rewards excellence across all sectors. Visit http://www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for further information or follow us on Twitter @businessawards.

Categories include -  

The Corporate Citizenship Award
The Customer Focus Award
The Lloyds Bank Digital Business of the Year Award
The Employer of the Year Award
The Smith & Williamson Entrepreneur of the Year Award
The UKTI Growth Business of the Year Award
The Market Gravity Innovation Award
The Lloyds Bank New Business of the Year Award
The Inflexion International Growth Business of the Year Award
The Duke of York New Entrepreneur of the Year Award
The Lloyds Bank Small to Medium-Sized Business of the Year Award
The Social Enterprise of the Year Award
The Vonage Business Enabler of the Year
The Grichan Partnerships Sustainable Business Award
The Duke of York Award for University Entrepreneurship
The QBE FTSE 100 Business of the Year Award
The Ashridge Business School Leader of the Year Award
The Lloyds Bank Excellence in Business Award

About UBM EMEA 

The National Business Awards is organised by UBM EMEA. UBM EMEA connects people and creates opportunities for companies across five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products, promote their brands and expand their markets. Through premier brands such as MD&M, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show and many others, UBM EMEA exhibitions, conferences, awards programs, publications, websites and training and certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of companies across more than 20 industry sectors.

Official Partners  

Lloyds Bank, The Grichan Partnership, Inflexion Private Equity, Market Gravity, QBE, Smith & Williamson, UKTI, Vonage.