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Leading business urges others not to miss their chance

The Chief Executive of one of the North-east’s most successful new businesses has said that taking part in national awards events has helped raised the profile of his company across the UK.

Stuart Mitchell, CEO at Aberdeenshire-headquartered subsea specialist Flexlife, spoke as the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is inviting business across the country to take part in the annual BCC awards.

Since its formation in 2007, Flexlife has collected a string of industry awards including successes in both the 2009 and 2010 BCC Awards. In 2009 they were crowned Scottish winner in both the ‘Innovation Through Technology’ and ‘Most Promising New Business’ categories and in 2010, when they showed their staying power winning the ‘Innovation Through Technology’ award for the second year running.

Mr Mitchell said: “As well as being a major boost for the team at Flexlife, our success in the British Chamber of Commerce Awards has played a part in helping us to increase our profile within our industry and the wider Scottish business community.

“It was a very useful process to go through and when you look at the time involved in compiling an entry compared with the benefits you get from winning, it’s hard to see why any company looking to build a reputation wouldn’t give it a go.”

Flexlife isn’t the only North-east company to find success in the BCC Awards. In 2009, hair salon Hatstand Nelly won the overall UK award ‘Excellence in Customer Service’ and in 2008 Equalizer International was the Scottish winner in the international trade category.

Chamber Chief Executive Bob Collier said that businesses are increasingly finding that success in awards events – such as the BCC Awards and the Chamber’s own Northern Star Business Awards – is proving to be an highly successful way of raising their profile at a time when companies emerging from a time of recession are looking for a way to make them stand out from the crowd.

“The BCC Awards provide a national platform for businesses from across the North-east to showcase their exceptional skills, talent and successes; against tough competition from Chamber members across the whole of the UK. Winning an award can act as a catalyst for business growth and we strongly encourage our members to enter,” he said.

“This is equally true of our own NSBA awards – companies who have been nominated say that the recognition they receive has had a marked difference on their business – and in many cases, their bottom line.”

Interest in the BCC Awards follows on from an increase in nominations for the Northern Star Business Awards which take place at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on October 6th.

The 2011 BCC Award categories include: Most Promising New Business; Entrepreneur of the Year; Business of the Year; Innovation Through Technology; Achievement in International Trade; Excellence in People Development; The Sustainability Award; Excellence in Customer Care; Finding New International Markets and Award for Outstanding Business Achievement.

The awards which take place in London on November 24 are open to all Chamber members. The closing date for nominations is on June 24 2011. To find out more visit www.chamberawards.co.uk.