11 businesses announced as finalists for the QBE Insurance New Exporter of the Year Award

The finalists for this award are:

Lucia Victoria Interiors

Yull Ltd

Goodordering

Blue Kangaroo Design

Pontus Research

Craft Yourself Silly

Surreal

MOJO Skin & Haircare

Engage Works Ltd SMART Worldwide (a SMA Worldwide company)

Kendal Nutricare

Recognising British businesses that have achieved the highest and most sustainable levels of international growth through exporting in the last 18 months, this award focuses on all aspects of exporting and is looking for sustainable exporting models and innovative practices.

David Hall, Managing Director, QBE Retail said: “Expanding internationally is a brave move and for those businesses willing to take that step the rewards can be significant. QBE Insurance partners with businesses to help them anticipate, manage and mitigate risk so that whatever their plan, they are covered. We congratulate the finalists in this new category and look forward to learning more about their businesses in due course."

Ian Smith, Managing Director at Surreal said, “Just having been recognised and shortlisted for this prestigious award makes all of those hours in airports removing our belts and living out of 100ml worthwhile. The challenges faced when opening new markets are met with greater rewards when you achieve success. This award will help springboard us into achieving even greater export goals. ”

The 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 an expert judging panel who will decide the overall winners.

Described as “the Oscars of great British business” by David Cameron, former Prime Minister, this year’s prestigious award ceremony will take place on Tuesday 15th November 2016, at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane, where the winners will be revealed.

For the first time, Conor McGinn MP recently hosted a reception for the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards at the House of Commons. This enabled finalists to meet fellow entrants, the National Business Awards Advisory Board members, judges (who they will present to in September) and sponsors of each category.

Tom Broughton, Group Brand Director of the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards said: “The New Exporter of the Year has been introduced as a category at this year’s awards, as there is a great need to recognise British brands that are successfully achieving export growth by operating overseas.”

Visit www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for a full list of all finalists or for details on how to attend the event.

For further information please contact:

Sandra Villanueva
Corporate Communications
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7105 5284
Email: Sandra.villanueva@uk.qbe.com

Visit us on the web at www.QBEeurope.com
Follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/qbeeo

Or

Rohma Ahmed
PR and Content Executive
National Business Awards
Tel: 0207 921 8079
Email: Rohma.ahmed@ubm.com

Notes to editors

About QBE

QBE European Operations is part of QBE Insurance Group, one of the world’s leading international insurers and reinsurers and Standard & Poor’s A+ rated. Listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, QBE’s gross written premium for the year ended 31 December 2015, was US$14.7 billion.

As a business insurance specialist, QBE European Operations offers a range of insurance products from the standard suite of property, casualty and motor to the specialist financial lines, marine and energy. All are tailored to the individual needs of our small, medium and large client base.

We understand the crucial role that effective risk management plays in all organisations and work hard to understand our clients’ businesses so that we offer insurance solutions that meet their needs – from complex programmes to simpler e-trading solutions – and support them in minimising their risk exposures. Our expert risk management and rehabilitation practitioners 3 focus on helping clients improve their risk management so that they may benefit from a reduction in claims frequency and costs.

About the National Business Awards

Open to organisations of all sizes from all sectors across the UK, the National Business Awards is the UK’s most prestigious independent business recognition platform with its particular emphasis on excellence, innovation and ethical business. Now in its 15th year, the National Business Awards connects the nations’ professionals through its annual awards ceremony; year-round thought leadership and round table events; and is UBM plc’s flagship awards programme. Visit www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for further information or follow us on Twitter @businessawards.

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.

2016 categories include:

• The QBE Insurance New Exporter of the Year in association with Exporting is GREAT
• The Customer Focus Award
• The Amazon Digital Business of the Year
• The Howard Kennedy Employer of the Year
• The Lloyds Bank New Business of the Year
• The Duke of York New Entrepreneur of the Year
• The Lloyds Bank Small to Medium-Sized Business of the Year
• The Vonage Business Enabler of the Year
• The Business Award for Sustainability Sponsored by the Grichan Partnership
• The Duke of York Award for University Entrepreneurship
• The Business Award for Arts and Creative Services
• The Innovation Award 
• The Smith & Williamson Scale-Up Business of the Year
• The Lloyds Bank Positive Social Impact Award
• Inflexion Entrepreneur of the Year
• The Lloyds Bank Mid-Market Business of the Year