Export is big business. Last year, products and services worth more than £13.6 billion were exported to countries around the world from the south west ofEnglandalone. As a result, the Dorset Business Awards, in association with the Daily Echo and Dorset Echo, has added the Dorset Export Award sponsored by ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK to the award to reward those who are thriving through international trade.
Sponsored by the current holder of the Company of the Year Award, ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK, a leading provider of science and technology solutions to the UK Ministry of Defence, the Royal Navy and other defence departments and corporate customers internationally, joins the Award sponsor line-up to acknowledge the success and innovative approaches of the county’s export firms.
Entry is open to any business which has a BH/DT postcode and this includes multi-nationals or their subsidiaries which have a major presence inDorsetto small private companies. Entrants must have been trading for at least three years and have a record of international trade during this period.
Exporter of the Year Award checklist
Entrants should include details of the following:
- Commitment level to international trade
- Achievement of sales into new markets or an increase in export turnover
- Training initiatives in place for staff to help win or develop new export business
- How products and/or services are marketed in export countries
- Future export growth aspirations
Sam West of ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK, says: “International trade is one key to wealth creation making companies stronger and more competitive. This award will be presented to a company that is successfully breaking into international markets with dynamic products or services and will celebrate those companies who are really trying to put Dorset on the international map.
“After winning the Company of the Year award last year, we decided not to enter in 2014 as we felt that for us, we had already won the most prestigious award category. One of the reasons that we won was down to our innovation and export success and we feel that we are well placed to judge the Dorset Export Award.”
Three finalists will be shortlisted for this Award and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) will provide each Finalist with a £1,000 prize to use on their Overseas Market Introduction Service. This service will put the finalists in touch with international market experts who can offer focused advice and assistance tailored to their specific requirements.
The Awards are also backed by the south’s leading radio station Wave 105 and are free to enter. Entrants can submit an entry via www.dorsetbusinessawards.co.uk or print off an entry form and submit a paper-based entry. The closing date for entry is Friday September 12. Entrants do not need to be a member of Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
For further information about the Awards, sponsorship opportunities or to reserve tickets for the Gala Dinner which will take place at the Bournemouth International Centre on Thursday November 27 please contact Shirley Ewart on 01202 714812.
Sponsor profile copy
ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK, based in Winfrith, are world leaders in underwater defence technology and specialise in harbour security, unmanned systems, mine counter measure operations and towed arrays. As a systems integrator and prime contractor in major maritime programmes, the firm is the leading supplier of innovative technology in the maritime domain.
The firm is one of the county’s largest employers of scientific and technical staff with a workforce of more than 200 employees.