An Awards initiative launched yesterday (1st September) seeks to recognise the remarkable success of the UK professional services sector, which is at the forefront of the national drive to boost exports.
The British Expertise International Awards 2015 is open to entries from British architecture, construction, development, infrastructure and related industries.
Tracey Smith, Chief Executive, British Expertise, said: “Now accounting for 10 per cent of UK exports and 24 per cent of UK services exports, the UK professional services sector is making a massive contribution to the UK economy.
“Our Awards celebrate the successes of this sector, which too often in the past has been the unsung hero of the UK economy. For example, it achieved 120 per cent growth in exports between 2001 and 2011.”
The Awards are placing the spotlight on the UK professional services sector at a critical time. UK Trade & Investment believes that UK firms can secure an additional £10bn worth of contracts each year in high value opportunity projects across the globe.
Backed by some of the UK professional services sector’s leading players, the British Expertise International Awards are the flagship Awards for this industry.
HRH the Duke of Gloucester, the President of British Expertise, said: “Our International Awards celebrate the remarkable achievements of the UK professional services sector. These Awards present powerful evidence of the consistent, world-class innovation that is being delivered by UK companies in this sector internationally.”
The deadline for entries for the Awards is 5th November 2014 and they will be independently assessed by a panel of authoritative industry experts chaired by HRH the Duke of Gloucester.
The Awards are supported by key players in the professional services sector. The Lead Sponsor is Cardno Emerging Markets. Further sponsors include Adam Smith International, Beckett Rankine, ESL Group, Hyder Middle East, The Leadership Trust, Maxwell Stamp, Polypipe and WYG.
The 12 high profile Awards comprise:
1. Outstanding International Business
2. Outstanding International Business (SME)
3. Outstanding International Collaboration
4. Outstanding International Leadership
5. Outstanding International Design Project
6. Outstanding International Architecture Project
7. Outstanding International Masterplanning Project
8. Outstanding International Development Project (Infrastructure)
9. Outstanding International Development Project (Non-Infrastructure)
10. Outstanding International Development Project in a Fragile State (Infrastructure)
11. Outstanding International Development Project in a Fragile State (Non-Infrastructure)
12. Young Consultant of the Year