The Scottish Export Awards sponsored by HSBC and in association with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are set to take place once again on the 22nd March 2018 at the Glasgow Hilton. The event will bring together export businesses from across Scotland to recognise and celebrate their achievements whilst also providing encouragement for more businesses to consider exporting as a realistic opportunity for growth.
Exporting remains central to the Scottish Government’s growth agenda and the campaign aims to recognise those exporters who have made the transition from great local companies to potentially world-class exporting businesses based in Scotland.
The awards and accompanying international trade campaign are about highlighting those wealth creating companies that are selling their products, services and expertise into scores of overseas markets.
Exporting continues to present Scotland with an opportunity to bring immediate and sustainable growth to its economy and with this in mind we need to encourage more Scottish companies to consider trading overseas. Last year the awards shortlisted companies represented almost £500 million of export turnover from Scotland with strong representation across the food and drink, manufacturing and engineering and creative and digital sectors.
Bryan Hoare, Group Commercial Director at BQ said: “If you are reading this article knowing that you have company activity in export markets I’d encourage you to enter the Scottish Export Awards 2018. Last year we had a great mix of entrants with companies employing as little as four staff to those in their hundreds. The structure of the awards categories means that it is a level playing field for all entrants and we get great satisfaction in uncovering some of Scotland’s newest export talent as we do recognising those more mature export businesses.”
The BQ digital series of “Around the World in 80 Trades” features also give chance to Scottish Exporters to receive free PR about their export achievements throughout the campaign.
Hoare continued, “We’d like to hear from any Scottish Exporter who has an interesting story to tell so we can use their experiences to inspire others to consider internationalising their business for the first time”.
Nominations for the Scottish Export Awards 2018 sponsored by HSBC and in association with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands & Islands Enterprise are open now and are free to enter. For more information and to submit your nomination visit
www.bqlive.co.uk/ScotExportAwards18.
Award categories
Nominations are now open for the Scottish Export Awards 2018 and close on
22 December 2017.
There are two new categories this year: Scale-up Exporter of the Year and Emerging Markets Exporter of the Year, bringing the total number of categories to nine. One category winner will be awarded the overall Scottish Exporter of the Year award.
The entire process is now online so submit your nomination today.
MOST ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPORTER OF THE YEAR
A company that has demonstrated entrepreneurial flair within their export strategy. This will be shown through an extraordinary approach to reaching new markets where creativity, innovation and tenacity has resulted in success.
MICRO EXPORTER OF THE YEAR
Recognising outstanding achievements in export growth by a company in any industry with a turnover up to £2million. This success will be measured by growth in sales and market penetration together with the application of innovative market strategies to extend export potential.
SMALL EXPORTER OF THE YEAR
Recognising outstanding achievements in export growth by a company in any industry with a turnover of £2-£15million. This success will be measured by growth in sales and market penetration together with the application of innovative market strategies to extend export potential.
LARGE EXPORTER OF THE YEAR
Recognising outstanding achievements by a company in any industry with a turnover greater than £15million. This success will be measured by growth in sales and market penetration together with the application of innovative market strategies to extend export potential.
EXPORT TEAM OF THE YEAR
The export team of the year award will recognise a team who can demonstrate significant added value to their business through adopting innovative techniques, personnel development measures, and successful implementation of the company’s export sales strategy. It should be clear how the company has developed a team wide approach to exporting which may well extend beyond the company to distributors, agents and other third parties who will have contributed to export success.
E-COMMERCE EXPORTER OF THE YEAR
A company that through e-commerce has increased brand awareness and recognition, expanded into new markets, increased sales and efficiency and improved customer service. The winner of this category must be able to demonstrate how they have used e-commerce and trading online to significantly enhance their export growth or potential for growth.
HIGH GROWTH MARKET EXPORTER OF THE YEAR
Awarded to a company demonstrating impressive export growth in high growth markets (including Bahrain, China, Hong Kong, India, Kuwait, Macao, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, UAE). This success will be measured by growth in sales and high growth market penetration together with the application of innovative market strategies to extend export potential.
SCALE-UP EXPORTER OF THE YEAR
A company that has shown significant growth as a direct result of its export activity where exporting has played a fundamental role in the scaling of the business. It should be clear how exporting from the outset has allowed the business to scale both in terms of size, turnover and profitability. This would be demonstrated through a coherent business plan and strategy that places exporting at the heart of the business. The company must have achieved average annual growth in employees or turnover greater than 20 per cent per annum over a three year period, and with more than 10 employees at the beginning of the period.
EMERGING MARKETS EXPORTER OF THE YEAR
Awarded to a company who can demonstrate impressive export growth across one or more emerging markets, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, Hungary, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey. This success will be measured by growth in sales and market penetration together with the application of innovative market strategies to extend export potential.
HSBC SCOTTISH EXPORTER OF THE YEAR
This award will be presented to a company that has made an outstanding contribution to Scotland’s export profile and success. Companies must have demonstrated how they have overcome their barriers when entering new markets. The winner of this award will be selected from the winners of the above award categories and announced on the evening of the awards.
