The British Business Awards recognise and promote excellence in innovation, enterprise, and endeavour in the British business community in China. Applications for the British Business Awards 2016 were opened on 14 April, marking the first round of the Awards since the declaration of a golden era in the bilateral relationship between the UK and China.

Opportunity

This year also marks the addition of a new award category – the Education Institutional Partnership of the Year Award – which is specifically for UK Higher and Further Education institutions that have established a joint project or projects with their Chinese partner organisations, through which significant impact has been delivered in the last 18 months.

This is a great opportunity for UK Higher and Further Education institutions that are actively engaging with China to be recognised for their contribution to UK-China education collaboration, and to raise awareness of their success in doing so among audiences in the UK and China.  

Applications for the British Business Awards are now open and will be accepted until 28 July.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligibility is restricted to UK higher and further institutions who are listed on the UKVI Register of Licensed Sponsors (Tier 4)
• Nominations must be endorsed by the applying institution’s Vice-Chancellor/College Principal

The eligibility for entering the British Business Awards is to be either a British-owned company/organisation operating in mainland China, or a company/organisation operating in mainland China that is perceived as ‘British’ by the business community and general public.

Judging Criteria

A panel of judges will review all applications based on the below criteria:

• Has the collaboration led to other projects or a long-term relationship with the partner institution/s?
• How has the collaboration enhanced the institution’s international profile and internationalisation of its UK campus?
• Is there evidence of a significant contribution to local and regional development in the UK and China?
• Is there evidence of a significant impact and exceptional performance in at least three of the following areas: innovation, teaching, employability, student experience, industry links, alumni relations, development, civic engagement, research.

Application Process

All applications must be submitted through the official website at www.britishbusinessawards.cn by 28 July 2016

The judging panel will select five finalists for the award category, who will be announced at a finalist announcement event. Interviews with the finalists will be conducted in September, and the award recipients will be announced at a gala awards dinner on 10 November in Shanghai.

About the British Business Awards

The British Business Awards 2016 are supported by the British Consulate-General Shanghai, the British Chamber of Commerce in China, the British Council, the Confederation of British Industry, the China-Britain Business Council, the City of London, Manchester China Forum, UK Trade & Investment, and Visit Britain.

The British Business Awards were established in 2008, have been held every two years, and have developed into a key event recognising and promoting excellence in innovation, enterprise, and endeavour in the British business community in China.

Past winners include BP, GKN, InterContinental Hotels Group, Jaguar Land Rover, Standard Chartered, Unilever, Virgin Atlantic, and many others. VIPs such as Sir Sebastian Wood, the former British Ambassador to China; His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Sir Roger Carr, former President of the Confederation of British Industry, have participated.

Through a total of eight award categories, the Awards aim to celebrate and recognise enterprises that have made outstanding contributions in business and cultural exchanges between the UK and China.

Below are the award categories:

• British Company of the Year Award
• Chinese Investor of the Year Award
• Education Institutional Partnership  of the Year Award
• New Business Award
• Best Services Award
• Sustainable Business Award
• Creative Industry Award
• Innovation Award

The current confirmed sponsors include British Airways, the British Council, InterContinental Hotels Group, and Manchester Business School.