Oceanair has been named a National Champion for the UK in The European Business Awards, sponsored by RSM. This is Europe’s largest business competition, set up to celebrate business excellence and best practice in the European business community. The Awards, now in its 10th year, is supported by business leaders, academics and political representatives from across Europe, and this year engaged with over 33,000 businesses from 34 countries. Oceanair has been chosen after the first phase of judging by an independent panel, and ranked in the top 2% of businesses entered from across Europe. Oceanair will now go through to the second stage of the competition, which is evaluated on the core EBA values of innovation, ethics and success.
Oceanair is the world’s leading supplier of blinds, shades, screens, and soft furnishings in the marine market, exporting to over 35 countries, supplying internationally renowned brands. The company also supplies the superyacht, residential and commercial and recreational-vehicle market sectors with its products.
Andy Fitzgerald, managing director of Oceanair, said: “We’re very proud to be selected to represent the UK as a National Champion. The European Business Awards is widely viewed as a showcase for Europe’s most dynamic companies and we are proud to be recognised at this level.”
Adrian Tripp, CEO of the European Business Awards, said: “Congratulations to Oceanair which has been selected as a National Champion. The company is central to the success of Europe’s strong business community, and has shown the core principles we look for of innovation, ethics and success.”
The next round will require the National Champions to make a presentation video, telling their unique story and explaining their business success. The Awards’ independent judges will award the best of this group the ‘Ruban d’Honneur’ status and selected companies will then go on to the Gala Final in 2017.
In the final, in a two-stage public vote, the videos will be hosted on the European Business Awards website, and the company which receives the most votes in its country will become the National Public Champion. Last year over 227,000 votes were cast as companies were supported globally by their clients, staff and peers, as well as the general public.