Electrocomponents plc announced as finalist in National Business Awards 2011

Over 150 of Britain’s most innovative and sustainable public and private sector businesses have been announced today, Tuesday 2nd August, as finalists of the National Business Awards in partnership with Orange. Organisations shortlisted this year range from the well-known Debenhams, JD Wetherspoon, moneysupermarket.com, Harvey Nash, Majestic Wine and Supergroup – through to the rising stars of Ovo Energy, Door-Stop, ShortList Media and HeartSine Technologies.
Announcing the finalists in the nomination only category of The Coutts & Co Large-Cap Business of the Year, Michael Morley, Chief Executive, Coutts & Co, which has an office in Oxford, said: “We continue to live in challenging times and British business is instrumental in driving the economic recovery. The Large-Cap Business of the Year awards recognise excellence in the leadership of companies with tunovers in excess of £500 million. This year’s finalists are fantastic success stories that the UK can be proud of, with each showing business excellence and innovation and exemplary durability or growth.”
The 2011 Coutts & Co Large-Cap Business of the Year finalists are:

Autonomy, Cambridge, CB4 0WZ
Debenhams, London, W1G 0AA
Electrocomponents plc, Oxford, OX4 2HW
JD Wetherspoon plc, Watford, WD24 4QL
Johnson Matthey plc, London, EC4A 4AB
Land Securities, London, WC2N 5AF
Lloyds of London, London, EC3M 7HA
Mitie Group plc, London, SE1 2QG
Reckitt Benckiser, Slough, SL1 3UH
Kingfisher plc, W2 6PX

Electrocomponents plc is the world’s largest distributor of electronics and maintenance products, serving 1.5 million customers worldwide. Electrocomponents qualified as a finalist because it has diversified into new segments and territories – with all regions delivering double digit growth and international business now contributing 70% of Group sales. Seeing the fastest growth in Electronics and eCommerce, with revenue increases of 30% and 37% respectively, Electrocomponents not only proved its resilience in 2010 but achieved sales in excess of £1bn for the first time in the Group’s history.

“The economic climate continues to present UK businesses with an unprecedented challenge: it is therefore particularly encouraging that the entries in this year’s National Business Awards have shown no drop in quality or performance. Congratulations to all finalists for demonstrating tremendous strength in their ability to adapt and innovate which no doubt reflects the resilience and optimism that are the hallmarks of UK enterprise”, said Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone, Chair of Judges, the National Business Awards.
Finalist will now prepare to make their filmed interviews in person in September, that will later be judged by an independent, expert judging panel at the offices of Coutts & Co at 30 St Mary’s Axe. The judges include:

Gerald Bailey, Senior Client Partner, Coutts & Co
Geoff Cousins, MD, Jaguar
Tony Horell, CEO, Colliers

Organised by UBM plc, winners will be honoured at the National Business Awards gala dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, Tuesday 8th November, where George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver this year’s welcome address. Visit www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for a full list of all 2011 finalists.