Search for champions of Europe

The Best of European Business Awards honour firms with hunger and creativity, says Neelam Verjee.

The Times

THE emergence and expansion of the European bloc has created huge opportunities for UK plc. Ambitious and hungry companies willing to embrace risk and seek out new markets have fashioned a new breed of European champion.

The Times and Roland Berger Strategy Consultants will present the second annual Best of European Business Awards, aimed at recognising those companies that have best used the opportunities created by the widening of Europe and the single market ideal of the original Common Market.

Driven by the dream of anointing Europe "the most competitive region in the world", the awards aim to highlight the creativity and competitive advantage born of diversity. They also emphasise the strategic necessity of building a strong home market in order to develop the strength to become a global leader.

The awards, to be held on November 22, will examine how successful UK-based companies have been at creating a cohesive European corporate culture and embracing the diversity contained within Europe. Burkhard Schwenker, chief executive of Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, said the motto of the European Union -"United in diversity" -best represented the ethos of the awards.

"When companies grow successfully in the extremely diverse markets of Europe and link up different cultures to dynamic networks, they are not merely securing Europe's economic base," Dr Schwenker said. "They are ensuring that integration is lived out and that there is a European corporate culture that rises above its national equivalents."

The awards employ stringent criteria to evaluate the success of companies in three categories. The first -Growth -examines whether and how companies have utilised opportunities presented by the emergence of a European market to create a sustainable strategy of profitable growth. The second category -European Opportunities -considers how orientated towards Europe a company's strategy is.

The final category gauges which companies have made best use of the internal market and generated value through cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions.

Each category is split into two sub-categories, based on company size, to ensure an even playing field. The first category will weigh up companies with turnovers of more than Pounds 2 billion, while the second examines those with a turnover of between Pounds 800 million and Pounds 2 billion.

A distinguished panel of senior business leaders, academics and media personalities will decide on the winners of the awards from a shortlist compiled using strict guidelines.

The panel includes John Peace, chief executive of GUS, the retailer, and chairman of Burberry, the luxury goods group, and Sir Nigel Rudd, chairman of Alliance Boots and deputy chairman of Barclays.

Other members of the jury are: Penny Hughes, non-executive director of Reuters and a former director of Trinity Mirror and Vodafone; Donald Brydon, chairman of Smiths Group and Taylor Nelson Sofres; and Robert Cole, deputy business editor of The Times. Zeger Degraeve, Deputy Dean of Programmes and Professor of Decision Sciences at London Business School; and David Stern, of Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, are the remaining panel members.

This year the awards have been extended to take place on a national level in ten countries, including Switzerland, a non-EU entry. The pan-European winners will be honoured at a gala next March.

BEST OF EUROPEAN BUSINESS

Growth

In the mid-size sub-category, easyJet is shortlisted for its "strong and simple brand", Sports World for its aggressive expansion, Brit Insurance for strengthening its brand and diversifying internationally, European Metal Recycling for delivering the right products and volumes on time, and Enterprise Inns for a string of acquisitions that has helped it to strong growth.

In the larger firms sub-category, Travis Perkins is shortlisted for both acquisitions and brownfield developments, Serco for its entrepreneurial spirit and strong organic growth, Scottish & Southern Energy for its multipronged strategy to maintain growth, Carphone Warehouse for its growth of market share and geographical spread, and William Hill for growth through acquisitions and new platforms.

European Opportunities

In the mid-size sub-category, easyJet is shortlisted for its contribution in opening up Europe to travellers, DS Smith for its strategy of acquisitions and organic growth, Icap for similar reasons, SIG for developing long-term shareholder value in partnership with employees and others, and Taylor Nelson Sofres for its contribution to Europe through M&A.

In the larger firms sub-category, Aviva is shortlisted for becoming a leader in helping customers to grow their wealth and protect their assets, Rexam for its presence both in Europe and globally, Gallaher for its transformation into a European firm, DSG International for European expansion through both acquisitions and organic growth, and Carphone Warehouse for its growth of market share while extending its geographical spread.

Mergers and Acquisitions

In the mid-size sub-category, LogicaCMG is shortlisted for its strategic buys in France and Germany, European Metal Recycling for acquisitions giving it a foothold in Europe, QinetiQ for having created opportunities for itself through its purchase of Apogen in America, Yell.com for its efforts to understand and meet the changing needs of customers, and Arriva for its acquisitions and contract wins.

In the larger firms sub-category, Barclays is shortlisted after its takeover of Absa in South Africa, Ineos for its rapid growth, National Express for its move into Europe, Vodafone for growing in Eastern Europe, and WPP for its presence in the United States and Europe.