Winners of British Business Awards announced

The biennial British Business Awards released its 2020 winners list on Thursday night in Shanghai after going through five months of application, evaluation and interview.

"This year is the 12th anniversary of the award, which was established to recognize the strength, depth, innovation and range of the work of British businesses in China," said the United Kingdom's Ambassador to China Caroline Wilson.

According to Wilson, three new categories have been introduced to the biennial awards this year, namely the British Exporter of the Year Award, the Leadership Award and the Best Employer Award.

Total bilateral trade between China and the UK reached 104.5 billion pounds in 2019. China remains the UK's third-largest export market after the EU and North America. The UK is the top global destination for foreign direct investment in Europe and was the largest recipient of Chinese investment in Europe in 2019.

"In the past 12 years, since its launch, the British Business Awards has witnessed remarkable achievements in China-UK cooperation, trade and investment," said Chinese Ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming.

"Today, the world is experiencing most profound changes. It is my sincere hope that Chinese and British entrepreneurs will join hands, overcome the difficulties and write the most splendid chapters Chinese and UK win-win cooperation," said Liu.

AstraZeneca received the Innovation Award, Unilever the Sustainability Award, Queen's University Belfast won the Education Institutional Partnership of the Year Award,

Entrepreneur of the Year Award went to Malcolm Staff – Halifax Fan,Trip.com Group received Chinese Investor in the UK Award, Peak Scientific got British Exporter of the Year Award, Penny Burgess – CEO, WE Red Bridge won Leadership Award, Spirax Sarco received Best Employer Award, Wood titled Best Services Award, and Smiths Group was named the British Company of the Year Award.

Organized by the British Chambers of Commerce across China, the awards are set to recognize and celebrate businesses and individuals that demonstrate the spirit of innovation, enterprise and endeavor.