National Business Awards Finalists Announced 2011 - Croner Employer of the Year Award

Over 160 of Britain's most innovative and sustainable public and private sector businesses have been announced today, Tuesday 2 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, BSkyB, Majestic Wine and Supergroup – through to the rising stars of Ovo Energy, Door-Stop, ShortList Media and HeartSine Technologies. Announcing The Croner Employer of the Year finalists this morning, Andy Hague, MD of Croner, a Wolters Kluwer business, the UK's largest provider of workplace information, said: "The brightest people are always drawn to the best and most enlightened employers and it is particularly encouraging to see so many great finalists this year who not only recognise that truism, but actually act on it. This is especially gratifying given the strained economic backdrop that the UK finds itself in. Both myself and the wider judging panel will have a tough time picking a winner – but we are all looking forward to the challenge." The 2011 Croner Employer of the Year finalists are:

• Baringa Partners, Surrey, KT10 9RQ
• BSkyB, Isleworth, TW7 5QD
• Child Base Limited, Newport Pagnell, MK16 8NJ
• DPA, Lower Eashing, Godalming, GU7 2QP
• Intuit UK, Maidenhead, SL6 1AD
• LUMINUS, Huntingdon, PE29 3QW
• LV=, Bournemouth, BH21 1NF
• Pets at Home, Stockport, SK7 4LH
• Rackspace, Uxbridge, UB11 1ET
• UKFast, Manchester, M1 4BT

"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. Finalists will now prepare to make their presentations in person before an independent, expert judging panel in September and October at the offices of Coutts & Co at 30 St Mary Axe. The judges are:

• Mr Albert Ellis, Chief Executive Officer, Harvey Nash
• Mr Andy Hague, Managing Director, Croner
• Mr Simon Perryman, Director of Employer Engagement, UK Commission for Employment and Skills
• Mr Peter Whitehead, FT Recruitment & Appointments Editor, FT

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.