Sir Ranulph Fiennes presents HSBC-Vodafone Export and Innovation Awards tomorrow

Sir Ranulph Fiennes, hailed as the “world’s greatest living explorer”, will award the HSBC-Vodafone Export and Innovation Awards in four different categories which include the Most Improved SME Exporter (annual turnover less than €10m); Most Improved Corporate Exporter (annual turnover more than €10m); Most Innovative SME Business (annual turnover less than €10m); and Most Innovative Corporate Business (annual turnover more than €10m).

Twelve different companies have been shortlisted; three for each of the four categories. Alberta Fire Safety and Security, Medserv and Crimsonwing have been shortlisted for the Most Improved Corporate Exporter Category, while Medserv, Simonds Farsons Cisk and Carlo Gavazzi Ltd were nominated for the Most Innovative Business Enterprises Award. These companies have an annual turnover of more than €10m.

The different categories allow SMEs to compete on a level playing field with larger companies, as they are assessed according to their innovative performance and potential rather than size, strength or numbers. The SMEs nominated include ISTC, the Institute of Cellular Pharmacology (ICP) and Consolidated Biscuit for the Most Improved SME Exporter Award whilst RS2 Software, the Institute of Cellular Pharmacology (ICP) and Seifert mtm Systems Malta have been nominated for the Most Innovative SME Business Award with an annual turnover less than €10m.

The nominees were selected by an independent judging panel made up of two senior officials from KPMG, Notary Clyde La Rosa and appointed officials from HSBC Bank Malta plc and Vodafone Malta plc.

Alan Richards, HSBC Malta Group CEO said: “We hope that this initiative acts as a platform which empowers entrepreneurs to be more innovative and in a better position to compete in the European market which counts some 500 million customers. Through this initiative, HSBC and Vodafone are giving businesses a chance to enhance their stature and go international.”

Award-winning companies will get an automatic referral to the European Business Awards, which HSBC also supports. Charities will also be beneficiaries of these awards since all cash prizes will ultimately be donated to good causes.

The awards will be presented by Sir Ranulph Fiennes. He has led over 20 expeditions to remote parts of the world. In 2009 he succeeded in reaching the summit of Mount Everest thus becoming the first man to cross both polar ice-caps and climb the world’s highest peak. In 2003, he completed seven marathons in seven days, in seven different countries only four months after suffering a heart attack.

His expeditions have raised approximately £14.2 million for different charities. For this he has been awarded an OBE by the Queen for human endeavour and charitable services. To date he has written eighteen books including two best sellers.

The Times is media partner of the HSBC-Vodafone Export and Innovation Awards.