International Business of the Year

• Total word count should be no more than 2000 words excluding questions.
• All entries must be electronic and supporting information is not permitted.
• A maximum of 5 insertions e.g. tables, graphs or photos may be attached at the end of the entry form.
• This online form contains 9 questions. Please ensure that you answer all questions.
• Any entries not adhering to the rules of entry will be eliminated at the next round. Click here to read the Rules of Entry
• All entries for this category from Chamber of Commerce Herefordshire and Worcestershire members will automatically be submitted into the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) awards ( www.chamberawards.co.uk ) with the potential to win not only this category but the overall award for Outstanding Achievement with a £50,000 cash prize. Please tick the box if you do NOT wish your entry to be put forward for the BCC Awards
  Please tick this box if you do not wish to be forwarded to for the British Chambers of Commerce awards.
• As part of the judging process, all entries will be reviewed by Business Link West Midlands. Reviews may take the format of a telephone call or a visit to your premises. As soon as we receive your application your details will be forwarded to Business Link who will contact you direct.

Company Name

Contact Name

Position

Company Address

Postcode

Email Address

Website Address

Telephone Number

Mobile Number

Fax Number

Business Sector

Nature of Business

Main product/service

No. of full time employees

No. of part time employees

Legal status of company

Year trading began

Turnover for 2007

Turnover for 2008

Projected turnover for 2009

Net profit for 2007

Net profit for 2008

Projected net profit for 2009

Please provide a brief description of your business, the products or services it supplies, its customers and the markets that it operates in. You should cover:

• The nature of your business
• Your products and services
• Your customers
• Markets that you operate in

Please outline the overall trend in your sales turnover and profit development together with a brief description of key events that have led to these changes where appropriate. You should cover:

• How your sales turnover has developed
• How your profit has developed
• The key events that have led to any changes. Please provide an explanation

What are the objectives for your business over the next 3 years? You should cover:

• Main objectives for the next 3 years
• How these will be achieved
• Effects that these will have on the overall business

Please provide a breakdown of your total sales in the last three years by geographical market. Please provide a commentary of notable changes and trends over the last three years, and highlight any new international markets. Include what percentage of your business is represented by international sales, and details of your company structure for international sales. You should cover:

• Details of your international sales by market
• Information about notable changes and trends over the last three years and how they came about
• Details of any new export markets, and how and why they have developed for your organisation
• The percentage of your business that is represented by international sales
• How the company is structured to deal with international sales, e.g. a dedicated international department

5. Please give details of specific research undertaken prior to launching within certain geographical markets. Include specific information on challenges identified, such as communication, language and cultural. Please summarise any relevant research findings. You should cover:

• Methods of research conducted prior to launching within certain markets, e.g. how markets were identified and what was investigated, and how the research was conducted
• Results of research, including any challenges that would need to be addressed in order to secure a successful international business within these markets

6. What steps have you taken/changes have you made to your products/services or business operations to address these challenges? Please provide clear examples of changes to areas such as products/services pricing; distribution/delivery marketing/sales, general business operations; and staff/structure/training and their impact. You should cover:

• How the issues identified in question 5 were addressed
• Details of how changes have been made to products and services etc
• The impact of these changes on the organisation, customers, staff etc.

What is your strategy for growth through International Trade? Please highlight strategies for both existing market expansion and penetration into new markets. You should cover:

• Objectives and strategies for growth through existing international markets
• Objectives and strategies for growth and penetration in new markets – what impact these new markets will have on your business

** Please give examples of how specific strategies undertaken by your business have driven growth. Outline the strategy and the impact it has had on your business. Choose a maximum of four strategies, covering areas such as marketing, workforce development, customer service and customer loyalty, environmental impact, financial planning and control, supplier relationships and management, operations, IT, and innovations.You should cover:

• Brief details of up to 4 strategies which you feel have driven growth in your business
• Growth achieved and main impact that each strategy has had on the business

** Please provide a short summary of why your business deserves to win this award and what your company would do with the £50,000 prize if you should win the British Chambers of Commerce Award for Outstanding Achievement.You should cover:

• Summary of main reasons why you feel your business stands out from other entrants and deserves to win £50,000
• An explanation of how you would use £50,000 if you won the Award for Outstanding Business Achievement

**Questions will be used to supply additional information as part of the judging of the British Chambers of Commerce Award for Outstanding Business Achievement.

Attachments

Please attach any supporting documents by clicking the browse button below. Please be aware that if you have attached supporting documents it will take slightly longer for the submission to send, depending on how big your documents are.

File 1