Guests at The National Business Awards Final Raise £12,000 for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
The prestigious National Business Awards Final described by PM Gordon Brown as ‘The Business Oscars’ was held at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Tuesday 18th November.
The Awards Ceremony and Dinner, presented by BBC Journalist Andrew Marr was attended by a number of the UK’s leading business figures alongside HRH The Earl of Wessex, Royal Trustee of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Peter Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
The 17 Awards recognise businesses for technological innovation, leadership and their commitment to the environment. Rolls Royce, Diageo and Hallin Marine were among the winners on the night. DofE supporters including Mel Ewell, CEO of Amey and Claire Owen, Founder of the SG Group were among the finalists for Orange Business Leader of the Year and The Credit Suisse Outstanding Woman in Business respectively.
HRH The Earl of Wessex, Trustee of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award spoke passionately about the work of the DofE and encouraged business leaders to support the Charity in the longer term.
Sarah Jones a young person who has turned her life around by doing her DofE spoke on behalf of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and inspired guests to donate generously to the raffle on the night.
Sarah told the audience, ‘Before I started doing my DofE programme I had no aspirations, no hope of finishing school or getting any qualifications. Since starting my Dof I have achieved 8 GCSE’s, received the Princess Diana’s Memorial Award and represented my country at Dragon Boat Racing. I never thought that the DofE could have a life changing effect on me. I’m glad to say it has’.
2008 is the third year that The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has been selected as charity partners with The National Business Awards. The total raised through the partnership to date is in excess of £130,000.
Mike Faulkner Group Director of The National Business Awards spoke with great enthusiasm about this important alliance: “The National Business Awards' support for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award has been established through the synergy that exists in recognising leadership. The work that the DofE does with young people, preparing them for the challenges of working life, is something that The National Business Awards is proud to support.”