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National Business Awards

The Rt. Hon. John Hutton MP,  Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform
The Grosvenor House Hotel,  13 November 2007

Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen. I’m extremely pleased to be here for this celebration of business excellence. An event that’s rightly become known as the Business Oscars.

We’re all well aware of the changing nature of the world in which we live and do business. A place, where competition can come from anywhere; global challenges such as climate change are changing the ways in which we live and work; and technology is both creating new industries and making others obsolete overnight.

Consumers are better informed and have rising aspirations. The public want more from the businesses they buy from and the Governments they vote for.

They want fast, efficient solutions and better value for their money.

These factors shape your customer base, workforce and shareholders. They define your future competitiveness and your business’ success.

I also believe very strongly that they bring huge opportunities – over a billion potential new customers world-wide, countless new markets and greater innovations.

Success in this new world belongs to businesses with the passion, knowledge and people to stand out from the competition.

It will belong to the countries that give people and business the best chances, tools and support to thrive.

Your presence here tonight also shows you have the drive and capabilities to thrive too. That you are committed to delivering the excellence that equals success.

The job of Government, of my Department, in particular, is to help you go even further.

We have some good foundations to build on - a strong and growing economy, more investment and successful new companies and a deserved international reputation as one of the best places in the world to do business.

But all of us here want to do more.

My department will work with you to create the right conditions for business success, ensuring an enterprise culture that harnesses talent and reducing the burdens, wherever we can, on your business through better regulation.

I’m pleased to see Government sponsorship of two of tonight’s awards – Better Regulation and Health, Work and Well Being.

The Better Regulation Award is sponsored by my own Department. And I’m pleased to see amongst the group of fantastic nominees represented in this category - a team from my own Department.

The inaugural Health, Work and Wellbeing award has also seen businesses of all sizes leading the way in promoting the health of your workforce. Good health is good business.

Good luck to everyone up for an award tonight. This is a fantastic achievement and well worth celebrating.

Thank you to the organisers, sponsors and supporters of this event.

I’m as serious about your businesses doing well as you are. Your dedication and commitment to business excellence is helping ensure both your own and our country’s future success.

Thank you. Enjoy the evening.

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