Manufacturing Excellence Awards 2008

5.28.02pm GMT Tue 30th Oct 2007

Lorely Burt MP is urging firms in the area to enter the Institution of Mechanical Engineers' (IMechE) Manufacturing Excellence (MX) Awards 2008.

The MX awards are the most prestigious 'Oscars' in the business world and benchmark best practice in UK manufacturing. Some of the world's biggest industry names, from Barclays, PricewaterhouseCoopers, BP, Autodesk and the Government's manufacturing Advisory service (MAS) are supporting MX2008.

Lorely Burt MP said:

"I hope to see as many companies as possible enter MX2008, as the competition is known as the national hallmark of best practice in manufacturing and we, as MPs, should be doing all we can to support this country's manufacturing industry, these companies are our future.

"Protecting the heritage of UK manufacturing and skills is a hugely important task, and to support this I would encourage any firms, of any size, to enter. They are free and run in partnership with some of the country's leading business names, including the Warwick Manufacturing Group," Lorely Burt added.

Deadline for entries is 28 February 2008. Firms have been judged by some of the UK's top business experts, including Barclays Corporate Director Graeme Allinson, MAS West Midlands Chief Executive David Wright, and Lord Bhattachryya, Director of WMG.

Companies can compete for awards ranging from Best Overall Business, Best SME, best Sustainable Manufacturer, Product Innovation, and Best Business Education Partnership.

Each firm that enters is entitled to a free, bespoke Benchmark Report from a panel of manufacturing experts and independently valued at £20,000 after filling in a self Assessment Audit. The report will offer a 'top tips' service to firms with invaluable advice on how to improve performance, taking size, industry and resources into consideration.

Finalists for the awards will be invited to a glittering awards ceremony on 26 June at The Dorchester in London where the winners and overall MX winner will be announced.

Firms interested in entering should visit www.mxawards.org or email h_morgan@imeche.org.