KEETCH URGES FINAL ENTRIES FOR MX2008

6.00.00pm GMT Mon 4th Feb 2008

Firms have until February 29 to enter the battle for 'Best UK Business' at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers' Manufacturing Excellence Awards (MX) 2008.

Dubbed the 'Oscars' of the business world, MX is free for any firm to enter and is the only best practice benchmarking scheme of its kind to offer an elite panel of industry experts giving up to £20,000 worth of free, impartial advice. Deadline for entries is February 29 2008.

Paul Keetch MP said "I would encourage any firms, of any size, to enter the MX Awards. Latest Government figures show SMEs make up 95% of the UK's manufacturing industry and 99% of businesses in the UK and MX offers firms coaching and support from leading industry experts.

''There is also a 'Top Tips' programme to show firms how they can win one of 13 coveted MX trophies. MX is known as the international hallmark of best practice and we, as MPs, should be supporting manufacturing and these companies.''

Graeme Allison, MX Judge and Barclays Corporate Director, said: ''Manufacturing has long-term growth of 0.5% to 1% and MX aims to further grow the industry by offering advice from leading experts to firms on innovation, design and overall quality.''

Barclays are among leading experts from Pricewaterhouse Coopers, BP, Warwick Manufacturing Group, Arup, and the Government's Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) judging the MX Awards. They will be touring the country working with entrants to compile a Self Assessment Audit (SAA). In turn firms receive a free Benchmark Report, worth up to £20,000, which will provide them with invaluable advice on how to improve performance.

There are 13 'Oscars' up for grabs including Sustainable Manufacturing, Product Innovation, People Effectiveness, Customer Focus, Diversity, Best Finance Management, Best SME and Best Business Education Partnership. Past winners have included Rolls Royce, Ford, Land Rover and BAE Systems.

IMechE President John Baxter said: ''It is vital that firms take advantage of the MX Awards Scheme. For manufacturers to survive in the face of lowering carbon emissions, skills shortages and competition from the Far East, sharing best practice is hugely important.''

Finalists for the awards will be invited to a glittering awards ceremony on 26 June 2008 at The Dorchester in London where the winners will be unveiled.

Firms interested in entering should visit www.mxawards.org or email h_morgan@imeche.org. Media enquiries should be directed to the IMechE Press Office on 020 7304 6973 or email media@imeche.org

MX 2008 Awards

PricewaterhouseCoopers Award for Customer Focus

Autodesk Award for Product Innovation

The Innovation Xchange UK (IXC UK) Award for Process Innovation

Warwick Manufacturing Group Award for Logistics and Resource Efficiency

IMechE Award for Business Development & Change Management

Professional Engineering Award for People Effectiveness

BP Award for Best Partnership between Business and Education

National B2B Centre Award for Integrated e-Business

Barclays Award for Financial Management

UKRC Award for Diversity and Inclusion

Arup Award for Sustainable Manufacturing

IMechE Award for Manufacturing Excellence Best Small or Medium Enterprise

Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) Award for Manufacturing Excellence Overall Winner