The National Business Awards for Scotland 2009 Now open for Entries

The National
Business Awards for Scotland 2009

Re-instating consumer confidence through
business recognition
-

The National Business
Awards Now open for Entries

Recognising and rewarding business excellence,
innovation and success, The National Business Awards for Scotland, sponsored by Orange, has launched its seventh consecutive awards
programme.

"The core focus of The National Business Awards for Scotland's 2009 campaign reflects the drive to
help public and private organisations across Scotland build and restore consumer confidence
through business recognition", says Mike Faulkner, Group Director, The National
Business Awards. He goes on to explain, "In the current economic climate there
has never been such a heightened need to instil confidence in consumers. There
is no better way for a business to send a positive message to its customers
than gaining recognition in The National Business Awards for Scotland. We expect 2009 to be a bumper year for
entries and look forward to a robust and hard fought contest".

The Awards programme
is now open for registrations and the closing date for submissions of entry
forms is Tuesday 7th April 2009. And, in order to make entering The
Awards as straight forwards as possible, new for 2009, is the ability to register
entirely digitally. Organisations can register and complete their registration forms
at www.nationalbusinessawardsforscotland.com

Made up of nine categories, shortlisted
finalists will be announced on 6th May 2009, before preparing to make their
presentations in person before an independent, expert judging panel later that month. Scotland winners is to be announced
at a gala dinner and awards ceremony at the Glasgow Hilton hotel on the 24th June. Winners will then advance to The National Business Awards finals
competing with public and private organisations from all over the UK culminating in The National
Business Awards gala dinner in November.

Commenting
on The 2009 Awards programme, Paul Tollet, Vice President Business, Orange
UK
, said:
"Orange is proud to be sponsoring The National Business Awards for
Scotland for a seventh consecutive year and
recognising the resilience and adaptability of Scottish business. In spite
of this difficult economic climate, those organisations that are truly
exceptional will buck the market trends and remain successful".

Allowing the best of
Scottish businesses to showcase their achievements and
benchmark their successes against organisations of all types, the combined turnover of
entrants in last year's Scotland programme equated to a staggering £65bn, employing over 200,000 people, generating over 36k profit per employee.

Describing the importance of The Awards Lord
Mandelson, The Secretary of State for Business said: "Awards such as The
National Business Awards are a great confidence builder. Showcasing some of the
UK's top businesses, they help us recognise
the real wealth

of talent we have in this country."

For further information visit www.nationalbusinessawardsforscotland.com where you can also sign up for our
e-newsletter or telephone our press office on 020 7234 8753.

Contact: Henriette
Svensen| [email protected] |PR Manager |The National Business Awards for
Scotland