UK companies looking to take advantage of rapid expansion of the Chinese economy should follow the example of Rolls-Royce, SGAI Tech and Arup, according to a panel of leading British and Chinese business figures.
Sir John Bond, the chairman of HSBC and Philip Chen, the chief executive of Cathay Pacific Airways, were among the judges that named the trio of companies as the inaugural winners of the Cathay Pacific Awards, a scheme designed to recognise and reward UK business dynamism and success in Hong Kong and China.
Rolls-Royce won the Pacific Star Award for exceptional commitment to business in China and/or Hong Kong. The Derbyshire-based company has had a presence in China for more than 40 years and the judges were particularly impressed by its funding of aviation training programmes at Chinese academic institutions.
SGAI Tech won the Business Wings Award for it innovation, creativity and dynamism. The judges said the joint venture between Scientific Generics the Cambridge-based technology consultancy and Automatic Manufacturing Ltd, a Hong Kong based manufacturer has created, developed and manufactured innovative, high-quality products in an efficient and rapid manner.
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The Green Ribbon Award, which recognises companies that invest in Chinese communities and employees, was won by Arup, the global engineering and design consultancy.
Arup has worked in China for nearly 30 years with almost a quarter of the firm’s 7,000 worldwide staff based in Hong Kong and mainland China. The judging panel were particularly impressed by the company’s broad and in-depth commitment to the training, development and well being of its employees.
Chitty Cheung, the general manager Cathay Pacific Europe, said the judges were particularly impressed with both the high standard of entries and the diversity of entrants.
“It is encouraging to see so many UK organisations successfully taking full advantage of the new business opportunities emerging as a result of the expanding Chinese market,” he said.
Two members of staff from each of the winning companies will take part in a business masterclass in the Centre for Overseas Academic and Cultural Exchanges at the Tsinghua University in Beijing. This two-day session is designed to develop and enhance the winners’ local market knowledge and will provide insights into China’s commercial culture.