Intertek, Fired Up Corporation and Queen Mary University London have won the 2011 Cathay Pacific China Business Awards, it was announced on 13 January 2012. The annual awards, which were launched in 2005, celebrate UK business dynamism and success in China and Hong Kong. 

A panel of judges comprising senior representatives from Cathay Pacific, The China Britain Business Council, HSBC and The Daily Telegraph, chose the winning entries from sectors spanning commerce, construction, education, professional services, energy and technology.

Intertek, a leading global provider of quality and safety solutions, was named winner of the Continued Commitment Award. Able to trace its history back over 120 years, with a strong presence in Hong Kong since 1973 and mainland China since 1989, Intertek stood out as a clear winner. With more than 30,000 people worldwide, Intertek employs more than 8,500 people in China and Hong Kong who support both local and international companies seeking to do business in China with quality and safety services through more than 60 offices and accredited laboratories in over 30 cities in China.  Working in sectors including textiles, food and cosmetics,  automotive, new energy, environmental services, petroleum and oil products, the company delivers new services and innovations to improve efficiency, provide greater assurance and sustainability across the supply chain.

The Rising Stars Award, which recognises business dynamism and success SMEs operating in Hong Kong and China, was presented to Fired Up Corporation Limited, a Huddersfield-based manufacturer specialising in electrical assembly, heating and cooling products with a strong focus on the home, hotel and hospitality markets.  It manufactures from plants in both China and Huddersfield where the business started.

The Cathay Pacific New Horizons Award recognises a project or initiative that displays dedication to China and/or Hong Kong through business innovation, research projects, or examples of environmental or corporate social responsibility activity. For this award, Queen Mary, University of London, was selected. Queen Mary’s 3,000 academic staff deliver degree programmes and research across three faculties: Science and Engineering; Humanities and Social Sciences and the School of Medicine and Dentistry.  Their ground-breaking model is a collaboration between Queen Mary (QM) and Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT) in a joint Degree Programme launched in 2004. This unique programme allows students to graduate with two degrees – one from BUPT and one from the University of London. There are currently over 2,000 students enrolled in the joint degree. 

Cathay Pacific General Manager Europe Angus Barclay said the judges were extremely impressed by the quality and diversity of the entrants. “It is inspiring to see just how many UK organisations are choosing to make the most of the business opportunities available in China.  As the leading airline of Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific Airways has a long history of facilitating links between businesses trading in the UK and China. The Cathay Pacific China Business Awards provide a platform for us to recognise and celebrate the ongoing growth of the relationships forged between the UK, China and Hong Kong.”