UK banking giant Barclays has announced it will be the title sponsor for the 18th annual Rising Stars business awards in Luton and Bedfordshire.
The Barclays business bank account team, in addition to being this year’s title sponsor, will also be backing the search for the 2011 Company of the Year. Regional business director for Barclays, Martin Bonner, remarked that the UK banking giant is sponsoring the awards because the financial service provider sees itself not just as a lending institution but as a key part of the business community.
Barclays’ involvement in the Rising Stars Awards is highly important to it, added Mr Bonner. The bank is looking forward to celebrating the success of firms that have taken innovative approaches to achieving their goals in spite of the challenges inherent in the current economic landscape.
Barclays’ business management team Barclays, which is based in its local Luton and Bedford branches, spend the majority of their time and efforts visiting companies at their premises in order to discuss business loans and dispense financial advice. With a turnover of up to £5 million and more than 700,000 customers, Barclays’ business banking arm provides assistance to a wide range of firms, such as limited companies, partnerships, sole traders, and start ups.
In 2010 Barclays states that they supported more than 100,000 business start ups, which was the largest figure since the bank began keeping records of its business banking activities.
The award presentation will be taking place in Bedford at Park Inn on Thursday, 10 November. Friday, 7 October is the closing date for entries to be considered for the awards ceremony, but businesses are urged to enter early.