BUDDING NEW BUSINESS MICHAEL ASSOCIATES LTD MAKES AWARDS SHORTLIST

Blossoming new business Michael Associates Limited has been unveiled as one of four finalists at the Startups Awards 2007 in the ‘Green Business of the Year’ category, handing it the chance to win the £5,000 top prize.

The short listing judges were impressed by Michael Associates Limited’s concept and potential, placing the business among a handful of lucky finalists plucked from hundreds of entries.

Michael Associates Limited is a dynamic and environmental conscious new media agency. The company provide a one stop shop for all new media needs by offering a wide range of products and services, aimed at all markets, from start-ups to blue chips companies. The main services include brand identity, website design, graphic design, print fulfilment, digital publishing, marketing and events.

The Startups Awards, organised by Crimson Business’ Startups.co.uk, comprises of 16 categories, each showcasing the best new businesses in the UK. The overall winner will walk away with a £5,000 cheque.

Endorsed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and underlining its commitment to identifying and rewarding the UK’s best new businesses, the fourth annual Startups Awards is organised in conjunction with NatWest.

The winners will be unveiled at a prestigious awards ceremony and three-course luncheon to be held at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington on Wednesday 31 October.

Michael Cheung, Creative Director of Michael Associates Limited comments: “We are thrilled to be a finalist in the ‘Green Business of the Year’ category and very much look forward to the event in October. It’s great that all our dedication and hard work and commitment to the environment has been recognised by Startups.co.uk, and we’re delighted to be in with a chance of not only winning the category but also the much-coveted ‘NatWest Startups Business of the Year’ prize.”

Startups.co.uk is the UK’s largest independent online resource for budding entrepreneurs and the Startups Awards is one of the leading events on the small business calendar.

To be eligible to enter the Startups Awards 2007, businesses must have been trading for less than three years, be privately owned, and employ fewer than 60 people.

This year’s judging panel consists of some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs, including Martin Webb, entrepreneur & presenter of Channel 4’s Risking It All, Tim Campbell, winner of BBC’s The Apprentice, 2005 and Jonathon Moules, entrepreneurship Correspondent, Financial Times.

The judges look at a wide range of criteria; in particular, business success either by increase in sales and unit volume, market research and identification of customer focus, organisational and team building effectiveness, strategic planning, overcoming obstacles and barriers to success, visionary leadership and social and community responsibility.

Additional sponsors include BarterCard, brighter business, BT, NetRegs, Yellow Pages, amen, brother, BPS, eoffice and Business Link.

For further information about Startups Awards 2007 visit www.startupsawards.co.uk or telephone 020 8334 1680