SIXTY-five companies from across the UK are set to compete for the title of National Public Champion in this year’s European Business Awards.

It is open to the public to vote for the first time.

Accountancy and business advisory firm Baker Tilly, which has an office on Basing View, is the UK member firm of RSM International, which sponsors these annual awards.

The 65 UK companies, already named as National Champions in the internally judged part of the competition, have submitted videos of their company online. These videos give a powerful insight into their business and its successes, and now the public will decide who should go through to the next stage and be named National Public Champion for UK on March 3.

This first phase of the online voting is now open until 24 February, and all the videos for this year’s National Champions can be found on the European Business Awards website businessawardseurope.com.

Laurence Longe, Baker Tilly’s managing director, said: “It is extremely encouraging to see so many UK companies at this stage in the competition.

“These businesses have demonstrated the type of high-level commitment and professionalism that sets them apart from their competitors.

“It’s important that we support our home-grown talent, and I urge everyone to take the time to cast their vote and give these UK businesses a winning chance in this important competition.”

The second public vote will take place between March 3 and April 16, and the result of this final round of voting will be the selection of a European Public Champion who will be announced at the awards gala event in May.

Jean Stephens, chief executive officer of RSM International, the seventh largest global network of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, said: “The videos provide a fascinating insight into some of Europe’s most inspiring businesses and the story of their success.

“With over 93,000 votes cast last year, the public voting stage provides a great opportunity for these companies to showcase their achievements to a wider audience.

“Good luck to everyone in this round of the competition.”

Separately, the video entries from all National Champions representing 33 countries across Europe will be reviewed and scored by the European Business Awards’ panel of judges, and on February 10, the chairman of judges will announce the 100 Ruban d’Honneur recipients.

The overall European winners of the ten European Business Awards categories will be announced at the same time as the European Public Champion at the gala event in May.