Growth and progress under current economic circumstances can only be achieved with innovative solutions. This is the message of the twenty Hungarian companies that made it to this year’s Hungarian finalists of the respectable European Business Awards. The task of the judges of the European Business Awards (EBA),supported by the international network of RSM, RSMi also, was indeed difficult this year: a total of more than 15 thousand enterprises from 29 countries of Europe tested themselves at the awards. 627 of them made it through the first round to the national finalists getting the chance of winning even the prestigious Ruban d’Honneur award.
Exactly twenty companies have made it to the national finals this year: all of these companies attribute their success to an ability to constantly reinvent themselves. They are good examples for the possibility of progress despite the crisis in almost every industry. The list of finalists includes an online service provider (Arkon),an environmental equipment manufacturer (Biofilter),a company selling environmental technologies (Elmolight),food processing companies (Borsodi Sörgyár, Fino-Food, Flavon Group, Mirelite Mirsa, Nobilis) and even an airline (Wizz Air) but IT developers are represented also (Dolphio, Econ Consulting, Prezi).
National finalists include two companies engaged in the creative industry (Carnation and WAMP) but creativity is what all finalists have in common. Going through the list of finalists it becomes clear that even larger companies, which have been in business for a decade and have long-established activities (Metro, for example) owe their long-term profitable operation to the constant renewal of their service range.
This requires excellent management and dedicated employees who like and are satisfied with their work: a brief survey by RSM DTM of the national finalists reveals. Many even reported that in order to achieve success, further training and development of employees must even have priority over financial resources and solid financing.
It is also good news that the twenty successful companies also include DBH Group and Magyar Fejlesztési Iroda (Hungarian Development Agency Corp., MAPI) as this is a clear message that despite the crisis the support and financing of start-up companies and SME-s can be achieved successfully as these two companies are currently engaged in these activities – although they both started out from other areas and went through different company paths.
This is the first year that the selection of national finalists is included in the programme of EBA. This gives companies publicity in their own countries – be it among peers, public officials or in the media. The other reason is that judges may also get a more detailed picture of the performance and achievements of these companies.
The series of EBA events will continue in September with the selection of the nominees for the Ruban D’Honneur award.
