Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

The true measure of Ryanair’s achievement was to be champion business in a year in which the category winners were:

• Innovation - One to Watch: Cambridge Consultants Ltd with a technology that judges felt was a world beater

• Growth & Expansion: Cambridge Silicon Radio - tipped by hi-tech entrepreneur and Awards judge, Hermann Hauser, as a potential £1bn turnover company

• Private Company of the Year: Cambridge Display Technology - the LEP display technology firm also tipped by Dr Hauser as a £1bn business

• Quoted Company of the Year: Acambis - the vaccines specialist leading the US fight against bioterrorism

The judges felt Ryanair had enjoyed a stunning last 12 months of growth based on its low fares model and contrasted its expansion with the cutbacks made by long-haul carriers either side of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US.

Through a £6bn investment in a new fleet of aircraft, Ryanair is creating 1,000 new jobs and launching eight new routes from Stansted.

By a quirk of fate the airline received the Award from John Stent, Stansted’s MD, who was guest speaker at a glittering, champagne presentation dinner in Cambridge.

Stent said that it was Ryanair’s commitment to switch its UK operational headquarters to Stansted that had been the catalyst for the arrival of other low cost carriers and expansion for the airport itself.

The winners’ roll was arguably the strongest seen in the 12 years of the Awards, organised by Business Weekly and sponsored by English Partnerships, the government land disposals and regeneration agency, accountant and business adviser Grant Thornton and law firm Mills & Reeve.

There were more than 100 original entries from companies across the whole of the region, representing all sectors and various stages of maturity: a shortlist of 42 produced some outstanding businesses for the judges - all leading executives - to vet in a rigorous forensic process.

Glittering crystal obelisks from the Queen’s jewellers were presented to the winners, who join an elite pantheon of world-class businesses from down the years.

All the winners paid tribute to the strength of the region’s business community and the high credibility of these particular awards.

John Stent summarised: “The East of England is a fabulous region in which to do business - the best region in the UK with the best businesses and the best people. Tonight has been one amazing celebration of that excellence.”

ROLL OF HONOUR

Business of the Year

Ryanair Holdings

Innovation – One to Watch

Cambridge Consultants Ltd

Growth & Expansion

Cambridge Silicon Radio

Private Company of the Year

Cambridge Display Technology

Quoted Company of the Year

Acambis