CIEH scoops major international business award

Subject: CIEH

THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH WINS CATHAY PACIFIC NEW HORIZONS BUSINESS AWARD

London, 15 January 2010: The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) was revealed today as winner of the New Horizons category of the 2009 Cathay Pacific China Business Awards. First introduced in 2005, these annual awards are designed to acknowledge and celebrate UK business dynamism and success in Hong Kong and China.

With a history of over 120 years, the British public health charity, CIEH, has been improving health in food hygiene in Hong Kong and China since 1998. CIEH was selected from a pool of entries reflecting a range of sectors including education, charity, manufacturing, professional services and technology.

Their achievement was recognised by Cathay Pacific’s Philippe de Gentile-Williams, General Manager Europe, in an awards ceremony held at The Mandarin Oriental, London attended by leading business figures from the UK, Hong Kong and China. One of three award categories, the New Horizons Awardrecognises a single project or initiative that displays compelling evidence of dedication to China and/or Hong Kong through business innovation, research projects, or examples of environmental or corporate social responsibility activity.

The non-governmental institute is a major provider of vocational qualifications, events, candidate and trainer support materials on topics related to health, wellbeing and safety. The judges agreed that the contribution made by the institute to improving health in food safety in China made this a stand-out entry. The CIEH established a partnership with the Hong Kong Food Council in 1998, since then over 14,000 food handlers in Hong Kong have achieved a CIEH food safety certificate. Such initiatives are expected to result in increased safety standards in the food hygiene sector, increasing safety awareness and ultimately improving health in Hong Kong and China.

Graham Jukes, CIEH Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted and honoured to have received this coveted award. It is first and foremost recognition of the great partnerships we have developed in Hong Kong and China. The CIEH has a long term commitment to invest and form effective public health partnerships in Hong Kong and China.

We are determined to build a business that delivers value and excellent customer service to colleagues, customers and business partners. Not only is China the engine room of the world economy, but it is also a very attractive and inviting place to do business.”

Philippe de Gentile-Williams, General Manager Europe, Cathay Pacific Airways, London said, “Since the awards were launched in the UK five years ago, we have seen a steady rise in participation from British businesses. It is particularly refreshing to note that, despite the challenges faced by businesses in the current climate, there were more than twice as many entrants in 2009 than in the previous year. China continues to hold its appeal as a market for UK companies looking to grow or consolidate their business and the Cathay Pacific China Business Awards offer an opportunity to both highlight and celebrate the links that are being forged between organisations from the UK, China and Hong Kong.”

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Notes to Editors

The 2009 judging panel includes:

• Philippe de Gentile-Williams, General Manager Europe, Cathay Pacific
• John Willman, UK Business Editor, Financial Times
• Stuart Nivison, Head of Trade and Supply Chain, HSBC
• Sarah Wu, Director General, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office
• Christopher Twinn, Director, Ove Arup

The 2009 advisory panel includes:

• Sir Andrew Cahn, Chief Executive, UK Trade & Investment
• The Baroness Dunn, Chairman, The Hong Kong Association
• Stephen Green, Group Chairman, HSBC Holdings
• Sir David Brewer, Chairman, China-Britain Business Council
• Tony Tyler, Chief Executive, Cathay Pacific Airways

Cathay Pacific is honoured to announce the following partners of the awards scheme:

-HSBC -well known for its global banking connections, HSBC is currently expanding its services and network in tandem with China’s economic development, by supporting customers’ needs in this market. With one of the largest networks if any foreign bank in mainland China HSBC is the ideal partner for companies involved in international trade - www.hsbc.co.uk

- China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) - CBBC is the UK's leading organisation helping British companies do business in China. It delivers a range of practical services to British companies wishing to export goods and services to, invest in, or establish manufacturing under license arrangements with China - www.cbbc.org.uk

- UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) - the UKTI works with UK-based businesses to ensure their success in international markets and seeks to encourage the best overseas companies to look to the UK as their global partner of choice - www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/

- Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) - HKTDC aims to create and facilitate opportunities in international trade for Hong Kong companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and to promote a positive image of Hong Kong - www.hktdc.com

• Further information on this year’s judging panel and previous winners of the awards scheme can be found at www.cathaypacificawards.co.uk
• Cathay Pacific flies non-stop four times daily from London Heathrow Terminal 3 to Hong Kong International Airport, with onward connections to 115 destinations worldwide, including 40 Asian cities and 18 destinations in China (through its sister airline, Dragonair).
• A sister event to the Cathay Pacific China Business Awards, The Cathay Pacific China Trader Awards, has been running successfully in the Netherlands since 1996. It provides a vital networking forum for those organisations with interests in Hong Kong and China. Similar award schemes are successfully run in the Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany and Thailand.
• Founded in 1911, Tsinghua University has grown to become one of the leading universities in China, attracting the best students both from China and abroad. Many of China’s top leaders, both in government and industry are counted amongst its alumni. The two day seminar programme has been designed to give the award winners valuable insights into the current economic situation in China as well as its prospects for the future.
• The Cathay Pacific UK website can be found at www.cathaypacific.co.uk. The Cathay Pacific Cargo website is www.cathaypacificcargo.com.

Chartered Institute of Environmental Health

• The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) is the professional voice for environmental health. It ensures the highest standards of professional competence in its members, in the belief that through environmental health action people's health can be improved.
• The CIEH provides over 50 qualification training programmes through a network of over 10,000 registered trainers. The courses are developed for the varied skill levels within organisations. They cater to different learning styles and preferences through a series of flexible structures. CIEH qualifications are OFQUAL (formerly QCA) accredited and are valued and recognised throughout the world.
• The CIEH represents over 10,000 members working in the public, private and non-profit sectors. For more information about the CIEH visit www.cieh.org
• For CIEH media enquiries, please contact Andrew Hamadanian on 0207 827 5922, or James Davis on 0207 827 6303.