Dell Launches 2008 Small Business Excellence Award In Uk To Recognise Innovative Technology

Call for Entries for the UK Dell Small Business Excellence Award – in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce and The Daily Express – Now Open

Dell today announced it is partnering with British Chambers of Commerce and The Daily Express to launch the Dell Small Business Excellence Award in the UK (www.dell.co.uk/ceaward). The award, which Dell has been successfully running in the US over the last four years, has been expanded and will now seek out and reward those small businesses in the UK who can demonstrate how they have applied innovative technology to create an exceptional customer experience.  Dell has also teamed up with its global partners Independent Council for Small Businesses (ICSB) and Endeavor, creating a world-class partnership team for the award.

Entries are now open online at www.dell.co.uk/ceaward, where ten UK finalists will be shortlisted before a national winner is announced.

Winner could receive up to £25,000 in Dell technology and services

The UK winner will receive:

• £15,000 in Dell products and services, a day of best practice sharing with Dell executives, including time with Michael Dell, and a 10-year membership to an Accredited Chamber of Commerce in the UK.
  The nine UK Finalists will receive:
• Dell business class laptop and a one-year membership to an Accredited Chamber of Commerce in the UK.

In addition the UK winner will join 10 other national winners from around the globe as automatic candidates for the 2008 Global Small Business Excellence Award winner. The Global winner will receive:

• £25,000 in Dell products and services, an entrepreneurs summit hosted by Michael Dell, lifetime membership to ICSB, whose mission is to advance entrepreneurship through global knowledge sharing and networking, and mentoring opportunities with Endeavor entrepreneurs, a global network of high-impact entrepreneurs creating jobs in emerging countries.

Dave Marmonti, Dell’s senior vice president and president, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), comments: “Small companies are the lifeblood of the economy. We want to reward fast-growing, successful UK companies that have set a positive example for how to use technology to help drive growth and customer experience.”

John Dunsmure, Managing Director of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:
“Having the right technology is crucial for any small business that is seeking to gain an edge over the competition.  Dell recognises the importance of small businesses to the UK economy and we are delighted to be backing this award.”

Entrants must be businesses with 100 or fewer employees, and each must show how it represents the spirit of innovation in applying information technology in its business practices to improve the customer experience. Applications are accepted online and all entries must be made by the closing date of 31st May, 2008.  No purchase or entry fee is required. The UK finalists and national winner will be announced in August/September 2008. The global winner will be announced in autumn 2008. For a description of the award criteria, rules and regulations, award levels, partners and judges and to complete an application, visit www.dell.co.uk/ceaward. 

About British Chambers of Commerce
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is the authentic voice of British businesses. The BCC sits at the heart of a powerful nationwide network of Accredited Chambers of Commerce serving business across the UK, which employ over five million people.

About Dell
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services they trust and value. Uniquely enabled by its direct business model, Dell is a leading global systems and services company and No. 34 on the Fortune 500. For more information, visit www.dell.co.uk, or to communicate directly with Dell via a variety of online channels, go to www.dell.co.uk/conversations. To get Dell news direct, visit www.dell.co.uk/RSS.

Media Contacts:

Nishma Shah GCI UK
Tel: 0207 072 4237
nshah@gciuk.com

James Gibb Dell 
Tel: 0870 366 4711
James_Gibb@Dell.com