Fox Anchor Carlos Amezcua Joins Judging Panel as BritWeek and UKTI Launch 2013 Business Innovation Awards

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BritWeek and UK Trade & Investment are pleased to announce the fourth annual BritWeek UKTI Business Innovation Awards, presented by Virgin Atlantic, is now underway. Nominations are open from today until March 15th for companies doing business in the UK and California. Winners will be announced at an awards dinner at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on April 24th, 2013. Joining the judging panel for the first time is local Fox Los Angeles Co-Anchor Carlos Amezcua.

“I agreed in a heartbeat to be a judge for these awards, because I strongly believe innovation is key to our competitive survival in California”

“I agreed in a heartbeat to be a judge for these awards, because I strongly believe innovation is key to our competitive survival in California,” said Amezcua, who recently hosted ‘Saving the California Dream.’ “The same is true of the UK, and fortunately both the UK and California have innovation in their DNA. So we know we’ll have a lot of really interesting nominations and I am looking forward to seeing them.”

In addition to Amezcua, this year’s panel of distinguished judges will once again include creativity guru Sir Ken Robinson, Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum, and Walt Disney International Chairman Andy Bird. The awards recognize business innovation in five categories: Design; Technology; Service Provision; Philanthropy; and Marketing and Communications.

“The UK and USA are significant trade and investment partners with almost $1 trillion invested in each other’s economies,” said Fiona Francois, UKTI Director in the Western United States and BritWeek Board member. “The BritWeek UKTI Business Innovation Awards celebrate this crucial relationship here in California. Virgin Atlantic is a fantastic partner for this event as they embody an innovative company with a substantial footprint in the UK and California. We are all looking forward to another strong field of applicants for the 2013 awards.”

“Virgin Atlantic is thrilled to connect customers in California and the UK, bringing the best of business, trade and investment together for over 20 years,” said Simon Bradley, Vice President of Marketing at Virgin Atlantic. “And we’re delighted to work with UKTI on these awards for innovation; it’s in our nature, as we ‘fly in the face of ordinary’ every day from Los Angeles and San Francisco to London and beyond.”

Any company doing business in both California and the UK is eligible to enter the competition. Applicants are required to set out how their organization has improved products, experiences or services in one of the five categories. For more information, rules of entry, and to submit a nomination, please visit http://www.britweek.org/2013/InnovationAwards.html.

2012 showcased a strong group of finalists. Winners included The Mill (Design), Gilead Sciences, Inc (Technology), Chaucer Freight (Service Provision), Cinemagic (Philanthropy) and Rocket Fuel (Marketing & Communications).

About BritWeek

BritWeek is non-profit organization that hosts a program of events every spring in California to highlight and celebrate the links between the Golden State and the United Kingdom. The events promote British creativity, innovation, and excellence in California across multiple categories, including film & television, music, art, fashion, design, cuisine, retail, sport, science & technology, philanthropy, business, and more. For more information please visit www.britweek.org.

About UK Trade & Investment (UKTI)

UK Trade & Investment is the Government Department that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy and overseas companies bring their high-quality investment to the UK's dynamic economy – acknowledged as Europe's best place from which to succeed in global business. For more information please visit www.ukti.gov.uk.