Renishaw's Sir David McMurtry picks up business excellence award

The award was created to recognise the business personality who best represents achievement and longevity. The Daily Telegraph describes this as: "Synonymous with his or her business sector in the UK, the award acknowledges the winner's sustained achievements within the business community during a distinguished career. Honing their leadership styles as they lived and breathed their respective businesses and industries, they have demonstrated the value of growing with an organisation and becoming an industry leader. These strategic thinkers combine a big picture perspective with in-depth knowledge of market forces; gaining intimate insights into the capabilities of their people and instilling them with the ambition and confidence to achieve great things. These are the leaders that have consistently delivered exceptional performance year after year." Previous winners of the Decade of Excellence in Business award have included: Kate Swann, CEO, WH Smith, 2012; Lord Wolfson, CEO, Next, 2011; Terry Leahy, CEO, Tesco, 2010; Sir Philip Hampton, chairman, RBS, 2009; Paul Walsh, CEO, Diageo 2008; Ben Verwaayen, CEO, BT Group, 2007. The 2013 National Business Awards winners were announced last Tuesday night at the gala dinner and awards ceremony hosted by Dermot Murnaghan and addressed via video by Prime Minister David Cameron. The Prime Minister's message was followed by Sir Bob Geldof, who addressed the 1,200 attending business leaders on the role of business in society. Prince Andrew also announced his support for the launch of The Duke of York New Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2014. The National Business Awards supports the Prince's Trust, a charity that offers practical and financial support to young people who need it.