At the British Business Awards 2008 held by the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan last night - as a part of their 60th Anniversary Celebrations, Klein Dytham architecture received the prestigious Innovation Award. This award recognises a company that has creatively used innovation to achieve success in Japan.
KDa received the prize from Lord Jones, the UK Minister for Trade, who flew in for the event and gave one of the most inspiring speeches on British Industry that we have heard. Is is good to know that the UK exports more products today than it has ever done in it's history - and that when you fly on an Airbus - over 50% of the aircraft is made in the UK - amazing considering we don't make the simple bits like fuselages and nor are we the country that simply screws it together!
There were 4 awards in total. Rolls Royce Engines won the Corporate Excellence Award. Standard Charter won the Best Local Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative Award. Caroline Plover won best Best Entrepreneur Award for her book 'Being a Broad in Japan' and other activities that positively support women in Japan. Ian Destains president of the BCCJ was given a lifetime achievement award for his work promoting British Business ties in japan.
Congratulations Ian and the BCCJ for an amazing night - and thank you for all your support you have shown to KDa and other British companies in Japan.
Our office design for TBWA \ HAKUHODO in a converted bowling alley in Shibuara, Tokyo walked away with 2 of the top awards at the Nikkei New Office Awards Japan 2007. This competition is unusual in the fact that the project must be submitted by the client. The project won the overall prize, 'The Nikkei Creative Office of the Year' and the 'Chancellor of Ecomony Prize'. The Nikkei Group is one of Japans leading news and media companies, probably best known for it's Nikkei newspapers and the Nikkei Index.