Nov 24 2006
Conservative Shadow Minister, Ed Vaizey MP, last night delivered a speech strongly supporting Employee Share Ownership (E.S.O.) at the annual ifs Proshare Awards presented by Bond girl Helene Hunt.

Almost 10,000 companies in the UK operate Inland Revenue approved share plans, amounting to approximately £49 billion in ESO shares and options.

Many of these companies entered the prestigious ifs Proshare Awards, seeking to demonstrate the greatest level of excellence in E.S.O. over the last twelve months.

Beating stiff competition, QinetiQ, Enterprise Inns, The Capita Group, Easy Jet, Hammerson Plc, HSBC and J Sainsbury won the different ifs Proshare Awards categories ranging from Best Employee Share Plan to Best Financial Education Programme for Employees.

Euronext, BT and BG Group were also commended for their impressive entries.

Addressing the audience at the ifs Proshare Awards, Ed Vaizey confirmed that “employee share ownership plans are dear to my heart” before going on to state, “The work of ifs Proshare is vitally important in spreading the word about E.S.O. and lobbying Government to make these schemes as simple and accessible as possible."

Gavin Shreeve, Chief Executive of the ifs School of Finance of which ifs Proshare is a key part, said of the awards; “It was pleasing to receive so many high quality entries, to see that newly listed companies are introducing share plans despite the introduction of new accounting rules, and that E.S.O in general is in such good health across the UK”.

Diane Hay, Chair of the judging panel, said of the winners;

“A key feature this year was the active involvement of Chief Executives in the communication and successful delivery of share plans. This makes a real difference to the success of E.S.O. plans.”

The 14th annual ifs Proshare Awards were held at the Connaught Rooms, Covent Garden, London on Thursday 23rd November 2006. For more information please go to: www.ifsproshare.org