Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/773562
42 Events maltatoday, SUNDAY, 15 JANUARY 2017 Second EU fund launched by APS for SMEs loan requirements Following the launch of the In- novFin SME Guarantee, APS Bank has reached another agreement with the European Investment Fund to offer local SMEs another source of funding for their bor- rowing requirements. Through the EREM-CBSI (The European Risk Enhancement Mandate – Cooperative Banks and Small Institutions) funding, the Bank will offer SMEs very competitive terms on BizPlus Business Loans. Combined with EREM-CBSI fa- cility, APS Bank Ltd will make available an additional loan port- folio of €25m to SMEs. "APS Bank Ltd is very pleased to be facilitating access to finance to various segments of the busi- ness community. Further to the InnovFin SME Guarantee pro- gramme, the EREM-CBSI fund- ing, received from the E.I.F., will strengthen the Bank's lending commitment towards Micro and Small and Medium Enterprises", commented APS Bank's Head of Risk, Edward Calleja. Book an appointment with our Commercial Business Unit to find out how you can benefit from APS Bank's Business Banking Solu- tions through the EREM-CBSI fa- cility by contacting our Customer Support Centre on 2122 6644. The Concept Stadium becomes ISO-Certified The Concept Stadium Directors Jonathan Dalli (left) and Jonathan Chetcuti (right) with Step Quality Expert Clive Ebejer (centre) The Concept Stadium become a ISO-certified boutique marketing consultancy firm in Malta, after being awarded the ISO 9001:2008 certification for the provision of brand conceptualisation and management; marketing, busi- ness and public perception con- sultancy services; web develop- ment; and IT development. The certification was achieved after a thorough 8-month audit in 2016, which included the stream- lining of all its operations, from client acquisition and acceptance, project briefs, idea generation, conceptualisation, design, execu- tion and billing and other admin- istrative processed. Jonathan Dalli and Jonathan Chetcuti, the Concept Stadium Founders and Directors, ex- plained that "The ISO certifica- tion was a target we set for our- selves from the beginning of the year. It was a strategic decision we took at a management level, which was also supported by each member of our team. After all, our operations are carried through all our six main services areas and improving our perfor- mance meant that they are all in- line with the ISO ethos". But the ISO certification is not a one-time-gig for the Concept Stadium. "The ISO 9001 standard comes with a mandatory yearly audit which helps us remain in check", they said. "This process allows us to mani- fest our commitment to efficien- cy, which ultimately benefits the most important stakeholder in our 'stadium', the client. As as a team of commercial creative ser- vicing clients in a boutique envi- ronment; we have always reiter- ated that we are not interested in media commissions, but rather use a billing system that is time- and efficiency based. We believe that this delivers the message that we are here for the long-term. We want to deliver value and be a solid marketing partner for our clients, not merely acting as an- other agency in the market", they added. ISO 9001 is an internationally- recognised certificate of quality standard with a set of voluntary guidelines that EY's Entrepreneur of Year award is coming to Malta The search for EY Malta's Entre- preneur of the year begins today. EY's Entrepreneur of the Year award, which is now in its third decade and spread over sixty countries around the world, is now in Malta. The competition is aimed at entrepreneurs across all sec- tors, with entries open until February 20th. The winner of the Malta competition will be flown to Monaco for the World Entrepreneur of the Year award to compete with over 120 of the world's most successful entrepreneurs. This event is also attended by some of the most accomplished businessmen in the world. Last year's Monaco event fea- tured Bill Ford, the Executive Chairman of the Ford Motor Company, Muhtar Kent, the Chairman and Chief Execu- tive Officer of The Coca-Cola Company and Biz Stone, the Co-founder of Twitter, Obvious, Medium and Jelly amongst others. In order to be eligible, nomi- nees must either be Maltese or operating a company based in the Maltese islands, running for a minimum of two years. Anyone, including employees, company advisors and financiers can nomi- nate a successful entrepreneur, with the latter's consent. Our judging panel is composed of some of the most prominent stakehold- ers in various sectors: Mr. Joseph A. Gasan, Chairman, Gasan Group Limited; Mr. Anton Borg, President Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and In- dustry; Ms. Bernice Mizzi, Direc- tor, Chiswick House School and St. Martin's College; Mr. Joseph Portelli, Chairman, Malta Stock Exchange plc; Prof. Juanito Camilleri, Professor, University of Malta When reviewing the judging reports, our judges are looking for evidence of eight specific entrepreneurial traits: Entrepre- neurial spirit and vision, finan- cial performance, innovation, strategic direction, sustain- ability and growth in employee numbers, industry impact, com- munity impact and personal in- tegrity, and risk management. Further information can be found on the website www.eoy- malta.com which also directs interested applicants to the ap- plication form. EY's Entrepre- neur of the Year Malta is spon- sored by HSBC and supported by the Malta Stock Exchange and the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry. Nexia BT appoints Luke Cann as director Nexia BT is proud to announce Luke Cann as its 4th di- rector within the company as from 1st January 2017. Luke Cann will be responsible for business develop- ment within the firm. Luke joined Nexia BT in 2008 as part of the audit and assur- ance department. Later, he formed part of the team which was tasked at targeting spe- cific service areas covering aviation and financial ser- vices. In 2014, Luke joined the advisor y depart- ment as manager and was later promoted to senior manager within the same department. This period cultivated Luke's technical knowledge, dyna- mism and interest in develop- ing and nurturing lasting client relationships which he consid- ers to be an integral part of what defines him today. Luke graduated from the Uni- versit y of Malta with an hon- ours degree in Accountancy in 2008. In 2013, he obtained a Masters degree in Financial Ser vices. Having almost a decade of ex- perience within the firm, Luke has the right abilities to en- hance further the ser vice we, at Nexia BT can provide to our clients. "I am ver y honoured to accept this position within the firm and while I thank both Anita Aloisio, Partner, and Manag- ing Partner Brian Tonna for the opportunit y and trust they have shown in me, I am confi- dent that with the abilities I can offer to Nexia BT, the business development sector will con- tinue to f lourish," said Luke Cann. "Working with Luke through- out the past years has been a pleasure for me personally and also seeing the positive effect he has on the firm. I strongly believe that he is an asset to the firm and his much-deser ved promotion will be key to fur- ther substantiate Nexia BT's grow th," added Brian Tonna. @ maltatoday We are on Instagram Luke Cann