The University of Nottingham’s work in building Sino-UK links has been praised at a national awards ceremony in Shanghai.

The British Business Awards is organised by the British Chambers of Commerce in China to promote the British business community in the country.

The University — one of only five British businesses to be nominated for the British Company of the Year award — has a prestigious reputation in China.

As well as becoming the first Western university to establish a campus in China, opening in Ningbo in 2004, the University has excellent links with businesses in the country.

The University this year entered a £1m research contract with the car manufacturer FAW. Later this year, executives from Beijing Pharma, one of China’s largest pharmaceutical distributors, will join the University’s transnational development programme in Ningbo and Nottingham.

In addition, the University has formalised research agreements with the food and drink business Wahaha, and worked with China South Rolling Stock to deliver high-impact development training.

The University is also helping develop young managers from China as part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Chevening Young Leaders programme.

The University of Nottingham’s Chancellor, Professor Yang Fujia, who in 2001 became the first Chinese academic to be made a Chancellor of a UK university, said: “Being nominated for the British Business Award is a great honour. We have made huge strides in a relatively short period of time in China, and we have established an excellent reputation amongst officials and businesses in the country.”

The University is also continuing to invest in China-facing operations in the UK. Last year it set up the Asia Business Centre to strengthen partnerships with Chinese businesses. Also in Nottingham, the Si Yuan Centre for China studies is being built.

The University’s reputation in China is further underlined by Vice-Chancellor David Greenaway’s role with the UK Government’s Asia Taskforce, while Pro-Vice Chancellor Chris Rudd is on the board of the China Britain Business Council.