Meet the three winners ready to take it all HSBC GLOBAL CONNECTIONS The companies named in this year's HSBC Global Connections national final have all embraced the new optimism being felt in the UK. These businesses are not only prepared to meet challenges domestically, but also have their Sights Set On growing exports

For large parts of the UK economy, the sunlit uplands are finally here. Gross domestic product has passed its 2008 peak, drawing a line under the recession, the deepest since records began in 1948. The pace of growth has been stronger than in most of the world's other major economies.

That was constantly demonstrated at the final of HSBC's Global Connections competition last week, as the judges struggled to narrow down 15 foiward-thinking, innovative businesses to just three winners.

"This is Britain's year," says Mark Berrisford-Smith, head of economics for HSBC UK's commercial banking division. "The economy will grow by more than 3pc and it's looking good to the end of the year....