Categories
Business of the Year
Sponsored by Express & Star
The winner will receive a trophy and a cheque for £1,000
The judges are looking for an established, successful company that has displayed an outstanding performance in all the key disciplines and become an example of best practice in the region. Areas such as product/service innovation, creative marketing, smart use of digital communication, investment in training and a deliverable customer care policy need to be highlighted. In addition the judges are looking for evidence of internal and external social responsibility, coupled with an awareness of environmental issues. The winning company will combine inspirational leadership with a dedicated workforce to create a business that deserves to win the blue riband award.
Outstanding Business Achievement
Sponsored by Bank of Scotland Corporate
The winner will receive a trophy and a cheque for £500
This award will be presented to an individual who has made a significant and long-standing contribution to the success of business in the Black Country. Nominees must successfully demonstrate a sustained, inspired and entrepreneurial approach, both within the chosen field(s) of business and also as an ambassador for the Black Country at large. The winner will be an outstanding role model to new and existing business people within the region, an influential business personality who is not scared to ‘look at things differently’. Individuals may nominate themselves or a third party can nominate a particular individual, but the chosen nominee must be made aware that their name has been submitted.
Young Business of the Year Award
Sponsored by Higgs & Sons
The winner will receive a trophy and a cheque for £500
The prize will be awarded to a young business (five years or less) which has demonstrated a vision and determination to achieve success in its chosen area. Its key players will have shown the necessary ambition, commitment and passion to drive the business forward and will already have achieved a tangible level of success. Innovative, and environmentally aware, the business should be able to demonstrate its commitment to the Black Country and show how, through its long term strategy, it intends to make a difference to the region.
Business Growth & Innovation Award
Sponsored by BDO Stoy Hayward
The winner will receive a trophy and a cheque for £500
This award is open to an organisation who demonstrates year-on-year growth and innovation. Key criteria that the organisation should demonstrate for entry into this award are new product development, investment in people, plant and technology, employee development and proprietary knowledge. There should be proven examples of product, market or customer development which have supported the organisation in gaining a competitive advantage.
Customer Service Award
Sponsored by Marston’s
The winner will receive a trophy and a cheque for £500
Organisations entering this category need to illustrate both their commitment to, and achievement of, outstanding customer service at all levels. Everything an organisation does to win, satisfy and retain customers will be considered. Staff training is a critical part of this and an ongoing development path for staff must be shown. The customer service policy must be clearly stated and defined, and organisations must be able to show how this strategy has had a positive impact on the organisation as a whole.
West Midlands’ Champions Award
Sponsored by Aspray
The winner will receive a trophy and a cheque for £500
TThis award recognises the vital contribution Black Country businesses are making to the Midlands’ ability to rise to the increasingly competitive global business challenge. Companies will need to demonstrate that they have understood and embraced current legislative, environmental and economic pressures, and shown determination to strive and prosper within their industry sector. Companies will not be judged on size but on their forward-looking strategies, professional attitude, lateral thinking and enthusiasm to succeed in a stern economic climate - businesses that have helped put the Black Country on the map, regionally and nationally.
Best Small Business
Sponsored by Business Link
The winner will receive a trophy and a cheque for £500
The award will go to a small business (from 10-100 employees) demonstrating a high level of success in its sector. These companies often operate in an extremely competitive environment and the winner will be the one that has shown the ability to not only sustain a competitive advantage, but has also implemented strategic plans for future expansion and growing market share. Innovative, forward thinking and progressive, the business should also be able to demonstrate its commitment to staff development and training.
Best Use Of Digital Technology
Sponsored by Precision Colour Printing
The winner will receive a trophy and a cheque for £500
This award is open to any company that has been trading for at least 12 months and can show that digital technology is critical to the success of the business. This might be a systems development company where technology is the core activity or it might be an organisation where the implementation of information systems has had a significant impact on efficiency or made the company more profitable. The judges will be looking for evidence of how this digital investment, either as a supplier or end user, has transformed the business, along with plans for future development and sustainability.
Regeneration Award
Sponsored by Westfield
The winner will receive a trophy and a cheque for £500
The judges are looking for businesses that can show how their energies have resulted in wide-ranging benefits to the existing local community, taking either a long term strategic view towards local investment or making tangible short term investments that improve the quality of life of the community. They will be seeking evidence of partnerships with local bodies and organisations alongside wide-ranging support for the strategic approach or masterplan.
These should include a wide range of political, business and community groups that reflect the local issues with evidence that these concerns have/are being addressed. Evidence of the creation of jobs to get the long-term unemployed back into work is pivotal, as well as providing a career path and training opportunities for all employees.
The winner of this award will have to demonstrate an understanding of the above and have future plans in place that are relevant and deliverable to the environment and the community..