It’s time to celebrate business achievements through the Grantham Journal Business Awards 2023

It’s that time of year when we once again open nominations for the Grantham Journal Business Awards.

This year will mark our 24th awards ceremony – recognising the very best businesses from Grantham and the surrounding area.

There are 12 awards up for grabs, so no matter what your line of business there’s bound to be a category for you.

It’s not just businesses that can enter either – if you have received great customer service, make sure to nominate!

Journal editor Marie Bond said: “Last year’s Grantham Journal Business Awards night was fantastic, and I’ve no doubt this year’s will be just as exciting.

“The excitement begins with the entries, as we see who has impressed enough to be nominated and which local businesses have done well over the last 12 months and are keen to put themselves forward.

“The awards are the highlight of the business calendar, and we are incredibly proud to be able to offer the spotlight to the many deserving businesses that make it into the final three in each category.

“We’re pleased to launch the awards today and look forward to being inundated with entries and nominations.”

We are delighted to be presenting the awards at a gala dinner in the marquee at Arena UK, Allington, on Friday, November 17, 2023.

Huge thanks go to our sponsors, as without their support the awards would not be able to take place.

Joining us as headline sponsors again this year are Pentangle Engineering Services and Viking Signs, while category sponsors are Downtown, Duncan & Toplis, Environcom Group and PVS Media.

To find out about sponsorship opportunities, email sharron.marriott@iliffepublishing.co.uk

THIS IS HOW TO ENTER/NOMINATE

Today, our dedicated awards website – www.granthambusinessawards.co.uk – opens for nominations and entries made by completing a simple form.

Each nominee/entrant will then receive a comprehensive application pack, which they will be asked to complete and return. These applications will be scrutinised by our judges in order to draw up their shortlist.

Three shortlisted finalists in each category will go forward. They will be interviewed by judges from our expert panel and will later be filmed – videos will be shown during the awards presentation event.

This is an opportunity not to be missed, the chance to place your business – and the people who are important to it – in the spotlight.

Any business within the Grantham Journal’s news coverage area is eligible.

Businesses can enter a maximum of three categories and readers can also nominate. The deadline for entries/nominations is 5pm on Friday, September 1. Completed comprehensive applications must be returned by Friday, September 8.

CATEGORIES

Business of the Year, Sponsored by Downtown – This award is open to a business trading for more than three years with a minimum of five employees that can show evidence of business growth, a commitment to the local community, a business strategy and vision for the next three to five years, proven success and achievement during the past two years, management with the ability to drive the business forward and a genuine commitment to staff.

Businessperson of the Year, sponsored by Duncan & Toplis – This award will go to an individual who stands out from the crowd, has an entrepreneurial spirit, demonstrates outstanding achievement and inspires others around them. They will have been instrumental in the success of their business and growing the reputation of their business.

Employer of the Year – We are looking for employers who can best demonstrate how their leadership and human resource policies support staff development, engagement and satisfaction, creating a positive and supportive workplace with a well motivated and well trained team. The winner will be more than just a good company to work for, their culture will deliver commercial results and they will be an inspiration to others.

Employee of the Year – Individuals may nominate themselves or be nominated by their employers or colleagues. The judges will be looking for an outstanding contribution, not only to the organisation and its success, but also to colleagues’ welfare and enhancing the working environment and customer experience.

Apprentice or Trainee of the Year – This award is for the rising stars of tomorrow within a company apprentice scheme, who have made an exceptional contribution to their workplace and can demonstrate commitment to personal development, dedication to career progression and outstanding levels of success.

Business Innovation – This award celebrates new ideas, processes, products, services, technologies and applications that have had an impact on an organisation’s success. This award will go to the organisation that can best demonstrate an ability to create, grow and develop innovations or processes that substantially improve the commercial performance or prospects of the company.

Independent Retailer of the Year – This award is open to all independent retail businesses and will be awarded to the business that can best display ‘first class’ customer service, market and customer engagement excellence, product and services innovation and differentiation, the ability to adapt to consumer/ trading trends.

Best Social Enterprise, sponsored by PVS Media – This award is open to charities and social enterprises who can demonstrate significant commercial and social impact of their activities. Judges will want to see clear evidence of commercial awareness and innovative strategies that complement the altruistic aims of the organisation.

Best New Start-Up – Has your business been a roaring success in its infancy? Has it exceeded all your expectations or is it exactly on the right track, looking strong and with excellent prospects for the future? You may be a oneman band looking to expand, or you may have started at a larger scale and already proved your ideas work. This award is open to companies in business for up to three years at the date of launch (June 23, 2023).

Customer Care – This award will recognise the organisation, irrespective of size or sector, that can prove the customer really does come first. You will need to be able to demonstrate commercial success and strategies for growth whilst achieving excellence in looking after customers. The organisation must have high quality customer service and clear methods of evaluation standards.

Environmental Champion, sponsored by Environcom Group – This award will be presented to the business that can demonstrate a commitment to reduce its carbon footprint with projects such as cutting its use of fossil fuels, caring for the natural environment, improving the use of resources by cutting waste, reducing pollution and increasing its environmental understanding.

Judges’ Prestige Award – This award is not eligible for entry. The recipient will be chosen by the judges and will receive an engraved plaque, sponsored by Pentangle Engineering, to keep until the next business awards in 2024.

To enter the awards go to www.granthambusinessawards.co.uk

Remember, both entries from businesses and nominations are welcome.