Newark Business Awards 2024: Time to make your nominations
Nominations are starting to flow in for this year’s Newark Business Awards — but we still want more.
We have had a great response since opening the nomination process last month.
“We are delighted with the number of entries already received, but we are greedy and we want a lot more,” said editor Sharon Hodkin.
“The strength and depth of entries already show that people understand the importance of these awards in terms of putting businesses in the spotlight, and so want to enter.
“If you haven’t done so already, make sure you get your entry in. It only takes a few minutes to register your initial interest.”
People are putting forward businesses and organisations across all 11 categories.
If you haven’t done so, there is still plenty of time to get your entries in.
The 11 categories are Business of the Year, Businessperson of the Year, Employer of the Year, Team of the Year, Environmental Champion, Best Social Enterprise, Best Independent Retailer, Business Innovation, Customer Care, Best Start-up, and our newest addition leisure, tourism and hospitality.
Entering could not be easier.
When you have decided which category/categories you want to enter, simply go to the dedicated website at www.newarkbusines sawards.co.uk
You can either nominate your own business, or nominate others, in up to two categories.
There are two stages to the nomination process.
Firstly, you will be asked to give basic details on the website.
Each nominee will then be sent an electronic entry pack to fill in and send back.
The closing date for nominations is Friday, March 22, at 2pm.
You then have a week to complete your entry packs, until Friday, March 29.
Our independent judges will then use the information supplied to decide the four finalists in the categories, which will be revealed in the Advertiser on April 18.
After the announcement, the judges will visit each finalist to decide the overall winners and a highly-commended in each category.
If you do not want to enter this year’s awards but still want to get involved, a range of sponsorship opportunities are available. Go to the business awards website for more information.
Category details are:
Business of the Year
This award is open to any business trading for more than three years
It must demonstrate business excellence, a commitment to the community, a business strategy and vision for the next three to five years, proven success and achievement, leadership with the ability to drive the business forward and a commitment to its staff.
Businessperson of the Year
The winner of this award will be an individual who stands out from the crowd, has entrepreneurial spirit, demonstrates outstanding achievement and inspires others around them.
The winner will have been key to the success of their enterprise, as well as encouraging and contributing to the overall business success of the region.
Team of the Year
This award celebrates dedication and commitment to the business.
It will go to the team that goes beyond what is expected of them to deliver significant benefits to the company.
Employer of the Year
We are looking for employers who can best demonstrate how their leadership and human resources policies support staff development, engagement and satisfaction, creating a positive and supportive workplace with a well-trained team.
The winner of this award, sponsored by Newark College, will be more than just a good company to work for; its culture will deliver commercial results and be an inspiration to employees and other businesses.
Best Start-Up
Has your business been a roaring success in its infancy? Has it exceeded all expectations, or is it exactly on the right track, looking strong and with excellent prospects for the future?
You may be a one-man band looking to expand, or you may have started at a larger scale and already proved your ideas work.
This award, sponsored by Newark and Sherwood District Council, is open to companies in business for up to three years from the date of launch.
Leisure, Tourism And Hospitality
This award, sponsored by Nottinghamshire County Council, is open to any organisation, irrespective of size, involved in the delivery of leisure, tourism, visitor attractions, or hospitality within and around Newark.
The organisation must demonstrate commercial success and evidence of growth, investment, and delivery of innovations and improvements.
It should have added value to the town and surrounds, created employment opportunities, and provided staff development and customer satisfaction.
Environmental Champion
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.
Customer Care
This award, sponsored by Chattertons, recognises the firm, irrespective of size or sector, that can prove it really does put the customer first. Has your business excelled to help one customer in particular, or perhaps you have introduced new ways of working to help every customer?
The organisation must have objectives for high-quality customer service and clear methods of monitoring and evaluating standards.
Business Innovation
This award, sponsored by Gusto Group, will go to the organisation that can best demonstrate an ability to create, grow and develop innovations or processes that improve performance, service and profits.
Best Social Enterprise
This category is open to charities and social enterprises that 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.
Independent Retailer of the Year
This award, , sponsored by Edlin &Jarvis, celebrates the independent shops and restaurants that make the Advertiser area special.
It will be judged on financial performance and product and store innovation as well as customer service.
