THE BIGGEST and most prestigious annual celebration of business excellence in the Great Yarmouth borough will culminate in a glittering trophy presentation ceremony, at the Town Hall, on Friday, November 11 2016.
The Spirit of Enterprise Awards, now in its ninth year, is organised by enterpriseGY, Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s business support service, and aims to recognise and raise the profile of top-performing firms across the borough.
After weeks of anticipation, businesses shortlisted for the various awards (see shortlist below) will find out who has topped each category and which one of those will be crowned the overall 2016 Business of the Year in front of some 200 guests.
The glittering black tie awards ceremony, in the Town Hall’s elegant Assembly Room, will see special crystal trophies presented to the winners, who will also feature in a supplement in the Great Yarmouth Mercury.
Each award is backed by a local organisation, with the sponsor choosing the winner in their category from three finalists shortlisted by a local independent panel or by the category sponsor themselves.
The main sponsor is again Lovewell Blake, accountants, business advisers and financial planners, who have selected the 2016 Business of the Year from the winners of the other categories.
Cllr Barry Coleman, chairman of the economic development committee, said: “The Spirit of Enterprise Awards are a highlight of the business calendar and there is always lots of competition, with entries up this year.
“In total, there were 80 entrants, all of a very high calibre, with one category, Great Business Growth, attracting 14 entries, highlighting the fact that Great Yarmouth really is an enterprise town.
“I look forward to congratulating all of the category finalists and winners, as well as the overall 2016 Business of the Year.”
Cllr Graham Plant, the council leader, said: “The Spirit of Enterprise Awards supports one of the borough council’s priorities, which is to work with partners to help champion and enable economic growth and job-creation in the borough.
“The event is growing in stature each year, showcasing the strength and breadth of the local economy by recognising the many thriving businesses of different sizes, ages and sectors, which operate across the borough.
“I would like to thank enterpriseGY and the other council staff who have been involved in organising the awards, as well as all of the sponsors, including main sponsor Lovewell Blake, whose sterling support is vital to this glittering celebration of business success.”
The categories and sponsors are:
- Great Engineering/Manufacturing Award – sponsored by Great Yarmouth College
- Great Investment in Young People – sponsored by STR
- Great New Business Award – sponsored by Noritake Itron
- Great Business Idea – sponsored by EPIC International
- Great Customer Service Award – sponsored by the Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area
- Great Community Contribution Award – sponsored by GYB Services Ltd
- Great International Growth Award – sponsored by P&S Personnel
- Great Family Owned Business Award – sponsored by Birketts
- Great Business Growth Award – sponsored by the Great Yarmouth Mercury
- Business of the Year – sponsored by Lovewell Blake LLP
The shortlisted finalists are:
Great Engineering/Manufacturing Award – Signwaves Ltd, ABC Diesels, EPIC International
Great Investment in Young People – Fusion Hair and Beauty, Nexus Engineering Training Centre, Bateman Groundworks Ltd
Great New Business Award – IJustWanna…Candy, Yellow Brick Road Solutions Ltd, Extreme Couponing UK Ltd
Great Business Idea – Customer Happiness System, Fusion Hair and Beauty Consultants Ltd, Bateman Groundworks Ltd
Great Customer Service Award – Cribs and Bibs, Potters Resort, The Hairbase
Great Community Contribution Award – Community Artroom, Anchorage Trust, Bateman Groundworks Ltd
Great International Growth Award – Smart eLearning Ltd, Hydramec Offshore Hydraulics Ltd, ABC Diesels
Great Family Owned Business Award – P&S Personnel Services Ltd, Little or Large Pet Emporium, Andover House Hotel & Restaurant
Great Business Growth Award – Extreme Couponing UK Ltd, ABC Diesels, Bateman Groundworks Ltd
Notes:
- enterpriseGY, based at The Conge, Great Yarmouth, is a joint borough council- and CCF-funded programme for businesses in Great Yarmouth, offering business support, business advice and training for start-up businesses and existing businesses.
- The Spirit of Enterprise Awards is the centrepiece of a two-year programme of enhanced activities by enterpriseGY, funded by the Coastal Communities Fund, which aims to create and safeguard more than 260 jobs, address seasonality and raise the perception of Great Yarmouth to that of the “Enterprise Town for Business Growth and Job Creation”.
