THRIVING businesses have just over one week to step into the spotlight by entering a prestigious annual awards scheme which aims to celebrate and raise the profile of successful businesses across the Great Yarmouth borough. 

The Spirit of Enterprise Awards 2015 is organised by enterpriseGY, Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s business support service, and is a chance for top-performing businesses of all sizes, sectors and ages to step into the spotlight.

For the first time, applications can be filled out and submitted online at www.soea.co.uk via a new online entry system, which makes it quicker and easier for businesses to enter multiple categories.

Now businesses are reminded they only have until 4pm on Friday, September 11 to make sure they complete and submit the application form if they want to stand a chance of winning one of the various categories and ultimately being crowned 2015 Business of the Year.

It is free-of-charge to enter and finalists will be profiled in a supplement in the Great Yarmouth Mercury, with winners appearing in a further supplement.The winner of each category, plus the winner of the overall 2015 Business of the Year Award, will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony, at the Town Hall on Friday, November 20.

Each award is backed by a local organisation. Sponsors choose the winner in their category from three finalists shortlisted by a local independent panel or the category sponsor themselves, and also benefit from publicity at the ceremony and in the newspaper supplements.

The main sponsor is local chartered accountants, Lovewell Blake LLP, which will choose the 2015 Business of the Year from the winners of the other categories. There is also a new category for 2015, Great Family Owned Business.

The categories are:

• Business of the Year – sponsored by Lovewell Blake LLP
• Great Manufacturing/Engineering Business – sponsored by Great Yarmouth College
• Great New Business – sponsored by Itron
• Great International Growth – sponsored by GYB Services Ltd
• Great Investment in Young People – sponsored by Subsea Technology and Rentals
• Great Business Growth – sponsored by the Great Yarmouth Mercury
• Great Business Idea – sponsor  TBC
• Great Community Contribution – sponsored by P&S Personnel
• Great Customer Service – sponsored by Greater Yarmouth Tourism and Business Improvement Area
• Great Family Owned Business – sponsored by Birketts LLP

Cllr Graham Plant, the council leader, said: “The online system has made it much more convenient for businesses to put themselves forward in multiple categories – and entries have been steadily coming in.

“This awards scheme, now in its eighth year, is another way that the borough council is backing business and the local economy, highlighting thriving businesses of all sizes, sectors and ages from across the borough.

“We always have great feedback, with past winners saying the recognition has helped to boost staff morale, their profile and their reputation with customers. This is a fantastic opportunity. So if you think you could win a category or even be 2015 Business of the Year, make sure you submit the entry form by Friday, September 11.”

Businesses seeking more information can visit www.soea.co.uk or call Sally Pearson, enterpriseGY programme development officer, on 01493 846632.

 

Notes

• The Spirit of Enterprise Awards is the centrepiece of a two-year programme of enhanced activities by enterpriseGY, supported 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”.

• enterpriseGY, based in the Novus Centre, 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 Coastal Communities Fund (CCF) aims to encourage the economic development of UK coastal communities by awarding funding to create sustainable economic growth and jobs. Since the start of the CCF in 2012, grants have been awarded to 145 organisations across the UK to the value of £71million. This funding is forecast to deliver 9,184 jobs and help attract around £115million of additional funds to coastal areas. The Big Lottery Fund is delivering the CCF on behalf of UK Government and the Devolved Administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

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