Businesses in Great Yarmouth borough urged to enter Spirit of Enterprise Awards 2015
THRIVING businesses are urged to step into the spotlight as entries open for the Spirit of Enterprise Awards 2015, the most prestigious annual celebration of business excellence in the Great Yarmouth borough.
The annual awards scheme, organised by enterpriseGY, Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s business support service, is returning for an eighth year and aims to recognise and raise the profile of top performing firms across the borough.
Last year’s glittering awards ceremony, held for the first time at the Town Hall’s prestigious Assembly Room, was widely regarded as the most successful yet, and the trophies will be presented this year in the same venue, on Friday, November 20.
Businesses are encouraged to put themselves forward for the various awards between today (Tuesday, June 23) and 4pm on Friday, September 11. 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.
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. There is also a new category for 2015, Great Family Owned Business.
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. Following an appeal earlier this year, only one category still needs a sponsor, Great Community Contribution.
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 – sponsor needed
- Great Customer Service – sponsor TBC
- Great Family Owned Business – Birketts
Cllr Graham Plant, the council leader, said: “Last year’s awards were again hugely successful, with many strong entries and about 200 guests attending the black-tie awards ceremony at the Town Hall.
“The awards scheme has grown in stature year-on-year and is a fantastic showcase of businesses of all sizes, sectors and ages from across the borough, and of the strength of the local economy.
“There are so many successful businesses across the Great Yarmouth borough which have a lot to be proud of – and the Spirit of Enterprise Awards is an ideal chance to shout about it from a public platform.
“We have always had really positive feedback from the businesses and sponsors. In fact, we have already signed up almost all of the 2015 sponsors, without whom this wonderful celebration of business excellence would not be possible. I look forward to seeing lots of strong entries this year and to congratulating the finalists.”
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”.
Businesses and potential sponsors seeking more information can visit www.soea.co.uk or call Sally Pearson, enterpriseGY programme development officer, on 01493 846632.
Notes
- 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.
- In January 2015, enterpriseGY secured £650,000 from the Coastal Communities Fund which is being used to expand the scope of its work as well as continuing its successful business start-up programme, which has helped people to establish 100 businesses a year for the last two years.
- 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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