Clock is ticking to enter the West Berks Business Awards
Event sponsors explain why they are supporting local businesses and look forward to reviewing the 2015 shortlist
THERE is little more than six weeks to go until the deadline for entries for the 2015 West Berkshire Business Awards.
For this year’s event – which will be held at Newbury Racecourse on Friday, October 16 – there are nine individual categories to enter covering all aspects of business and charity.
Each category is sponsored by a local business. An overall winner of the Bayer West Berkshire Business of the Year Award will then be chosen from the winners of the individual categories.
Newbury Business Today asked some of the sponsors why they thought businesses should enter.
John Hampson of Apple Print and Creative, which will be sponsoring the New Business Start Up Award, said: “Apple Print are delighted to sponsor this category for businesess trading less than two years. “We have enjoyed working with many start-up businesses over the years that have gone on to great things.
“We believe the success of the business community in West Berkshire is dependent on encouraging new businesses into the area and working with them to ensure they grow and prosper.
“We have had two great winners of this category in 2013 and 2014 and look forward to reviewing this year’s shortlist.”
Carol Waddell from Business Executive Advantage (BEA), said: “Business Executive Advantage is excited to be the sponsor for the West Berkshire Business Award for Business Innovation for 2015.
“This new award is seeking to find companies that can demonstrate how a business innovation initiative has created a substantial, sustainable benefit to the company’s success.
“The judges will look for evidence of the creative process of generating, developing and communicating good ideas and/or how they have progressed from innovation through evaluation to implementation.
“We are looking forward to celebrate some truly inspirational stories that we can share with the whole of the business community.”
Janet Duffield, of West Berkshire Council, said: “The council is proud to be supporting the Charity and Community Award category.
“The Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) plays an important role in shaping public service delivery, tackling inequalities and contributing to the development of a sustainable local environment.
“The importance of the VCS in the development of a prosperous and cohesive community is now widely recognised.
“As well as generating growth in social capital, charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations can foster economic growth in a local area.
“Another important role for this sector is in providing early intervention support.
“These voluntary sector services can make a huge contribution and contribute to reducing public expenditure.”
Mercedes-Benz of Newbury will be sponsoring the Customer Care award. Its head of business, Wesley Cole, said: “The winner of this award will be an organisation that can demonstrate that it is totally committed to delivering the highest standards of customer care.
“The successful nomination will be able to clearly demonstrate that it listens to and acts on both employee and consumer feedback to improve the service that it provides.
“This organisation will regularly go the extra mile for its customers and will have a firm understanding of the relationship between customer care and customer loyalty.”
The deadline for entering your business for this year’s awards is Friday, June 26. To read why the rest of the sponsors, including the Newbury Weekly News, recommend entering the awards, pick up a copy of next month's NBT out on June 11.
To enter your business for the awards, visit http://www.westberkshirebusinessawards.co.uk/award-categories/
