Who’s the best in business?
When you are the best in business there’s one thing you must take time to do - celebrate! We are giving you the chance to do just that in the company of inspiring people just like you. It is all part of being at the heart of Cumbria’s most prestigious awards event - The in-Cumbria Business Awards 2017.
Whether you are an aspiring entrant, or a potential sponsor, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to be involved in the best business night of the year. A true celebration of all that is great about businesses and business people in Cumbria.
Amol Rajan, the BBC’s media editor and former editor of The Independent newspaper, will be your host for the evening in the stylish surroundings of the Halston Hotel, Carlisle’s premier city centre venue.
With categories of all shapes and sizes, recognising every sector in Cumbria’s thriving business community, there’s an award suitable for every business to enter.
Jonathan Lee, Development Director, CN Media
Network with simply the best Cumbrian business talent, all gathered together in one place.
Best Exporter
This award is aimed at companies which have developed new markets outside Cumbria and can demonstrate: Significant export sales in relation to the size of the company. Success in accessing markets outside the county and/or overseas. Trade growth through exports and the ability to sustain that growth.
Best Community Involvement
This award will go to a business which can show its proactive commitment to putting something back into the local community. This could be by: Providing financial support to community projects. Giving practical assistance in terms of time or expertise. Allowing charities, schools or community organisations to benefit from the resources of the business. Particular emphasis will be placed upon the proportionate investment by the business in terms of time and effort as opposed to pure cash contributions.
Best Innovation
This award will go to a business which has developed the most innovative product, process, service or business method within the last three years and can demonstrate the positive impact it has had on the business. The winner will be able to show: A clear vision of what the innovation project had to achieve . How the project was developed. The overall benefits to the business or its customers.
Best Tourism and Hospitality Business
This award will recognise a business which can demonstrate innovation, commitment and leadership resulting in the success of a tourism or hospitality enterprise. To qualify for this award, it must fall into one of these business categories: leisure, hospitality, tourism or visitor attraction or service. Judges will be looking for: Outstanding performance relating to commercial success and evidence of growth and investment. Creation of employment together with staff training and development. Delivery of innovations and improvements. Evidence of customer satisfaction
Best New Business
The judges will be looking for a successful company which has been in operation for fewer than three years and will be interested to know: The motivations for starting the business. How it has developed. What has been achieved so far. The vision for the future. How it is hoped to accomplish that vision
Best Manufacturing Business
This award will go to a business which achieves excellent results through manufacturing. The judges will be looking at all aspects of company performance and will pay particular attention to: Managerial and financial performance. Evidence of success against targets set. Potential for growth. Long term plans and company strategy. Product excellence and innovation. Staff training and development.
Best Customer Service Excellence
The Customer Service Excellence award will go to an organisation which exceeds customer expectations in all areas of the business by providing the very highest level of customer service. Judges will be looking for: A clear, well-implemented customer care policy. Evidence of standards of service which exceed customer expectations. How customer care contributes to the overall success of the company.
Best Business Person
This award is for a business person who has made an outstanding contribution to their company or organisation. You can put yourself forward, or be nominated by another person. The judges will be looking for someone who has: Demonstrated exceptional commitment. Shown inspirational leadership and vision. Had a significant impact on improving the performance of the business.
Best Social Enterprise
This award will go to a social enterprise organisation which can provide evidence that it has: Clear aims and objectives. A positive impact on its local community and/or environment. Innovation and individuality. Potential for future growth and sustainability. The award is open to any charitable organisation or a community/social enterprise trading in Cumbria with a social purpose and/or a not-for-profit basis.
Best Apprentice/Trainee
This award will go to the apprentice/trainee who in the view of both the employer and the judges has demonstrated: Real dedication to the apprentice/trainee programme. An enthusiastic attitude towards learning . A clear application of knowledge and skills learned.
Best Professional Services Company
This award will recognise a business which can demonstrate an outstanding level of professional service delivery. Judges will be looking for: Strong professional credentials. Promotion of brand identity. Professionalism in service-delivery. Professional accreditation levels of senior managers.
Best Marketing Strategy
The judges will be looking for a successful marketing strategy undertaken in the last 12 months which has: Identified a clear market opportunity to launch a new product or develop an existing one. Documented a marketing strategy to realise the market opportunity. Implemented an action plan to deliver the marketing strategy. Been able to show early positive measurable results of the strategy.
Best SME Business
This award will recognise a business with 1-50 employees which can demonstrate: Strong leadership and vision, Good sales growth. Sound financial performance, A robust plan for sustained growth.
Best Large Business
This award will recognise a business with 51 employees or more which can demonstrate: Strong leadership and vision. Sustained growth. Sound financial erformance. Innovation and differentiation within the business.
Best Family Business
The judges will be looking for a family-owned or family-managed business which has at least two members of a family involved in running it, and which can clearly demonstrate how it has achieved success: How the ethos of a family business runs through the company. What success has been enjoyed and how has it been achieved. Key measures of success may include financial performance, order book, jobs, sustainability, longevity, positive impact on community and local economy. How the values of a family business have underpinned that success. How the family business is building for the future.
Lifetime Contribution to Cumbria Business
The judges will be looking for nominations for this prestigious award which will go to someone who, in the view of the judges, has had a significant and positive impact on the Cumbrian business community over a period of years. There will be no shortlist published for this award.
To enter the awards or to nominate a business please visit
www.in-cumbria.com/awards
Q: WHO CAN ENTER?
A: Businesses from any sector, of any size can enter. The business needs to be located within the county of Cumbria. Entry is free of charge.
Q: HOW DO I SUBMIT OUR ENTRY?
A: Complete an entry form online or download from in-cumbria.com/awards. You can also request one from businessawards@cnmedia.co.uk or 01228 612231.
Q: WHAT CRITERIA NEEDS TO BE MET?
A: There are separate criteria for each category, shown under the category heading.
Q: WHAT SHALL I INCLUDE WITH MY ENTRY FORM?
A: Your entry should include all the information required to meet the award criteria, ideally with good examples of achievement. The judges will use this information to make their decision. Further information is available on the entry form.
Q: CAN I ENTER MORE THAN ONE CATEGORY?
A: Yes but you will need to complete a separate form for each entry.
Q: IF I AM SUCCESSFUL CAN I BRING ANYONE WITH ME TO THE AWARDS PRESENTATION?
A: Yes, tickets for the awards presentation evening will be available.
Q: CAN I NOMINATE SOMEONE ELSE FOR ONE OF THE INDIVIDUAL AWARDS?
A: Yes, you can nominate someone else for the individual awards but you should obtain your nominee’s permission before submitting the entry. You can also nominate yourself.
Q: HOW CAN I BE SURE THAT THE INFORMATION I SUPPLY WILL BE TREATED CONFIDENTIALLY?
A: Judges and editors of CN Media’s publications will at all times be sensitive to information provided and will publish accordingly. All submitted material will be destroyed following the completion of the competition.
1. All entries must be received by 5pm, Friday, July 14 2017 and must include an entry form and, where applicable, supporting material.
2. Entries must be based on activity or events occurring in your business between 1st November 2016 and 14th July 2017.
3. Submitted material cannot be returned and will be disposed of as confidential waste.
4. By submitting your entry you accept the editor’s decision regarding publication and promotion of details of finalists and winners.
5. The judges will select up to three finalists in each category who, in their opinion, best meet the criteria listed.
6. Employees of any CN Media company and their immediate families are not eligible to enter this competition.
7. The judges’ decision is final in all matters.
8. We are unable to enter into any individual correspondence regarding entries received, judges’ comments, finalists or winners.
9. Entry to the 2017 CN Media Business Awards is also open to previous entrants, finalists and winners.
10. Judges may move an entry into a different category if they feel that would be appropriate.
11. Up to six sheets of additional information can be included with the entry form.
12. By submitting your entry you agree that the information provided is correct and agree that your entry can be used for publicity purposes.
