Advanced >

Site search

• Support & advice
• Business awards

• Home
•  ⁄  Business & investment 
•  ⁄  Support & advice 
•  ⁄  Business awards

South Derbyshire District Council is delighted to be associated with the Burton Mail Business Awards, which are an important opportunity to showcase and celebrate business success in our region during these challenging economic times.

Awards Categories

The eleven categories detailed below were selected by the Steering Committee as representative of the key areas of importance to the business community in our region. Applications are welcome from any business or company with a significant presence in South Derbyshire or East Staffordshire.

• Business of the Year - Sponsored by Dains Accountancy. This ultimate award is selected by the judges from the winners of the other categories (excluding the individual award categories). It will celebrate the company or business that not only excelled in their category, but also showed commitment and performance within the other category criteria too.
  
• EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR: Sponsored by Punch Taverns
  Awarded to the business or company that has applied its human and supporting resources to deliver sustained commercial and competitive success. The judges are looking at all aspects of the employment strategy including recruitment, training, development, communication, equal opportunities, employee working practices (including work-life balance), and community outreach. Success should be evident in staff feedback, retention, and overall business performance.
  
• EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR: Sponsored by Pertemps Recruitment
  Awarded to an outstanding employee who has delivered exceptional and sustained business performance over a prolonged period (minimum 12 months). The judges will be looking for somebody who has shown exceptional dedication, advancement and contribution within their role and the business as a whole. This includes personal development and a contribution to the development of other colleagues or staff too.
  
• YOUNG EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR: Sponsored by Burton and South Derbyshire College
  Awarded to an outstanding individual who is under the age of 25 and has been working within a company for between one and three years. The judges will be looking for somebody who has shown exceptional dedication, advancement and contribution within their role and the business as a whole. This includes personal development through study, educational courses, additional training and qualifications.
  
• MOST PROMISING NEW START-UP BUSINESS: Sponsored by Handover Recruitment
  Celebrating a new business or company that has started within the past three years (incorporated after July 2008). The judges will be looking at all aspects associated with a successful new business, including: Innovation (identification of an opportunity and development of a product, strategy and business plan), Launch (delivery of the product to market & successful business performance), and Growth (strategy for expansion and further development).
  
• SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Sponsored by Molson Coors
  Recognising excellence within a business or company of less than 20 employees (including FTE contractors). The judges will be looking at all aspects of the business including financial performance, leadership and management, staff development and training, innovation, social responsibility, long term business sustainability, and future growth plans.
  
• BEST PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS SERVICES COMPANY: Sponsored by Burton and District Chamber of Commerce
  Awarded to the business or company from the professional services sector, e.g. accountants, solicitors, IFA's, banking, commercial agents, etc that have delivered an outstanding level of service and performance. The judges are looking at all aspects including business growth & performance, customer service, customer relationship management, identification & adoption of improved ways of working & delivering services, staff development & training, and community outreach.
  
• BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE PERFORMANCE: Sponsored by Trent & Dove Housing Association
  Awarded to a company that has delivered the best customer service performance over the past 12 months. The judges will pay particular attention to feedback and surveys from customers and clients, especially where these have been unprompted. Particular emphasis will be placed on customer service that goes above and beyond that expected by the customer or client relative to the service, product and sector.
  
• MOST EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL OR GREEN INITIATIVE: Sponsored by Toyota
  Awarded to a company that has developed and integrated a specific environmental or green initiative within the last two years (since July 2009). The judges will be looking at all aspects of the initiative, including: Conception (rationale, planning, and development), Delivery (implementation, engagement with employees and/or suppliers, and measurement of success), and Evolution (sustainability and continuity, plus future expansion and development).
  
• BEST USE OF INNOVATION OR TECHNOLOGY: Sponsored by JCB
  Awarded to a company that has utilised innovation or technology within the past 2 years (since July 2009) to enhance an aspect of business performance. The judges will be looking for an idea, product, method, or process that is new to the business and preferably new to the business sector too. The benefits should be clearly evident within some aspect of the business, e.g. commercial performance, operational efficiency, product enhancement, or customer experience.
  
• BUSINESS PERFORMANCE WHICH HAS RAISED THE PROFILE OF EAST STAFFORDSHIRE & SOUTH DERBYSHIRE: Sponsored by Else Solicitors
  Awarded to a company whose core business activity has directly or indirectly raised the profile of the region to a national or international audience. The judges will pay particular attention to the nature of the activity, e.g. innovation, business success, business growth, or business excellence. This should be measurable in some way, e.g. economic benefit, media and press coverage, visitor traffic, or in-bound business investment.
  

Key Dates

Nominations can be submitted between 29 June 2011 and 2 September 2011. 

 

 

 

page ref: SDDC 489

How helpful was this page?