Entries have now closed for the 20th annual Dorset Business Awards, in association with the Daily Echo and Dorset Echo and the South’s leading radio station Wave 105, and the time has come for the judges to decide which local businesses and entrepreneurs are the cream of the crop for 2014.
With a diverse range of high calibre companies with BH or DT postcodes entering, 2014 has been a great year for the Dorset Business Awards. A record number of entries were received, highlighting how relevant and important the Awards are to the business community as a whole.
30 Judges will now have until 10 October to evaluate each category and shortlist 30 finalists, three for each award, from the submitted entries. The 2014 Finalists will all be invited to attend the “Meet the Finalist” event on Monday 17th November 2014 where they get to meet each other and their Sponsor. This will be followed by the Gala Dinner Awards ceremony at the Bournemouth International Centre on Thursday November 27, where the overall winners will be announced.
Ian Girling, chief executive of the Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says: “We are thrilled with the response the 20th annual Dorset Business Awards has received and the high number of entries reflects this. It just goes to show how important the Dorset Business Awards are to this region.
“Every year the Awards just get bigger and better, and we are really excited to be able to showcase these vibrant companies at the Gala Dinner Awards Ceremony on 27th November at the BIC, which is a new venue for 2014.”
Tickets purchased for the black tie Awards Gala Dinner before October 1 cost £75 + VAT (Chamber members), £85 + VAT (non-Chamber members) or £700 + Vat for a table of 10 (Chamber members) or £800 + VAT (non-Chamber members). From October 2, tickets cost £85 + VAT (Chamber members), £95 + VAT (non-Chamber members) or £800 + Vat for a table of 10 (Chamber members) or £900 + VAT (non-Chamber members). To book places please call Shirley Ewart on 01202 714812.
Dorset companies have until Friday September 12 to submit their applications for the 20th annual Dorset Business Awards, in association with the Daily Echo and Dorset Echo.
Scores of companies have already signed up to compete across all 10 categories of the Awards which are organised by the Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry. After the closing date, a rigorous judging process will select a shortlist of finalists and the ultimate winners will be unveiled in front of a packed house of 700 people at the Bournemouth International Centre on Thursday November 27.
Entries are being accepted for the following categories: • Business Engagement with the Community Award, sponsored by J.P. Morgan • Business Growth Award, sponsored by Advanced Exchequer – new award category and sponsor • Dorset Export Award, sponsored by Atlas Elektronik UK – new award category and sponsor • Entrepreneur of the Year Award, sponsored by Bournemouth University • Excellence in Innovation Award, sponsored by Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Liz Lean PR – new award category • Hays Employee of the Year Award • Lester Aldridge and Santander Company of the Year Award – new award co-sponsor • Nuffield Health Excellence in Customer Service Award • Princecroft Willis Family Business Award • Retail Experience Award, sponsored by the Dolphin Shopping Centre
Ian Girling, chief executive of the Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says: “There is a real opportunity here for local businesses to profile their success and achievements. We know that many businesses in the region are flourishing and we want to ensure they are receiving the recognition they deserve.
“There are categories that cater for businesses of all sizes and sectors and the organisers and sponsors of the Awards encourage all to come forward and be acknowledged. Entering is free and winning is priceless!”
The Awards are also backed by the south’s leading radio station Wave 105 and are free to enter. Entrants can submit an entry via www.dorsetbusinessawards.co.uk or print off an entry form and submit a paper-based entry. Entrants do not need to be a member of Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Tickets purchased for the black tie Awards Gala Dinner before October 1 cost £75 + VAT (Chamber members), £85 + VAT (non-Chamber members) or £700 + Vat for a table of 10 (Chamber members) or £800 + VAT (non-Chamber members). From October 2, tickets cost £85 + VAT (Chamber members), £95 + VAT (non-Chamber members) or £800 + Vat for a table of 10 (Chamber members) or £900 + VAT (non-Chamber members). To book places please call Shirley Ewart on 01202 714812.
As ever-increasing competition drives businesses to innovate to maintain the edge in their industries, the Excellence in Innovation Award, sponsored by the Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Liz Lean PR, is open for entries in the 20th annual Dorset Business Awards, in association with the Daily Echo and Dorset Echo.
The Award aims to identify and celebrate a successful business innovation in the region. Open to all Dorset-based organisations with a BH or DT postcode, the innovation must have been launched or implemented within the last three years.
The winner of this category will be able to demonstrate the development of an excellent innovation to meet an identified market or other economic need. The innovation can either be a new project, service, application, operation, communications or marketing programme or tool.
Excellence in Innovation Award checklist
Entrants should include details of the following:
Description of the innovation
Details of research and development prior to launching the innovation
The communication, marketing and promotional process used to raise awareness of the innovation
How the innovation has impacted on the business
The overall trend in sales turnover and profit development
What makes the innovation different from competitors
Ian Girling, chief executive of the Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says: “It is the innovative organisations which force the business pace and this Award acknowledges a company that has most skilfully demonstrated a successful innovation which meets the requirements of an identified market or economic need.”
Liz Willingham, managing director of Liz Lean PR, adds: “The ability to be innovative, whether developing a new product or creatively responding to customer needs, is a key factor in driving economic growth across Dorset. Together with the Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Liz Lean PR is proud to sponsor an award that recognises the outstanding innovative achievements of the county’s businesses.”
The Awards are also backed by the south’s leading radio station Wave 105 and are free to enter. Entrants can submit an entry via www.dorsetbusinessawards.co.uk or print off an entry form and submit a paper-based entry. The closing date for entry is Friday September 12. Entrants do not need to be a member of Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
For further information about the Awards, sponsorship opportunities or to reserve tickets for the Gala Dinner which will take place at the Bournemouth International Centre on Thursday November 27 please contact Shirley Ewart on 01202 714812.
Sponsor profile copy
Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry is Dorset’s leading private sector business support organisation.
Building on more than six decades of serving the county’s business community, both at home and abroad, the organisation works to further the interests of its 700 member businesses of all sizes and sectors, delivering the very best services, business information and advice.
Liz Lean PR
Sandbanks-based Liz Lean PR is a proactive public relations consultancy. Founded in 1998, the consultancy work with a strong portfolio of clients across a range of sectors including professional services, tourism, retail, leisure, healthcare and hospitality.
The team deliver effective campaigns on both a national and regional level, using both online and offline media.
Do you have a co-worker or employee who has made an exceptional contribution to the success of your business? In association with the Daily Echo and Dorset Echo, the 20th annual Dorset Business Awards is inviting companies to put forward exemplary employees for the Employee of the Year Award, sponsored by Hays, the leading recruiting expert. The Company should nominate and enter the Award on behalf of the Employee, and the employee should have at least two years’ experience within the nominating Company.
Now in its second year, the Hays Employee of the Year Award has been established to recognise the hard work and professionalism of a member of staff who has exceeded expectations and transformed a business for the better. The current titleholder is Maria Tidy, fundraising manager at the Lewis-Manning Hospice in Poole.
On winning the 2013 Hays Employee of the Year Award, Maria said: “I was absolutely delighted to win this Award, although I very much believe that it would not have been possible without my amazing team. Fundraising is not the easiest of jobs and at Lewis-Manning Hospice it is all about working together as a team and supporting each other through thick and thin.
“Winning the Dorset Business Award has also been fantastic for the charity as a whole. Lewis-Manning Hospice is a small local charity and the PR received as a result or being involved in the awards has been immense right from the nomination stages. I still “bump” into people now, six months later, who congratulate me on winning the award and the charities profile within the local community has definitely been raised as a result with local businesses wanting to work with us to raise funds and awareness.
“I would definitely encourage others to enter the Dorset Business Awards whether nominating their own businesses, clients or colleagues – it is such an honour to be a part of such a huge part of the Dorset Business community.”
Employee of the Year Award checklist
Employers will be required to:
Describe the employee’s relationship with management and colleagues
Highlight what value the employee adds to the company and how they have they exceeded expectations
Details of what has been the employee’s greatest work achievement to date and how has this impacted on the company
Upon selection, judges would like to make an informal visit to all shortlisted companies during late September or early October for a short interview.
Samantha Paterson-Crofts at Hays in Dorset says: “An organisation is only as successful as its people, so employees really are any organisation’s greatest asset. At Hays, we believe the right person can transform a business and we are proud to be sponsoring the Employee of the Year Award at the 2014 Dorset Business Awards.
“We are really looking forward to discovering this year’s leading lights in business, and invite employers to make the most of this unique opportunity to recognise the hard work and professionalism of their best employees.”
The Awards are also backed by the south’s leading radio station Wave 105 and are free to enter. Entrants can submit an entry via www.dorsetbusinessawards.co.uk or print off an entry form and submit a paper-based entry. The closing date for entry is Friday September 12. Entrants do not need to be a member of Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
For further information about the Awards, sponsorship opportunities or to reserve tickets for the Gala Dinner which will take place on Thursday November 27 at the Bournemouth International Centre, please contact Shirley Ewart on 01202 714812.
Sponsor profile – Hays
By combining local knowledge with an understanding of each industry sector, Hays, the leading recruiting expert, offers a truly specialist and bespoke service.
With specialist consultants working across 20 sectors in Dorset and Hampshire, Hays is ideally placed to help organisations and people within this region flourish.
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