The time has come for your company to get involved in the 2016 Trinity Mirror Cheshire Business Awards sponsored by SAS Daniels.

We are seeking businesses from across the region to nominate themselves, or another business they know well, for one of the awards.

There are 11 categories to choose from and the awards are open to all businesses whatever the size of trade.

Cheshire Business Awards logo
Cheshire Business Awards logo

The categories are:

Business Start Up Award:

If your business has been trading for less than two years why not enter this award and receive recognition for your hard work and determination. Our winner will be an entrepreneur who has developed a new business. They may have brought a fantastic new product to market, found a niche area to focus on or overcome all odds to achieve success. Tell us about your business, your market place, your performance and your future plans to win the recognition you deserve.

READ MORE:Cheshire Business Awards: Who won what at 2015 ceremony

ScottishPower Business of the Year (up to 10 employees):

Whatever your trade, if you employ between 1 and 10 employees and can demonstrate achievements in your marketplace with evidence of an excellent business strategy, good financial performance and your potential for the future, enter the small business of the year.

NatWest Business of the Year (11 to 50 employees):

Do you have a great medium sized business? If you employ between 11 and 50 employees and can demonstrate business excellence this is the award for you. The judges will be looking at your achievements, business strategy, financial performance and your potential for the future.

Metronet (UK) Business of the Year (over 50 employees):

If you are the best business in Cheshire employing a workforce of more than 50 this is the category for you. The winning business will be able to demonstrate all round business excellence, financial performance, business strategy and sound future plans.

READ MORE:Cheshire Business Awards: Did you take a selfie?

Employer of the Year:

We are looking for the employers who can best demonstrate how their leadership and human resource policies support staff development, engagement and satisfaction creating a positive and supportive workplace with a well motivated and well trained team. The winner of this award will be more than just a good company to work for, their culture will deliver commercial results and they will be an inspiration to other businesses.

Barlows Apprenticeship Award:

Apprenticeships are good for both businesses and for individuals. They are an important way of improving the skills base in Cheshire and Warrington, giving young people opportunities beyond the classroom and providing local companies an opportunity to inspire and shape their future workforce. This award is open to any business in the region who has demonstrated a real commitment to training local young people through apprenticeships, providing them with real work experience whilst being supported by workplace mentors. Apprentices should have been actively engaged in the shaping of working practices and been offered a job on completion, ideally with a plan for further development and/or progression opportunities within the business.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport Corporate Social Responsibility Award:

Does your business have schemes, initiatives or policies which have a positive impact on your local community? Whether you provide employment opportunities for young or disadvantaged people, show unrivalled support for local charities or even contribute to community schemes, make sure you receive the recognition you deserve and enter this award.

READ MORE: Cheshire Business Awards winners told strategy is key to success

Green Business Award:

This award celebrates excellence in green practice, strategy and product. Has your business applied environmental policies in the workplace? Do your products or services make a positive contribution to the environment? Have you reduced your carbon footprint through efficiency management? This category recognises a local business that shows evidence of a green ethos which has a commercial return for the business.

Innovation and Enterprise Award:

This award celebrates new ideas, processes, products, services, technologies and applications that have had an impact on an organisation’s success. Judges will be looking for originality of the innovation, its impact, practicality of its application and the measurable benefits to the business.

Bentley Motors Young Business Person of the Year:

Are you or one of your employees able to demonstrate outstanding achievements in your field? Our young business person of the year will be aged 35 or under and will display excellent career progression, leadership and management.

READ MORE:Cheshire Business Awards winners swap success stories

SAS Daniels Business Person of the Year:

The Business Person of the year is a judges’ choice award and not open for entry. The winner selected by the judges will be an individual who stands out from the crowd, has an entrepreneurial spirit, demonstrates outstanding achievement and inspires others around them. The winner of this award will have been instrumental to the success of their business, growing the reputation of both their business and the region.

There will also be a special Judges’ Award sponsored by EA Technology which will be chosen by the independent panel of judges from all of the entries received and will be announced at the awards ceremony.

To enter visit our website www.cheshirebusinessawards.co.uk and download an entry form, alternatively call the events team on 01244 606472 or email enquiries@cheshirebusinessawards.co.uk to request a copy.

The deadline for entries is Friday, July 29, 2016.

All entries received will be reviewed by our independent panel of judges and the shortlists announced in paper in September.

Winners will be announced at a gala dinner and awards ceremony on Friday, October 7 at Chester Cathedral.

SAS Daniels LLP is supporting the Cheshire Business Awards for the seventh consecutive year. The leading North West law firm has four office locations across Cheshire, meaning they are committed to the awards and to encouraging regional investment that recognises and supports forward thinking businesses and individuals.

SAS Daniels has one of the largest corporate law teams in the region, headed up by partner Jeremy Orrell, which works with organisations that are part of the development of Cheshire as a key destination for business excellence and growth. The firm is delighted that Cheshire is still a high growth area and a magnet for investment

Mr Orrell said: “The economic recovery is becoming more established and there are ever clearer signs of sustained growth among businesses throughout the region. A key reason for this is the ability of businesses to attract and retain a high quality workforce.

“Like many businesses SAS Daniels is keen to appoint the right people with the right skills and being located in Cheshire makes this readily achievable. Giving customers sustainable high quality service is paramount not only to SAS Daniels but also to businesses across all sectors.

“The awards ceremony evening will bring together exceptional businesses and professionals to celebrate our thriving and growing regional business community and the team from SAS Daniels is looking forward to playing their part in that once again.”

Trinity Mirror’s executive editor, Cheshire Weeklies, Michael Green, said: “Trinity Mirror Cheshire, publishers of the market leading Cheshire Chronicle Series, Ellesmere Port Pioneer, Crewe Chronicle Series, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News and Cheshire BuySell, are very proud to lead this event with the magnificent support of our executive sponsors SAS Daniels LLP.

“Our awards are open to any firm, big or small, that operates in the region. If you think your company, or another business you know well, deserves the recognition that these awards bring, please complete the entry form.

“It will, as ever, be a celebration of excellence, as we salute the companies and business leaders and teams who have demonstrated the foresight to drive their business - and the region - forward.

“Over the past 12 years it has been fantastic to see so many Cheshire businesses rising to the challenges presented, showing not only how talented they are but also their endless determination, entrepreneurial spirit, enterprise, innovation and creativity to make it happen. We look forward to hearing about your success stories this year.

“Our awards ceremony will be held in the beautiful surroundings of Chester Cathedral on Friday, October 7, a date to mark in your diary for what promises to be a memorable evening and a true highlight in the region’s business calendar.

“We look forward to receiving your entry and hope very much to see you at the awards ceremony in October.”