Are you one of the best businesses in Cheshire?
Nominations are now open for the High Sheriff’s Awards for Enterprise 2014/15, Cheshire’s most prestigious business awards.
The awards offer thousands of pounds worth of prizes, as well as access to a network of support across Cheshire and great publicity for local businesses.
The winners will be announced at a presentation evening on March 26 in the stunning surroundings of Chester Town Hall. Guests will include business leaders, judges and the finalists.
This year’s guest speakers will be Professor Phil Redmond CBE, who received an honorary Doctor of Letters in 2010, and Alexis Redmond MBE.
The winner of the High Sheriff’s Award for Enterprise, sponsored by MBNA, Click Consult and Oliver Valves, will receive a free place for one of its managers on the award-winning MBA programme at the University of Chester worth £10,000.
Winners of the High Sheriff’s Award for Corporate Social Responsibility, sponsored by O2, the Mornflake Oats Awards for Innovation and the new Roberts Bakery Family Business Award of Excellence, will win £3,000 each.
The winner of the UKTI Award for Cheshire Business Exporter of the Year will receive a bespoke 12-month package of UKTI support to help research and develop overseas trade in one new market.
The winner of the Cheshire Business Leaders Award for Outstanding Cheshire and Warrington Business Leader will receive £500.
The winner of the Cheshire Business Leaders Award for the Cheshire and Warrington Young Entrepreneur will receive £500 worth of prize money to invest in their business plus free mentoring and business support to the value of £500 from CBL members.
The awards were introduced in 2006 by the then High Sheriff of Cheshire, David Briggs MBE, to recognise outstanding achievement by enterprises in Cheshire.
The awards are now endorsed and developed by each High Sheriff in office.
The office of the High Sheriff is a Royal post, which dates back to Saxon times. The current High Sheriff of Cheshire, Susan Sellers, said: “As High Sheriff of Cheshire for 2014/15 I am delighted to support these valuable awards and hope they will both give encouragement to and act as a showcase for many of the fantastic businesses and business people that we have across Cheshire, Warrington and Halton.”
Professor Phil Harris, executive director of the University of Chester’s Business Research Institute, said: “Cheshire has a tremendous range of businesses and these awards celebrate the wide breadth and diversity of some wonderful companies, people and businesses that make the regional economy tick.
“We look forward to welcoming the winner of the MBA programme and offer them the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of studying at the University of Chester.”
Thanks to significant contributions from sponsors including the University of Chester, MBNA, Oliver Valves, Click Consult, O2, Mornflake, Roberts Bakery, UKTI, Cheshire Business Leaders, Cheshire East Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Warrington Borough Council, Halton Borough Council, Ellis & Co, Cheshire and Warrington LEP, Marketing Cheshire, Trinity Mirror Cheshire, Chester Business Club and West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce, the awards represent one of the highest values of any competition of its kind in the county.
For more information visit www.chester.ac.uk/highsheriff-enterprise and download an entry form.
The closing date for entries is Saturday, December 20.
