Business Awards 2022

Now is the time to shine the spotlight on our region’s businesses that have been exploiting new opportunities, creating wealth, employing more people and contributing to the local economy.

This is the time to shout about their success stories as The Press Business Awards are launched for 2022.

In the only regional awards of their kind, celebrating business from all sectors across York, North and East Yorkshire, the competition recognises the entrepreneurial success of individuals, small and large enterprises in various area of best practice.

This year we will celebrate the triumphs of businesses in 11 different categories, with an overall Business of the Year winner also.

To be in with a chance of being crowned a Press Business Awards winner choose up to two categories from the descriptions below and be a part of this regional celebration of business and entrepreneurship by entering online.

The Press Business Awards 2022 are open to all businesses in The Press’s circulation area of York, North and East Yorkshire. If you have any queries, please email newsdesk@thepress.co.uk

Enter the 2022 Press Business Awards »

THE CATEGORIES

Large Business of the Year

This award is open to all companies with an annual turnover of at least £1 million which can demonstrate exceptional financial returns, strong growth and innovation strategies plus market prowess in its sector.

Submissions may include:

• The success of your principal products and services
• How you market them
• Obstacles faced and overcome
• Strategies to motivate and upskill staff
• Future strategy for maintaining growth

Small Business of the Year

Open to those businesses in the region which have been trading for more than a year and have a turnover of less than £1 million.

The judges will consider:

• The entrant's financial performance
• Its strategy and the way in which it has developed
• Its approach to staff development and customer service
• The potential for future growth
• The impact the business has had on jobs and the community

New Business of the Year

Open to start-up businesses which have been in existence for up to two years.

Judges will consider:

• The concept of the business
• How the business researched the market
• How the business has been received by the market
• Its business plan, including budgets, finance and main objectives
• Early figures, financial forecasts
• How the entrant has taken an innovative approach to operational issues, such as human resources, space, suppliers, manufacturing processes, distribution and IT
• How the business was launched and marketed
• Potential for further growth

Socially Responsible Business of the Year

This award is all about rewarding change, encouraging the development of engaged and ethical business practices and demonstrating an understanding and commitment to the role of business in society. Businesses of any size, sector, or scale can enter the awards.

The judges are looking for entries that clearly demonstrate how the business has incorporated responsible business and sustainability thinking into various areas of business.

The Socially Responsible Business of the year is about:

• rewarding change
• encouraging the development of engaged and ethical business practices
• demonstrating an understanding and commitment to the role of business in society. (Eg. The role that business can play in helping to solve key community/societal problems). This could also involve the development and delivery of ethical business initiatives, social and environmental activities or projects working with the wider community.

Retail, Tourism and Leisure Business of the Year

For Retail, Leisure or Hospitality Business of the Year, we want to hear about the highest standards of customer service.

It might be a hotel, pub, restaurant, shop or any business that has day-to-day con-tact with the general public.

Judges will consider the four "P"s of customer service:

• People – how does the entrant ensure levels of customer service? Are staff passionate and do they understand their product? Can staff interpret and engage with customers' needs?
• Product - The product range, quality of offering , relevance to target market
• Price – Are pricing levels in line with the quality of offer and target market? Evidence of delivering a profit
• Promotion – Evidence of the relevance of promotions. Do they excite the customer and encourage spend? How well promoted are they? Examples of innovative marketing ideas.

Manufacturer of the Year

Manufacturing creates economic growth and is the engine that drives the districts economy. Manufacturers like you contribute to the vibrancy of our communities through good business practices, innovative processes and productivity enhancements. This award celebrates the successes of manufacturers in the region. The judges will be looking for excellence in their field, ability to success, growth and best practice.

Business Personality of the Year

This category award is open to all business people in the region who demonstrate inspired leadership.

Judges will consider:

• The personality's role and impact in their own organisation's success
• How the personality has had an impact on the wider business community
• Examples of their flair and method for getting things achieved
• The general style of leadership and values
• What makes the nominee different from other men or women
• His or her personal achievements
• Personal challenges which have been successfully overcome
• How the personality has provided a role model for others

Employer of the Year

This award honours the region’s top employers who have demonstrated strong investment in their employees. The judges want to know about the company which, in the opinion of its staff, provides the best working environment, best people development practices, best skills and training programmes and demonstrates genuine care for the health and well-being of its workforce.

Business Innovation of the Year

For this award we are looking for the business or organisation that is bringing about change for the better by the application of new thinking and ideas. Innovation could be from the application of creativity to new or better products or services, better ways of working that have produced great results and investing in research and development. It could be that your organisation has formed new and exciting partnerships that have changed your outlook and performance; using good ideas from staff, customers or your supply chain to make real changes to what you do and succeed as a business.

Family Business Of The Year

This award is open to established family businesses across all industry sectors that can demonstrate sustained success across a broad range of measures, whilst ensuring all family values are followed. The judges will be looking at the aspirations of your business to demonstrate how both current and future family generations will be involved in the growth of the business.

Apprentice of the Year

Apprenticeships are an increasingly important way of attracting new talent and providing training for the future. We know there have been some fantastic successes locally and this award recognises an employer’s best apprentice who has successfully come through their apprenticeship programme. The finalists in this category will have gone above and beyond as part of their apprenticeship for an employer that has offered the support and training needed to kick start their careers.

If you are interested in sponsoring an award category, contact Lucy Stoakes on 01904 567250