Could you be the Business of the Decade? That’s the opportunity being offered to top-performing Great Yarmouth businesses as the Spirit of Enterprise Awards marks its 10th anniversary with the introduction of a special award.
Considered the most prestigious annual celebration of business excellence in the Great Yarmouth borough, the annual awards scheme is organised by enterpriseGY, Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s business support service.
Introduced specially for the anniversary, the one-off Business of the Decade Award is open to all businesses in the borough – large or small – regardless of whether they have entered the competition before. It is sponsored by facilities management and services group Norse, GYB Services and GYN Asset Management Services.
The awards has nine other categories covering a range of areas, the winners of which will be considered for the sought-after title of 2017 Business of the Year by overall award sponsor Stephenson Smart, chartered accountants and business advisors, who will choose the winner.
Businesses are encouraged to put themselves forward for the various awards by noon on Monday, October 16. The awards are free-of-charge to enter online at www.spiritofenterpriseawards.co.uk and finalists will be profiled in a supplement in the Great Yarmouth Mercury, with winners appearing in a further supplement.
The finalists and winners will be showcased in the press and at a glittering awards ceremony and gala dinner at the Town Hall on Friday, November 17. The media sponsors are the Great Yarmouth Mercury and The Beach.
Each award is backed by a local organisation. Sponsors choose the winner in their category from three finalists shortlisted by a local independent panel or by the category sponsor themselves.
The categories and sponsors are:
· Great Manufacturing/Engineering – sponsored by Goodchild Marine
· Great New Business – sponsored by Noritake Itron
· Great Business Growth – sponsored by Bateman Groundworks
· Great Business Idea – sponsored by Seahorse Guest House
· Great Customer Services – sponsored by Greater Yarmouth Tourism and Business Improvement Area Ltd (GYTABIA)
· Great Family Owned Business – sponsored by Birketts
· Great International Growth – sponsored by Pasta Foods
· Great Investment in People – sponsored by P&S Personnel
· Great Community Contribution – sponsored by Potters Friends Foundation
Overall award and sponsor:
· Business of the Year – sponsored by Stephenson Smart
Anniversary award and sponsor:
· Business of the Decade – sponsored by Norse, GYB Services and GYN Asset Management Services
The Spirit of Enterprise Awards help to highlight the borough’s many and varied successful businesses, supporting one of the council’s priorities, which is to work with partners to help champion and enable economic growth and job-creation in the area.
In a joint statement, the council’s political group leaders, Cllr Graham Plant, Cllr Kay Grey, Cllr Trevor Wainwright and Cllr Adrian Myers, said: “The profile of the Spirit of Enterprise Awards as the borough’s most prestigious business awards has grown steadily over the decade, and it plays a key role in boosting confidence in the local economy.
“The Business of the Decade Award is a great way to mark this milestone anniversary. We have seen some fantastic finalists and winners over the decade, but there are lots of brilliant businesses right across the borough and this award is open to anyone who thinks they might be a contender for the title.
“It is completely free-of-charge to enter any category of these awards and we urge businesses to take the opportunity to showcase their achievements. We would also like to again thank the 2017 sponsors, without whom this wonderful celebration of business excellence would not be possible.”
This year, help and advice with entries is available from TMS Media, which is working in partnership with enterpriseGY, by calling Steve Scott or Rachel Moore on 01493 662929. Video entries are also welcome.