The Mail Business Awards 2014 is one of the key events in East Yorkshire's business calendar. James Burton looks at what this year's awards offer and the success of last year's event. Scroll down for categories and an entry form.
From start-ups and entrepreneurs to East Yorkshire's biggest employers, the Mail Business Awards will celebrate the region's best companies and employers. We are looking for the Hull and East Riding firms that have made a difference to the community, cornered the market against the odds and won praise from clients and suppliers alike.
At last year's awards, we had winners ranging from entrepreneur and designer Claire Barrett to food giant Cranswick. You can find a full list here. (Scroll down to see a video of last year's event).
So if your business has bold growth plans, a fantastic track record or a dedication to customer service, we want to hear from you. There are 14 categories and our finalists will be invited to a celebration dinner at the Willerby Manor Hotel on Thursday, November 20.
To enter, scroll down for categories and an entry form and send it to us before Friday, September 12. ![bizawards]()
This year's categories are:Training and development
Category sponsor: University of Hull
The judges will be looking for an organisation that:• Demonstrates positive commitment to the ongoing training and education of its employees.• Can prove how investment in staff training has brought success.• Shows staff have gained the necessary skills to maximise their contribution.• Can show how its people development strategies have improved its performance and created a committed, motivated and effective workforce.Exporter of the year
Category sponsor: Associated British Ports
The Exporter Of The Year Award is aimed at companies that have developed new markets outside of Hull and the East Riding. Judges will be looking for businesses that can demonstrate:• Significant export sales in relation to the size of the company.• Success in accessing markets outside the county and/or overseas.• Trade growth through exports and the ability to sustain that growth.Community Involvement
Category sponsor: Arco
The Community Involvement award will go to a business that can show proactive commitment to putting something back into the local community. This could be by:• Providing financial support to community projects.• Giving practical assistance in terms of time or expertise.• Allowing charity organisations, schools or community groups to benefit from the resources of the business. For social enterprises, the activity should be outside their core purpose.• Particular emphasis will be placed upon the proportionate investment by businesses in terms of time and effort, as opposed to pure cash contributions.Innovation and Technology
Category sponsor: BP Chemicals
The Innovation and Technology Award will reward the company that has developed the most innovative new product, system or process over the past year, and can demonstrate the positive impact it has had on the business. Judges will be looking for businesses that can show:• A clear vision of what the innovation project, product, system or process had to achieve.• How the product was developed.• Gains in revenue or market share.• The overall benefits to the business or its customer.Green Award
Category sponsor: InterTech
The Green Award is designed to recognise outstanding performance in environmental awareness, green energy or sustainable activity. The winner of the award will be a company that has:• Embraced environmental policies across their business, with an outlook that reflects a well-considered green approach.• Successfully developed, sold or created "green" products or services.• A workforce or teams that fully embrace environmental awareness and actions.• Demonstrated, by their actions, environmental leadership in their business sector or geographic locality.• Made improvements in energy-efficiency, carbon reduction or sustainable working.• Implemented projects that have minimised the local or national environmental impact of the company's operations.Business of the Year (Small)
Category sponsor: Smailes Goldie
The Business Of The Year Award (Small) is being sponsored by Smailes Goldie and is open to companies with fewer than 25 employees. The judges will be looking at all aspects of a company's performance, paying particular attention to:• Managerial and financial performance.• Evidence of success against targets set.• Potential for growth.• Long-term plans and company strategy.• Product and service development.• Staff training and development.Business of the Year (Medium)
Category sponsor: HSBC
The Business of the Year Award (Medium) is open to companies with between 25 and 149 employees. Judges will be looking at all aspects of company performance, paying particular attention to:• Managerial and financial performance.• Evidence of success against targets set.• Long-term plans and company strategy.• Product and service development.• Staff training and development.Business of the Year (Large)
Category sponsor: Gosschalks
The Business Of The Year Award (Large) is open to companies employing 150 or more members of staff. The judges will be looking at all aspects of the company's performance, paying particular attention to:• Managerial and financial performance.• Evidence of success against targets set.• Potential for growth.• Long-term plans and company strategy.• Product and service development.• Staff training and development.Employee of the Year
Category sponsor: St Stephen's
The Employee Of The Year award has been designed to celebrate someone who really makes a difference to their business and who deserves recognition.
It might be someone whose attitude and example really stimulates all those around him or her.
Equally, it could be someone who has overcome real difficulties, or someone who shows exceptional customer service.Entrepreneur of the Year
Category sponsor: Sewell Group
The Entrepreneur of the Year award will go to someone who has had a big impact, either running their own business or working as part of a business. The award is open to individuals of all ages and the judges will be looking for someone who can demonstrate:• How their actions and strategies have been instrumental to the success of the business.• Evidence of strong financial performance, including the clear identification of an opportunity that has had a measurable impact on the success of business.• Enterprising behaviours such as participation, risk-taking, management and leadership, vision, originality and innovation.• How they have overcome barriers to achieve at a high standard (ie social, geographical or physical).• A positive impact on the wider economy and local communities through employment, additional work as mentors or in the voluntary sector.• Nominations can be made by the entrant if they run their own business, or a sponsor or nominee from the business they work for.Start-up Business of the Year
Category sponsors: Horncastle Group and MKM Building Supplies
The Start-Up Business Of The Year award will go to an organisation that:• Has been established within the past two and a half years.• Demonstrates evidence of entrepreneurship and/or innovation.• Has defied challenging economic conditions to succeed, grow and thrive.• Can evidence future growth potential.Young Achiever of the Year
Category sponsor: Hull College
The Young Achiever Of The Year Award is aimed at recognising the outstanding talents of individuals aged 18 to 30. Nominations should look to highlight young people who have made a real impact in their field of business, ranging from office work to the arts and entertainment. The winner's attributes will include:• A proven ability to enthuse and motivate others around them.• Demonstrating successful personal and business growth during the year.• Showing creativity and courage in achieving their goals.Tourism and Hospitality
Category sponsor: First Hull Trains
The Tourism and Hospitality award will go to businesses that can show evidence of:• Outstanding performance relating to commercial success and evidence of growth and investment.• Creation of employment, together with staff training and development.• Delivery of innovations and improvements.• High standards of customer satisfaction.Lifetime contribution
Category sponsor: KC
This prestigious award will go to someone who has had a significant and positive impact on the local business community over a number of years.
Unlike the other Mail Business Award categories, for the Lifetime Contribution Award there will be no nomination process or shortlist published.
Only the winner will be invited to the event.
Drinks at the ceremony will be sponsored by Jelf.
Scroll down for an entry form.![bizawardssponsors]()
Entry form
This year's categories are:Training and development
Category sponsor: University of Hull
The judges will be looking for an organisation that:• Demonstrates positive commitment to the ongoing training and education of its employees.• Can prove how investment in staff training has brought success.• Shows staff have gained the necessary skills to maximise their contribution.• Can show how its people development strategies have improved its performance and created a committed, motivated and effective workforce.Exporter of the year
Category sponsor: Associated British Ports
The Exporter Of The Year Award is aimed at companies that have developed new markets outside of Hull and the East Riding. Judges will be looking for businesses that can demonstrate:• Significant export sales in relation to the size of the company.• Success in accessing markets outside the county and/or overseas.• Trade growth through exports and the ability to sustain that growth.Community Involvement
Category sponsor: Arco
The Community Involvement award will go to a business that can show proactive commitment to putting something back into the local community. This could be by:• Providing financial support to community projects.• Giving practical assistance in terms of time or expertise.• Allowing charity organisations, schools or community groups to benefit from the resources of the business. For social enterprises, the activity should be outside their core purpose.• Particular emphasis will be placed upon the proportionate investment by businesses in terms of time and effort, as opposed to pure cash contributions.Innovation and Technology
Category sponsor: BP Chemicals
The Innovation and Technology Award will reward the company that has developed the most innovative new product, system or process over the past year, and can demonstrate the positive impact it has had on the business. Judges will be looking for businesses that can show:• A clear vision of what the innovation project, product, system or process had to achieve.• How the product was developed.• Gains in revenue or market share.• The overall benefits to the business or its customer.Green Award
Category sponsor: InterTech
The Green Award is designed to recognise outstanding performance in environmental awareness, green energy or sustainable activity. The winner of the award will be a company that has:• Embraced environmental policies across their business, with an outlook that reflects a well-considered green approach.• Successfully developed, sold or created "green" products or services.• A workforce or teams that fully embrace environmental awareness and actions.• Demonstrated, by their actions, environmental leadership in their business sector or geographic locality.• Made improvements in energy-efficiency, carbon reduction or sustainable working.• Implemented projects that have minimised the local or national environmental impact of the company's operations.Business of the Year (Small)
Category sponsor: Smailes Goldie
The Business Of The Year Award (Small) is being sponsored by Smailes Goldie and is open to companies with fewer than 25 employees. The judges will be looking at all aspects of a company's performance, paying particular attention to:• Managerial and financial performance.• Evidence of success against targets set.• Potential for growth.• Long-term plans and company strategy.• Product and service development.• Staff training and development.Business of the Year (Medium)
Category sponsor: HSBC
The Business of the Year Award (Medium) is open to companies with between 25 and 149 employees. Judges will be looking at all aspects of company performance, paying particular attention to:• Managerial and financial performance.• Evidence of success against targets set.• Long-term plans and company strategy.• Product and service development.• Staff training and development.Business of the Year (Large)
Category sponsor: Gosschalks
The Business Of The Year Award (Large) is open to companies employing 150 or more members of staff. The judges will be looking at all aspects of the company's performance, paying particular attention to:• Managerial and financial performance.• Evidence of success against targets set.• Potential for growth.• Long-term plans and company strategy.• Product and service development.• Staff training and development.Employee of the Year
Category sponsor: St Stephen's
The Employee Of The Year award has been designed to celebrate someone who really makes a difference to their business and who deserves recognition.
It might be someone whose attitude and example really stimulates all those around him or her.
Equally, it could be someone who has overcome real difficulties, or someone who shows exceptional customer service.Entrepreneur of the Year
Category sponsor: Sewell Group
The Entrepreneur of the Year award will go to someone who has had a big impact, either running their own business or working as part of a business. The award is open to individuals of all ages and the judges will be looking for someone who can demonstrate:• How their actions and strategies have been instrumental to the success of the business.• Evidence of strong financial performance, including the clear identification of an opportunity that has had a measurable impact on the success of business.• Enterprising behaviours such as participation, risk-taking, management and leadership, vision, originality and innovation.• How they have overcome barriers to achieve at a high standard (ie social, geographical or physical).• A positive impact on the wider economy and local communities through employment, additional work as mentors or in the voluntary sector.• Nominations can be made by the entrant if they run their own business, or a sponsor or nominee from the business they work for.Start-up Business of the Year
Category sponsors: Horncastle Group and MKM Building Supplies
The Start-Up Business Of The Year award will go to an organisation that:• Has been established within the past two and a half years.• Demonstrates evidence of entrepreneurship and/or innovation.• Has defied challenging economic conditions to succeed, grow and thrive.• Can evidence future growth potential.Young Achiever of the Year
Category sponsor: Hull College
The Young Achiever Of The Year Award is aimed at recognising the outstanding talents of individuals aged 18 to 30. Nominations should look to highlight young people who have made a real impact in their field of business, ranging from office work to the arts and entertainment. The winner's attributes will include:• A proven ability to enthuse and motivate others around them.• Demonstrating successful personal and business growth during the year.• Showing creativity and courage in achieving their goals.Tourism and Hospitality
Category sponsor: First Hull Trains
The Tourism and Hospitality award will go to businesses that can show evidence of:• Outstanding performance relating to commercial success and evidence of growth and investment.• Creation of employment, together with staff training and development.• Delivery of innovations and improvements.• High standards of customer satisfaction.Lifetime contribution
Category sponsor: KC
This prestigious award will go to someone who has had a significant and positive impact on the local business community over a number of years.
Unlike the other Mail Business Award categories, for the Lifetime Contribution Award there will be no nomination process or shortlist published.
Only the winner will be invited to the event.
Drinks at the ceremony will be sponsored by Jelf.
Scroll down for an entry form.
Entry form• Mobile phone users visit Business Awards entry form
