The Bolton News Business Awards is returning this year with some of the borough's finest firms set to be recognised once again.
And nominations are open until Friday, June 30, offering residents the opportunity to vote for the businesses they think deserve to be crowned the best in Bolton.
Bolton Council and the University of Bolton are the headline sponsors for the event.
There are 11 awards on offer in total and below are details of each award and how to enter.
Company of the Year
This award recognises outstanding performance by a highly successful Bolton business throughout 2022.
The company must have a turnover of £5m plus a year and judges are looking for businesses that have something special, are admired throughout the Bolton business community and from which other businesses can learn from.
They will need to demonstrate excellence in customer service, achieved a strong or growing market share, used innovative approaches, potentially digressed into new markets through the pandemic and re-aligned the business to ensure survival in a highly competitive market.
SME Business of The Year
A company or enterprise (up to 20 employees) which has made an indelible impression in the business world. It could be a firm with just two or three employees or many more as long as it is considered small for the particular field in which it operates and turnover between £500,000 and £5m.
Innovation, expertise and imagination are just some of the qualities that will help firms qualify for this award.
The Apprenticeships, Training & Skills Award
This award recognises businesses that have implemented a successful apprentice, training or skills programme as an integral part of developing their workforce and providing opportunities for the younger generation in the area.
Judges will be looking for an ongoing commitment to skills and training, examples of how the training or apprentice scheme is used to develop the workforce, evidence of the benefits apprentices and trainees bring to their business, and for businesses that are taking a leading role in improving skills levels in the region.
Environmental/Sustainability Award
This award is designed to recognise the most ethical, socially responsible or green business.
Open to any small business which has helped to drive environmental improvements across their business and/or the wider green economy.
Judges will be looking for businesses that can highlight their main sustainability achievements, demonstrate how they have made an invaluable contribution to their business, and showcase how they are helping to drive wider progress in the green economy as a whole.
Best Customer Service
Customer service is an ongoing process. The winning business will ensure it exceeds customers’ expectations before, during and after any sale, building long-term customer relationships and providing a service that is consistently outstanding.
Social Enterprise of The Year
This award will recognise an organisation who has demonstrated an outstanding track record of delivery, growth and innovation through high standards of strategic management and leadership.
They will need to demonstrate impact within the community resulting in positive or environmental results and demonstrable sustainability in financial, social and environmental terms.
This should include high levels of customer satisfaction and a strong track record in terms of communicating with stakeholders.
Innovation Award
This award identifies and rewards companies which have launched the most innovative new product/service or who may have built or embraced new technology to drive their company forward in the calendar year 2022.
Judges will consider all aspects of an innovative new product/service, its USP, the potential for growth/competition and profitability.
They’ll also be looking for companies building fantastic digital products and services or broader companies who have deployed digital solutions to overcome significant business challenges.
Digital/Ecommerce Business of The Year
This award is for businesses that have the resilience required for the fast-paced nature of doing business online.
The award will go to the business that has delivered an outstanding online customer journey, showing responsiveness to customers’ needs, with the business results and growth to match.
Judges will be looking for businesses that have used digital innovation and e-commerce to achieve growth, exceptional customer experience and increased financial performance.
Wellbeing Award
This award seeks to recognise and champion the incredible steps taken by those businesses that are creating an environment for their employees to succeed.
These businesses will be able to demonstrate their commitment to the health and wellbeing of their workforce.
Judges will be looking for those businesses that have developed and implemented an effective, holistic strategy which has had a proven and significant positive impact on the wellbeing of its workforce.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (age 30 & under)
This award is for entrepreneurs aged 30 or under who have demonstrated the traits to achieve a level of business success that belies their age.
Judges will be looking for young entrepreneurs that have seized the opportunity to establish their own business and are passionate for progress.
This entrepreneur will be a beacon of inspiration to business people irrespective of age and industry.
Heart of The Community Award
This award celebrates excellence in corporate, social and ethical activity, and seeks to identify those organisations which best exemplify the social and community spirit which is at the core of Bolton’s culture.
The judges will pay particular attention to evidence of contribution to the overall well-being of the community, its environment and general quality of life.
They will also look for projects that can demonstrate working in partnership with their local neighbours and community, projects which contribute to the economic regeneration of the region and using positive influence to support suppliers and other partners to adopt best environmental, workplace and community practice.
How to enter The Bolton News Business Awards 2023:
The Bolton Business Awards have grown to become one of the premier events in the North West and this year’s awards will be held at the Premier Suite, The Bolton Whites Hotel, The University of Bolton Stadium on Thursday September 21.
Contact Mark Fry on 07557 170372 if you would like to enquire to be a category sponsor or to book a table for your business at this prestigious event.
To buy tickets to attend the event, go to https://store.newsquest.co.uk/the-bolton-news-business-awards-2023-tickets
Or to nominate a business for an award, fill in this form here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=0w9msPA-c0q0Tvk8KX-vFVO36u3anZZCvSuIjEJCKcdUM1dRR1ZCWklIMzZPV1AxOTBUOEIxRFZaQS4u&fbclid=IwAR1St7z5xusmnrpUiybM8YyX23pfFmZhjoIZQHlATDpDaxVPT3snEkJA_iA
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