Deadline approaching for awards

The headline sponsor for this year’s event which takes place at Unity Works on Thursday, June 16, is The Ridings Shopping Centre.

The ceremony will showcase the best in business that the district has to offer.

Nominations in all categories are coming in – and you need to make sure your company does not miss out.

The deadline is this Friday, May 6.

This year we are also including a new section of awards for the retail sector.

The Employee of the Year award will go the unsung heroes who go the extra mile for their company, clients or colleagues.

The Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year will be handed to a nominee with turnover of less than £5m and fewer than 50 employees which is able to demonstrate significant growth in its sector.

The New Business of the Year award will be go to an organisation started since January 1, 2010, which can show its progress through the use of good ideas, careful planning and a determination to succeed.

International Business of the Year will go to a company which had bolstered reputation of the Wakefield district to a worldwide audience through its practices.

Business of the Year will be an outstanding business that demonstrates excellence and achievement in all areas.

Last year’s winner of this award was star of BBC’s The Apprentice Claire Young, who shot to fame in 2008 when she reached the finals of the popular TV business contest.

She said afterwards: “Winning the award was the professional highlight of my year.

“It was a complete surprise and I was thrilled to be selected. It encouraged me to put myself forward for others awards, which I went onto win. I would recommend to anyone in business to nominate or apply.”

Organised by the Wakefield Express, the awards help to raise the profile of businesses in the city, giving them a platform to showcase their work and offer an insight as to why Wakefield’s business community is booming

Sponsors of the event include Haribo, HSBC, Trinity Walk, YPO, Wakefield First, Bagnall Hopkins, The Ridings and Juice Personnel.

Nominations for the awards, which is in its sixth year, can be emailed to [email protected] or www.jpeventsnorth.co.uk/wakefield/events/business-awards

The categories in full are: Lifetime Achievement, National Retailer of the Year, Employee of the Year, Small to medium sized business of the Year, Evening Retailer of the Year, New Business of the Year, International Business of the Year, Customer Service, People’s Choice, Business of the Year, Business Person of the Year, Independent retailer of the year.

Good luck!