Mercury Business Awards 2013
The Rutland & Stamford Mercury Business Awards are back
The Mercury Business Awards are back for an eighth successive year.
The awards are all about celebrating success and there are seven categories to choose from thanks to our sponsors: Hegarty LLP Solicitors, Duncan and Toplis, Viking Signs, South Kesteven District Council, and Greetham Valley Hotel, Golf and Conference Centre, and associate sponsor Larkfleet Homes.
The business awards gala dinner will be on 23 May, read more.
Mercury editor Eileen Green said: "The awards are a superb chance to showcase your business and its success. There are success stories everywhere even in this tough economic climate."
The competition is open to companies based within the circulation area of the Mercury which covers Stamford, the Deepings, Rutland and Bourne and their surroundings. The window for entries and nominations has now closed.
This year's categories and sponsors
Best New Start-up
Sponsored by Hegarty LLP Solicitors. Has your business been a roaring success in its infancy? Has it exceeded all your expectations or is it exactly on the right track, looking strong and with excellent prospects for the future? You may be a one-man band already looking to expand, or you may have started at a larger scale and already proved your ideas would work. Open to companies in business for up to three years from the date of the launch of the competition (March 1, 2013).
Customer Care Award
This award will recognise the firm that can prove the customer really does come first. Has your business excelled itself to help one customer in particular or have you introduced new ways of working to help every customer who comes through the door?
Employee or Team of the Year
This award is to celebrate dedication and commitment to business. The title will go to the employee or team who always go the extra mile and exceed expectations within their company. The judges will be looking for an employee or team who can demonstrate how their attitude, commitment and dedication to their job has delivered significant benefits to their organisation.
Business of the Year
Sponsored by Viking Signs and Greetham Valley Hotel, Golf and Conference Centre, the Business of the Year will have to demonstrate it has had a year to celebrate. The winning business will be able to show excellence in operations and performance, continuous improvement and have a clear vision for the years ahead. The winner will obviously have to be able to demonstrate good profit and good policies towards its people and customers.
Lifetime Achievement
Sponsored by Duncan and Toplis, this award is in recognition of an exceptional individual whose effort and determination over time has made an exceptional contribution to not just a business, but the wider community. We are looking for someone who has set and maintained high standards throughout their working life and can be held up as an example for the younger generation.
Business Innovation
Sponsored by South Kesteven District Council, this award will go to the organisation that can best demonstrate an ability to create, grow and develop innovations or processes that substantially improve the commercial performance or prospects of the company.
Independent Retailer of the Year
Mercury Business Awards 2012
The 2012 winners
Customer Care Award, sponsored by South Kesteven District Council
Winner: Simmons Optometrists
Runners-up: Boundary Fish & Chips and River Restaurant, Landmark IFA Ltd
Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by Peterborough Regional College
Ellie Thompson, Wildcats Theatre School
Best New Start-up Award, sponsored by Hegarty LLP Solicitors
Winner: TMV Architectural Design Ltd
Runners-up: The Rural Business Community, Physiohands
Community Champions, sponsored by Cummins Generator Technologies
Linfords Traditional Fish and Chips
Boundary Fish and Chips and River Restaurant
Employee/team of the year, sponsored by Larkfleet Homes
Winner: Linfords Traditional Fish and Chips
Runners-up: Halifax, The Pickled Village
Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored Duncan & Toplis
Frank Hinch
Business of the Year, sponsored by Anne Corder Recruitment and Greetham Valley Hotel, Golf and Conference Centre
Joint-winners: Simmons Optometrists & MMT Digital
Runners-up: The Pickled Village, Landmark IFA LTD