It is time to enter your business success in the Peterborough Telegraph Business Awards 2017

The Peterborough Telegraph is delighted to announce the launch of its annual Business Awards.
Some of the winners of last year's Peterborough Telegraph Business Awards.Some of the winners of last year's Peterborough Telegraph Business Awards.
Some of the winners of last year's Peterborough Telegraph Business Awards.

The region’s premier business awards, the Peterborough Telegraph Business Awards 2017 will celebrate the cream of enterprise and business across the city and the surrounding area.

It is the 22nd year the Peterborough Telegraph has hosted the prestigious awards and this year there are 10 categories that are open to companies and organisations of all shapes and sizes.

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The awards are recognised as a showcase for the success stories in the area’s business community.

PT Business Awards 2017 logo.PT Business Awards 2017 logo.
PT Business Awards 2017 logo.

They celebrate the people and companies that are driving the local economy forward.

Now is the time to start nominating your company or your favourite business.

We welcome entries from large, long established companies to firms that were established on a kitchen table or inside a laboratory.

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Our awards recognise the diverse business and entrepreneurial talent the area has to offer and give you a chance to highlight what is great about the business you own, work for or love.

PT Business Awards 2017 logo.PT Business Awards 2017 logo.
PT Business Awards 2017 logo.

The culmination of the awards will be a celebration gala dinner and ceremony at the Peterborough Arena on November 17.

And this year’s celebrity high-profile after-dinner speaker will be Jo Fairley, the co-founder of Green & Black’s Chocolates and which is now a £100 million brand.

Chris Collier, chairman of the business awards judges, said: “As judges we are always excited to see the quality of businesses in the Greater Peterborough area, and we are often surprised in a positive way when we visit those companies which we short list.

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“By winning an award, and even making the final three at the Awards Dinner it can give a fillip to the staff and also bring great publicity for the business.”

He added: “With the different categories, it is really worthwhile seeing if the company you are working for could benefit from entering.”

Dave Gallagher, director of Vow Bridal, of London Road, Wansford, which won the Customer Care award at last year’s PT Business Awards, said: “We would definitely encourage other companies to take part in the PT’s Business Awards.

“For us, it has improved our profile with customers.

“We have the award plaque displayed in a prominent position. It impresses customers and they know they are in safe hands when they come and see us.

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“We have also used the awards success in our marketing and promotional material and that has given us good results.

Mr Gallagher added: “All in all, it has been a very rewarding and worthwhile experience in terms of working with customers and in giving us the opportunity to step back and look at what we do well and what we could do better.”

Karen Beckwith, associate director (subsidaries and business services) of Peterborough Regional College, the awards’ headline sponsors, said: “We are delighted to be sponsors of the awards and to celebrate the best of the best of the Peterborough business world.

“We feel this is the premier event to celebrate business growth.

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“We are particularly excited that there is an Apprentice Award.”

She added: “The college is the largest provider in Peterborough of apprenticeships and we are delighted that we are the pathway for providing the employees with the skills needed by businesses in the city.”

HOW TO ENTER:

You have to be in the Peterborough Telegraph Business Awards 2017 to have a chance of winning it.

We want you to tell us about your business success stories.

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You don’t have to enter your own business, you might know of a local success story or have a supplier you think deserves recognition.

There are 10 awards categories. They are: Apprentice of the Year, Larger Business of the Year, Smaller Business of the Year, Customer Service, Business Person of the Year, Environmental Award, Contribution to the Community, Exporter of the Year, Social Enterprise of the Year and Staff Engagement.

Deadline for entries is 5pm on July 31 when judges will begin the task of looking at all of the entries.

To take part, contact awards organiser Linda Pritchard on 01664 412507 or CLICK HERE

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You can also keep in touch with us and all the latest business awards developments on Twitter @ptbizawards

Linda said: “Our Business Awards are the premier regional business awards and it is important that as many businesses as possible take part. It is so easy and takes just a short time to complete.”

Download an entry pack and choose which categories you wish to contest, then fill out the application form, which includes five questions, and email it back.

Hosting a table at the awards gives you the chance to give your customers a night to remember or an occasion to treat your staff and show them how much they are a valued member of your business. Individual tickets are available for this Black-Tie event at a cost of £80+ VAT each, a Table of 10 at £750 + VAT or a Table of 12 at £865+ VAT.

OUR GUEST SPEAKER:

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An award-winning businesswoman who created a multi-million pound chocolate empire will be the guest speaker at the Peterborough Telegraph Business Awards 2017.

Josephine Fairley is the co-founder of the hugely popular chocolate brand Green & Black’s and she will be outlining her career and offering many words of wisdom at the awards dinner on November 17.

Jo, of Hastings, left school at 16 with six ‘O’ Levels and with hard work and determination went on to become the UK’s youngest magazine editor.

However, she says her entrepreneurial journey began in 1991 when she co-founded Green & Black’s Chocolate, which is now approaching a £100 million a year brand.

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It is the success of that first business that has allowed her to become a serial entrepreneur. Her new businesses include the award-winning organic and natural food store/bakery, Judges Bakery, a boutique nine-room wellbeing centre called The Wellington Centre and most recently The Perfume Society, which seeks to help individuals develop their sense of smell via exploration of fragrance and the scented world.

Among the many accolades she has received are World Aware Award and many Soil Association Awards (both for Green & Black’s and Judges Bakery).

She has also received an Honorary Doctorate in Business Studies from Kingston University, and the Shackleton Medal for leadership and citizenship, from The Scottish Royal Geographical Society.

She has been involved in the judging of many different awards, bringing her wide experience to the judging process, including the RSPCA Good Business Awards, YOU/Clarins Dynamisante Woman of the Year Awards and the HSBC Business Thinking Awards.

OUR SPONSORS FOR 2017:

HEADLINE SPONSOR: 
Peterborough Regional College.

Apprentice of the Year: 
Peterborough Regional College.

Small Business of the Year: 
Bulley Davey.

Customer Service: 
Moore Stephens.

Business Person of the Year: Peterborough City Council.

Environmental Award: 
Larkfleet.

Social Enterprise of the Year: Rawlinsons.

Larger Business of the Year: Reserved.

Contribution to the Community: Reserved.

Exporter of the Year: Available.Staff Engagement: Available.