Business Excellence Award in Innovation and Transformation
Open to all businesses, this category seeks to highlight organisations that have identified transformative and innovative ways of working, and/or created something that is unique to the marketplace. This could involve adapting an existing product for a new market or the introduction of something original and exciting. To maintain success and see this continue it is sometimes necessary to transform a business in some way. How did your organisation identify the goals for strategic development and what was involved in terms of planning and execution of the transformation? The judges want to hear how this has secured and improved the company’s standing in the market, customer reaction, and what measurable benefits were achieved. Entrants must be able to clearly demonstrate that there was a demand for the innovation and or transformation and that it has proved successful in line with the objectives set and been available on the market for at least 2 years
Business Excellence Award in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Open to all businesses, considered central to an organisation’s operation, the basic values of equality, diversity and inclusion need to be firmly embedded in its ethos. How does your business ensure that people feel empowered and respected for their difference in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, education, and national origin, whether employed directly/indirectly by your organisation, or a customer/servicer of your business? Provide details of your company's working practices that ensure difference is acknowledged, respected, and celebrated.
Business Excellence Award in Disability Inclusion Initiative
Open to all businesses, specific Disability Inclusion initiatives can raise the profile of one or more of these values and demonstrate how a company’s ethos has a bearing in the workplace and beyond. What specific initiative has your business introduced that has promoted these principles, and how have they been given prominence? How has your business gone ‘Above and beyond’ from standard requirements to ensure these principles have been implemented? For what reason/s did you decide that this initiative was needed? Explain the originality of your ideas, how your plans were executed and what bottom-up response was taken into consideration? Lastly, give details of the impact of this initiative and of the feedback that has been received.
Business Excellence Award in Sustainable Product/Process
Open to all businesses, this award will recognise best practice related to a specific product and/or processes and procedures. Entries will demonstrate how this practice minimises impact on the environment and/or delivers environmental benefits. You should detail how the objectives of sustainability for the product/process were identified and the ways in which these were met. Provide measurable outcomes and details of how the product will meet future sustainability goals
Business Excellence Award in Health, Wellness and Care
The Health, Wellness and Care category recognises businesses that provide excellence in health and allied health services. An applicant’s business should function in health care by providing an aspect or range of diagnostic, technical, therapeutic, and direct patient care and support services. Examples include businesses that specialise in medicine and/or operate in health as an audiologist, dietitian, exercise physiologist, nutritionist, occupational therapist, optometrist, physiotherapist, podiatrist, psychologist, speech pathologist and/or provide other similar or related professional health services. This award recognises innovators from any wellness sector – spa, fitness, nutrition, workplace wellness, integrative medicine, and preventive health.
Business Excellence Award in Visitation and Hospitality
Recognises hospitality businesses that offer food and beverage services to the public including accommodation, restaurants, and cafes. To enter this award category, you will have demonstrated success: in consistently delivering high quality food and beverage experiences, excellent customer service and maintaining a consistent quality and standard in food service in an enjoyable, clean, and comfortable atmosphere. You can show how you have adopted innovative marketing strategies to reach existing markets and attract new customers and maintain sustainable food practices.
Business Excellence Award for New Business/Start Up
Aimed at companies that have been trading for less than three years, we are looking for innovative business ideas or a clear point of differentiation. Did you identify a gap in the market for something new? Or perhaps you are offering an established product/service with a special twist? The judges will be more focused on future potential rather than an entrant's ability to show turnover and profit growth at this early stage.
Business Excellence Award in Professional Services
Designed to recognise professional services offering B2C/B2B solutions and customised, knowledge-based services. Some example businesses include those operating in legal services, real estate, accounting and financial advisory, architecture, engineering, information technology and consulting. Applicants for this category should have an established business and strong client base.
Business Excellence Award for Young Entrepreneur of the Year (under 35 years)
Open to all businesses. To take the lead in bringing new business to an organisation, or to identify new ways of working, and having the skills to see these through is something that deserves recognition, especially when those at the helm are under the age of 35 years. We want to hear from young entrepreneurs who have done exactly that and have achieved outstanding success for the business. You will have had significant impact and attracted attention across the sector and beyond. Tell us of your motivations, your ideas, and your instinct for identifying opportunities in the market. What exceptional results have you realised and how do you intend to expand your influence further?