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Derbyshire Business Awards

We are excited to announce that the Derbyshire Business Awards 2024 are now open for entries.

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Categories and sponsors 2024

Celebrating business success across Derbyshire

We are delighted that the Derbyshire Business Awards are now open for entries.

There are 13 categories to choose from to help you celebrate the amazing work you undertake every day.

Entries are open until 19 July so there is plenty of time to start your application and perfect your answers.

Business Improvement through Technology

This award recognises businesses that have used and integrated technology to boost business performance. Entrants must demonstrate how technology has helped staff work more effectively and led to an increased ability to meet customer’s needs.

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Community impact

Recognising businesses, charities and social enterprises that have developed and implemented Corporate Social Responsibility policies as part of their overall business planning. Entrants must be able to demonstrate how their activities have made a positive impact on key social issues affecting their local community.

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Outstanding Growth

The judges will be looking for organisations that have achieved exceptional levels of growth in sales, profit, market share, jobs and/or international trade over the past 12 months. Entrants will need to demonstrate, and show, a strong plan for sustainable financial performance.

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Excellence in Collaboration

This category aims to recognise and celebrate successful business partnerships where organisations have collaborated on a project with successful outcomes for those involved.

The collaborators will have combined their skills to enhance the project to more than the sum of its parts.

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Environmental Impact

This award is open to those organisations that can demonstrate their commitment to making a positive impact on the environment.

The winner will put their environmental strategy at the heart of their organisation.

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Commitment to People Development

This award recognises organisations which demonstrate a firm commitment to people development and the implementation and promotion of a learning and development culture, as well as how employee wellbeing is supported. Entrants must demonstrate how this culture has contributed to the business’ overall success.

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Education and Business Partnership

Aimed at schools, colleges and further education providers that engage effectively with business, this award recognises those which can demonstrate partnership working with local businesses and how they help pupils develop crucial employability skills valued by employers.

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Apprentice of the Year

This award recognises the rising stars who will become the business leaders of tomorrow. Open to all current or past apprentices of any age who can demonstrate they have made an exceptional contribution to their workplace. This award category can be entered by individuals or a company can complete the entry on behalf of an employee or colleague.

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Entrepreneur of the Year

This Award recognises the contribution of a dynamic, creative and visionary business leader. It seeks to define the qualities of successful entrepreneurship – from drive, ambition, vision and tenacity to inspirational leadership, creativity, inventiveness and confidence.

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Excellence in Customer Service

The judges will be looking for an organisation which delivers industry-leading standards of service and constantly strives to exceed customer expectations. Entrants will need to demonstrate the impact of their customer service strategy on business performance.

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Excellence in International Trade

This award recognises the strength of local businesses which trade internationally. Entrants must demonstrate how their objectives and strategies for growth has generated significant and/or sustained increases in their international activity.

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Small Business of the Year

This award – open to organisations employing up to 75 full-time members of staff – will go to the company that has achieved consistent growth backed by a strong financial performance. Entrants will need to demonstrate current activity to grow market share and the effect this is having on business performance.

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Excellence in Innovation

This category aims to recognise an organisation who has used innovation as a tool to improve business performance. Including any financial benefits, efficiency improvements and customer impacts.

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Business of the Year

The Business of the Year award is chosen by the judges from the winners of the other individual award categories. The business of the year will be awarded to a business which has shown excellence in their field and is an exemplar to all other businesses within Derbyshire. It will showcase the quality of businesses and the expertise within the county.