Corby Ganesh, Director of Business Development at British Chambers of Commerce
It is a given that all businesses strive to be successful, but those that are will often have endured tough times, made sacrifices, invested in various areas of their business, and relied on hard-working and passionate staff.
Despite all of this effort, it is surprising how few businesses take the time to put themselves or their staff forward for recognition at a regional or national level. Aside from the obvious benefits of boosting staff morale and providing recognition of their hard work (regardless of whether you are victorious or not), there are many other reasons to consider putting your business forward.
The PR exposure that is generated by high-profile awards and the opportunity to use terms such as ‘Award-nominated’ or ‘Award-winning’ alongside your brand, can help you stand out from your competitors, provide reassurance/confidence to prospective customers, motivate your staff, help attract top talent, and put your business on the map, propelling you from a regional business to a national, or even international one. The entry process itself will usually force you to take a close look at your business, helping to assess your progress or make adjustments to your strategy.
All that and we haven’t even mentioned the awards ceremony itself…which can be a lot of fun (and a great way to reward staff).
The Chamber Business Awards is one of the UK’s most contested and prestigious business award programmes. Each year, from Aberdeen to Cornwall, organisations of all sizes and from all sectors compete for the coveted titles and the national recognition they bring.
Since the awards were established in 2004 we have had over 900 regional winners and over 150 national winners, ranging from up-and-coming small businesses to the likes of Tyrrells Crisps, Unruly, Nisa International, Westons Cider, the Trafford Centre, and Pallet Track.
There is still time to get your entries in for the 2016 categories:
- Small Business of the Year
- Export Business of the Year
- High Growth Business of the Year
- Commitment to People Development
- Best use of Technology
- Education and Business Partnership
- Excellence in Customer Service
The Chamber Business Awards are open for entry until midnight on Friday 24th June. Regional winners will be announced on Monday 19th September and national winners will be announced at the Gala Awards Dinner on Thursday 24th November at the Brewery, London.
For more information please visit www.chamberbusinessawards.co.uk and put your business in the spotlight.
