Business leaders have launched this year’s North East Cheshire Business Awards.
The organising team invited members from the business community to the launch event to encourage entries into the awards. Previous winners and sponsors spoke about how the honours have benefited businesses.
The awards celebrate the best of business in Macclesfield, Wilmslow and other towns in the area. They are organised by the team from Macclesfield Chamber of Commerce, which works to help businesses in the town.
Sue Bowden, chamber chairman, welcomed guests to the launch at The Mere in Knutsford.
She said: “We help businesses grow and prosper and that’s what the awards are about.
“They are to celebrate talent and all that’s great about businesses in North East Cheshire. Winning an award brings kudos and prestige and will make staff proud and give them a huge boost.”
Guests were urged to get entries in early to make the most of the buzz around the awards.
Rob Nicholls, managing director of Plastic Card Services in Macclefield who won two awards last year and has been a member of the judging panel, urged businesses to go to town on social media in the run-up to the awards.
He said: “People should get their submissions in as early as possible. There’s the whole lead up to the awards and you can get far more from it rather than just letting it happen.
“There are many benefits from the awards. There’s the great kudos of winning and it helps attract quality employees and retain existing employees.
“Awards form part of your marketing strategy. It’s saying we are quality and have been endorsed by someone else.”
There are 10 categories: Business of the Year Turnover over £5 million; Business of the Year Turnover £1 million to £5 million; Small Business of the Year; Innovation and Design; Excellence in Customer Service; Team of the Year; Best use of Social Media; Start-up of the Year; Best Design/Creative Campaign; Best Company to Work For.
The closing date is September 30 and the awards culminate in a gala dinner at The Mere on November 19. Entry is free and forms are available via necbawards.co.uk.
Contact Sue or Jayne at Macclesfield Chamber on 01625 665940 or email info@macclesfieldchamber.co.uk.
