ENTRIES are now open for the sixth Times Business Awards, which returns in March next year.
With ten categories to choose from, there is an award for every business that trades in and around Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas.
This year, there are several new categories to choose from.
Among the new categories is a special award for charities and not-for-profit organisations.
Organisations in this category will get the chance to tell the judges about their cause and the demographic they help, in a bid to be officially recognised as Charity of the Year 2023.
Another category which is bound to be popular is Creative Business of the Year, which offers the creative, design, marketing and PR sectors the chance to sell themselves to the judges – and go on to win over the public.
And any company which is beating the rising cost of energy by clever power management, or through investment in energy-efficiency, is a candidate for Green Business of the Year.
Entry forms can be downloaded from TimesBusinessAwards.co.uk from today (December 14th).
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES STILL AVAILABLE
SPONSORSHIP opportunities are available for the Times Business Awards 2023, including headline sponsor and some award categories.
Each award category represents a different sector or size of organisation that the Times and the local business community believe deserves recognition.
Those who sign up to be sponsors will be in good company, as you can see from those businesses who have already taken a category.
As well as the category opportunities left for the Times Business Awards 2023, there is also the chance to become headline sponsor.
Previous headliners have included: law firms Cripps and Pemberton Greenish, renowned Tunbridge Wells jeweller G. Collins & Sons, property developer Elysian Residences, and luxury vehicle manufacturer Lexus.
Many sponsors come back to the Awards again and again, supporting their category from the first entries to the on-stage moment at the Awards dinner, which will be held on March 30, 2023.
Tunbridge Wells-based designer childrenswear retailer Childrensalon have been stalwart sponsors of the Family Business of the Year category, supporting it year after year – including 2023.
Childrensalon CEO Michele Harriman Smith told the Times:
“It is wonderful sponsoring the Family Business of the Year Award as it is so interesting getting to know other family businesses that are growing as we have, experiencing the same learns, challenges and working through ways to overcome them and succeed. We were delighted to have been given the opportunity to be a part of the Times of Tunbridge Wells Business Awards and look forward to taking part again in the future.”
The Finance Hub, itself a young company, also returns in 2023 as sponsor of the Best Business with 26+ Employees award.
Meanwhile, law firm Thomson Snell & Passmore graduated from sponsoring Start Up Business of the Year in 2019 to Outstanding Business of the Year in 2022 and again in 2023.
Wealth managers Charles Stanley are this year’s sponsor of the Entrepreneur of the Year category, after supporting the Best Business with 1-25 Employees in 2022.
TEN AWARDS TO FIND THE BEST IN BUSINESS
Start-Up Business of the Year (Sponsor TBC)
Companies founded since January 2021, which have really been attracting notice.
Creative Business of the Year (Sponsor TBC)
This is a strong sector for Tunbridge Wells, covering the creative, design, marketing and PR sectors which have made our town their home.
Entrepreneur of the Year (Sponsored by Charles Stanley)
An entrepreneur is more than just a businessperson. Entrepreneurs turn their ideas into business opportunities and may run more than one company.
Green Business of the Year (Sponsor TBC)
This new award category will recognise companies for their commitment to the environment, whether through reducing energy usage, ‘localising’ their supply chains or any other ‘green’ initiatives.
Charity of the Year (Sponsor TBC)
In this new award category, judges will analyse the charities and not-for-profit organisations which play such a positive role in the life of our area, looking for impact, sustainability and imagination.
Best in Food and Drink (Sponsored by NFU Mutual)
This award is for the local companies producing or serving truly remarkable food and drink. Entries are welcomed from fine dining restaurants, gastropubs, simple cafés and food and drink producers – any company which can demonstrate how it puts Tunbridge Wells or the local area on the map with its gastronomic excellence.
Best Family Business of the Year (Sponsored by Childrensalon)
The judges will be looking for the business that best demonstrates how running a family business has added significantly to its competitive advantage. The winner will need to show how being a family business has had a positive impact on its achievements.
Best Business 1-25 Employees (Sponsor TBC)
This award category is for the companies with a workforce of up to 25, which has maintained consistent growth and strong financial performance, both in meeting its customers’ expectations and supporting its employee’s welfare and growth.
Best Business 26+ Employees (Sponsored by The Finance Hub)
Consistent growth, financial performance and an engaged, positive workforce are just some of the criteria that set these companies apart other medium to large businesses in the area.
Outstanding Business of the Year (Sponsored by Thomson Snell & Passmore)
This award will reveal which company demonstrates the best combination of growth, ambition and quality of management in the area. The ‘outstanding’ company has delivered on a compelling business strategy, while developing its employees’ skills and looking after staff.
