2020 was a mountain to climb for us all, and definitely difficult to navigate for Merseyside businesses. Dealing with economic hardship and endless restrictions, our business community showed an abundance of resilience and passion even when times were hard. Whether your business is small or large, local or global, your story deserves to be admired by all, and that is where the come in.
Your fellow entrepreneurs, the industry legends and supportive audience attending the grand event won't be the only ones who get to celebrate your triumphs from the past year. Your success story will be published online at BusinessLive and for the tens of thousands of readers to discover.
If a prestigious award, exciting event and free promotion sounds enticing, just . We've even extended the deadline to Thursday, May 13 to make sure all of Merseyside's business brilliance is recognised.
On Thursday, June 17, the ceremony will be streamed virtually via The Awards Room, with tickets completely free of charge. will be made available at the start of June.
This year's headline sponsor is , a faculty within that is supporting the growth and amplifying the ingenuity right here in our local business industry and further afield.
Though more apparent this past year, it has always been obvious how important our local business industry is to sustaining and supporting our region. Not only bringing economic support, local businesses create a sense of community and inject ingenuity into our everyday lives.
Alex Billingsley, marketing manager at Inciner8, which won the International Business of the Year in 2019, said “We are continuously proud of the heritage of excellence in this region, and honoured to be recognised as a contributor to this as one of the winners.
Alex said that following the win, the company has gone on to become "one of the most respected names in global waste management solutions, with a diverse international client portfolio who trust us implicitly.”
The categories for the are:
Start-Up Business of the Year
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The Start-Up Business of The Year award will go to an organisation that has been established within the past two years. A business that can clearly demonstrate evidence of entrepreneurship and/or innovation. A business that has defied challenging economic conditions to succeed, grow and thrive and is able to evidence future growth potential.
Business of the Year (up to 50 employees)
This award is for businesses established for more than two years which employ up to 50 people and can demonstrate all round business excellence. The judges will be looking for a business that has delivered consistent growth and solid financial performance through great leadership, understanding its customers and engaging employees. The category is open to all sectors.
Liverpool Business School at Liverpool John Moores University is this year's headline sponsor
Making a difference is what Liverpool John Moores University is about. The ambitious, forward-thinking institution challenges convention and believes passionately in the concept of ‘One University’ - a community working together to achieve common student-centred objectives. The university is divided into five faculties, each home to world-leading research, teaching and learning. Its vision is to be recognised as a modern civic university delivering solutions to the challenges of the 21st century.
prides itself on providing a first-rate teaching and learning environment backed by research and scholarship. It also delivers practical business solutions to local, national and international businesses, working alongside the North West’s business community for the past 40 years. The School works with the local business community to improve employability, workforce productivity, innovation and growth in the region.
Business of the Year (51 to 250 employees)
If you can demonstrate outstanding business performance in your industry and employ between 51 to 250 people, then this is the category for you. Again, the judges will be looking for a business that has delivered consistent growth.
Business of the Year (over 250 employees)
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If your business employs more than 250 people and can show outstanding business performance, this is the category for you.
Corporate Social Responsibility Award
The Corporate Social Responsibility Award is for businesses dedicated to building better workforces, creating a sustainable economy and healthy communities. Tell us about how corporate social responsibility is woven into the fabric of your business, whether you are leading the way on diversity, education, community initiatives or addressing global issues and how your efforts have made a difference to your business and commercial success as a result.
Outstanding Charity Support
We’re looking for companies who go above and beyond to help raise funds and support charities or community groups in our region. This could be by organising fundraising events or challenges with its employees, through company donations or matched giving, sponsorship and support of charity events, staff fundraising or volunteering programmes, payroll giving, or just generally raising awareness.
International Business of the Year
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This award recognises a business that has achieved the highest and most sustainable levels of international growth through exporting. The judges are looking for businesses that have not only achieved export growth or an increase in revenues from overseas operations, but which consider increases in market share through exporting, innovation in products, services or processes to enable exporting, international engagement and potential for future growth.
Innovation and Technology Award
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The Innovation and Technology Award will reward the company that has developed the most innovative new product, system or process over the past year, and can demonstrate the positive impact it has had on the business. Judges will be looking for businesses that can show, a clear vision of what the innovation project, product, system or process had to achieve. How the product was developed and what gains in revenue or market share have been recorded.
Creative Impact Award
This category is open to businesses that derive their income from their creative services. This could include design, publishing, film, architecture, the arts and marketing. Entries are welcome from all firms, whether they are acting as agents or principals. The judges will be looking for evidence that creative work has led directly to improved business performance.
Young Business Person of the Year
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For business people aged 35 or under (on March 31, 2021), this category is looking to recognise business leadership, entrepreneurship, creativity and vision for the future. Judges will be looking for a successful entrepreneur or to a senior manager who has made a significant impact on their business, who has set and achieved objectives within its business plans and established a position of sustainable profitability and success. Please state your date of birth on your entry form.
Business Person of the Year
We are looking for a business leader who stands out from the crowd, someone who has helped to grow the reputation of not only their organisation but the city region. They will have achieved this through inspirational leadership and an entrepreneurial spirit that creates a sense of direction and momentum for development within the business.
before May 13 to be in with a chance of scooping a coveted title.
On Thursday, June 17 the will take place virtually. Tickets are free of charge and will be available from the start of June.