The search is on for Leicestershire’s top business executive of 2021.
Today LeicestershireLive and the Leicester Mercury – supported by our sister title BusinessLive – launch our annual Business Executive of the Year Awards, which recognise the best-performing managers, entrepreneurs, directors, SME owners and young business leaders out there.
This year there will be awards for: business executive in a small firm; business executive in a medium-sized firm; business executive in a large firm; young business executive; non-executive of the year and lifetime achievement winner.
As in previous years, one of the winners of either the small, medium and large business award will be named our overall business executive of the year.
Entries close on Friday, September 10 and the headline sponsored is the.
After 16 months of lockdown, this year’s awards are set to be presented at a live, black-tie event at the Leicester Tigers Stadium on the evening of Thursday, November 4.
Winners and shortlisted finalists will follow in a long line of successful business people who have been honoured with an award over the years.
They include fashion boss Tom Joule, Davidsons Homes founder David Wilson CBE DL, Deborah Ewan, chief executive of Pukka Pies, well-known Leicester business consultant Ian Guyler, Sam Hagger, who is the founder of the city’s Beautiful Pubs Collective, and former Shoe Zone CEO Nick Davis.
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2021 LeicestershireLive Business Executive of the Year Awards categories
Small Business Executive of the Year - Sponsored by
For an individual who runs a small-sized business.
Medium Business Executive of the Year
For an individual who runs a medium-sized business.
Large Business Executive of the Year - Sponsored by
For an individual who runs a large-sized business.
Young Business Executive of the Year
For an individual under the age of 30.
Non-executive of the Year
For an individual who sits on a board as a non-executive.
Lifetime Achievement Award - Sponsored by
For an individual who has made a significant contribution to the Leicestershire business community.
Business Executive of the Year 2021 - Sponsored by
The winner of the small, medium and large categories will go head-to-head to be crowned the overall Business Executive of the Year 2021. No entries are required for this category.
is this year's drinks sponsor.
A panel of judges – hand-picked by LeicestershireLive with help from business editor Tom Pegden – will meet in the coming weeks to whittle down a preliminary list of finalists put together from a combination of open entries and names put forward by LeicestershireLive.
A broader panel, including representatives of some of the awards sponsors, will then sit at a later date to view video presentations by those on the shortlist before choosing category winners and the overall Business Executive of the Year.
As ever, the judges are looking for executives who demonstrate drive and dynamism and show quality leadership.
This year's headline sponsor is University of Leicester
University of Leicester delivers inspirational teaching and world-changing research and innovation, and celebrates its Centenary in 2021. It supports innovators and businesses through a range of industry collaborations including the £5.1m Leicester Innovation Hub, making it easy to access talented graduates and utilise the University’s expertise and facilities. Space Park Leicester, the university’s flagship project, will support growth in the 海角视频’s space sector.
Professor Philip Baker, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Leicester, said: “We recognise that it is the innovation and enterprise of the local businesses in Leicester which makes our city and region so special.
“The University of Leicester is proud to once again sponsor the LeicestershireLive Business Executive of the Year Awards, as we mark our Centenary year, and we look forward to supporting innovation in our region over the next 100 years!”
Business editor Tom Pegden said: “This is a prestigious event which for the best part of a decade has rewarded the individuals who have made Leicester and Leicestershire the fantastic places to do business that they are today.
“The judging process is always incredibly thorough and at times the discussion can be heated, which shows just how seriously the panel takes its responsibilities.
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“We are never short of potential finalists because of the high calibre of business men and women out there, but in the last few years have opened it up to general entries simply because of the talent that is inevitably flying under the radar.
“I’m really looking forward to working on the finalists list and to enjoying the actual awards night at Leicester City this November.”
To find out more