Countdown now on for Belfast Business Awards 2012
With one week left to enter the Belfast Business Awards 2012, businesses are encouraged to submit their entries before the 4pm deadline on Friday 14 September.
Organised by Belfast City Council in partnership with Belfast City Centre Management (BCCM), the awards are a highlight of the city's business calendar and celebrate the achievements of the Belfast business community.
With 11 awards up for grabs, in their 7th year, the awards recognise the fine work of business enterprises, retail outlets and businessmen and women across the city. The winners will be announced at a glittering gala awards ceremony in Belfast City Hall on Thursday 8 November, hosted by the BBC's Sarah Travers.
The awards' categories this year are for 'Best New Business', 'Best Green Business', 'Best Hospitality Business', 'Best International Trade Business'; ‘Best Creative Business' and ‘Best Social Economy Business'. There will also be awards for 'Best Young Business Person of the Year', 'Best Business Innovation', 'Best Business Expansion'; 'Customer Excellence in Retail' and the 'Best Business Person of the Year'.
Alderman Christopher Stalford, Chairman of the Belfast City Council's Development Committee, said: “It's an absolute honour to announce that the Belfast Business Awards 2012 are now open for entries. These awards will give local businesses a unique opportunity to gain recognition for the excellent contribution they make towards the overall development of our city.
“Winning an award will be a mark of quality that brings real prestige to any business and I would encourage local companies to enter the awards.”
Jason Andrews from Profile, sponsor of the Best Business Expansion Award, said he was proud to be a sponsor of the Belfast Business Awards this year.
“Awards like these are a superb showcase and platform for Belfast businesses to gain recognition, valuable PR as well as being a massive boost to staff morale,” he said.
“What better testimony and endorsement for your business than being a finalist and possible winner! At Profile, our role is to provide a medium and facility to raise our clients 'profile' providing advertising, design and print as well as event management services therefore we are obviously happy to support local business and sponsor these great awards. Good luck to all the entrants and we look forward to meeting the finalists at the gala awards ceremony in November!”
Seopa Ltd was a joint winner of the 'Best Business Expansion Award' at the BBAs 2011 and Managing Director Greg Wilson, speaking at the launch today, called on businesses to enter.
“I would encourage any organisation thinking about entering the awards to go ahead and do so. It's a simple process and you may find that it helps to develop areas of your business that you hadn’t anticipated,” he said.
“Seopa Ltd were delighted to be winners in the 'Best Business Expansion' category of the 2011 Belfast Business Awards. While we knew that we had a great company that was expanding rapidly, the exposure gained from the awards helped us to convey that message to others.
“This award has had a positive impact on our staff recruitment and business development activities and has given our staff well-deserved outside recognition for the hard work that they have done in growing Seopa and our Quotezone and CompareNI.com brands.”
The awards are free to enter and open to every business in Belfast covering all key sectors.
To enter for an individual award or find out more about the Belfast Business Awards 2012, you can visit the awards official website www.belfastbusinessawards.com or telephone 028 9027 0482.
The council would like to thank our sponsors this year – Victoria Square (Best Young Business Person of the Year); University of Ulster (Best Business Innovation); Profile (Best Business Expansion); DETI (Best Social Economy Business); Northern Ireland Tourist Board (Best Hospitality Business); Firmus Energy (Best New Business); Power NI (Best Green Business); Invest NI (Best Creative Business); Castle Court (Customer Excellence - Retail); DELL (Business Person of the Year) and Barclays (Best International Trade).
