County’s premier business awards launched

Businesses across Powys gathered in Llandrindod Wells for the launch of the county’s premier business awards.

The annual Powys Business Awards, which began in 2009, were launched today at Llandrindod Wells’ County Hall with sponsors and past finalists attending the event.

Cllr Avril York, Powys County Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “The Powys Business Awards are getting bigger and bigger each year and we’re delighted to continue supporting them.

“Not only do the awards provide an excellent opportunity for the county’s businesses to raise their profiles, it gives us the chance to showcase their quality.

“The Powys Business Awards are now an important date in the business calendar and I would urge all businesses in the county to enter this year’s awards. They are an excellent way of highlighting the range and expertise of the county’s businesses and also they celebrate their success.”

With a range of new categories added this year, the awards are an opportunity for all businesses, social enterprises and charities to compete for a chance to be a finalist no matter if they are large or small or if they are a new start-up or existing business.

At the launch, organisers Mid Wales Manufacturing Group, Powys County Council and the Cambrian News announced the confirmed list of categories and sponsors for this year’s business awards.

Application forms are now available for the 2016 Powys Business Awards, which will culminate in a black-tie dinner this year bring held in the Infantry Battle School, Dering Lines in Brecon on Friday, September 30.

Ceri Stephens, group manager for Mid Wales Manufacturing Group, said: “The Powys Business Awards provide a fantastic platform for businesses to raise their profile.  Those who enter the awards are independently judged on their excellent standards.

“The awards also provide a public forum where finalists can gather in the presence of other business leaders and their peers to celebrate their success on the night.

“Winners on the night will also benefit from local publicity as the awards are covered by local and regional newspapers and broadcasters. Everyone who reaches the finals also has the added bonus of having a free professionally made short film about their business which can be added to their website or otherwise used in their publicity.”

The categories for the 2016 Powys Business Awards are:
• Start-up Business Award sponsored by The County Times
• Micro Business Award sponsored by FSB
• Entrepreneurship Award
• Growth Award sponsored by Finance Wales
• Manufacturing Award sponsored by Myrick Training Services
• Agricultural Business Award sponsored by Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors
• Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality Award sponsored by NPTC Group
• Social Enterprise/ Charity Award sponsored by Mid-Wales Housing Association Ltd
• International Trade Award sponsored by Mid Wales Manufacturing Group
• Technology & Innovation Award sponsored by RES
• Excellence in Customer Service Award sponsored by Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd
• Team Achievement Award sponsored by The Cambrian News and The Brecon & Radnor Express
• Judges Special Award sponsored by Sodexo
• Company of the Year Award sponsored by Powys County Council

Application forms, judging criteria for each award, rules and guidance can be found on the website www.powysbusinessawards.co.uk  . For more information contact Mid Wales Manufacturing Group, The Business Unit, NPTC Group Newtown Campus, Powys, SY16 4HU, Tel: 01686 628778 e-mail: info@mwmg.org

Picture caption:

At the launch of the 2016 Powys Business Awards in Llandrindod Wells are (back row, from left) Major Jimmy Law, Infantry Battle School, Brecon; Peter Swanson, Mid Wales Housing Association; Nick Evans, Powys FSB; Kevin Morris, NPTC Group; Brian Dunlop, Myrick Training (front row, from left) Gaynor Morris, Finance Wales; Cllr Avril York, Powys County Council’s cabinet member for regeneration; Gail Jones, Alun Griffiths Contractors; Samantha Mayers, RES and Ceri Stephens, MWMG.