Newcastle firms urged to enter business awards

SMALL and medium-sized firms in Newcastle-under-Lyme are being encouraged to enter the Business Boost Awards.

Winners will be rewarded with cash prizes invest back into their businesses.

Categories include impact on the borough, customer focus, entrepreneurial spirit, and a judge’s special award presented to the most innovative business.

All entrants will be assessed by a panel of business experts, including Bernard Lovatt of Bernard Lovatt & Associates, Sarah Da Silva, owner of Zebra Consultancy, James Miller, owner of Miller & Co, Darren Green from Aspire Housing,  Trudi Barnard, business development officer for Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and representatives from Keele University Science and Business Park. 

A special award – The Realise Foundation Apprentice Award – will also be presented to a company that successfully demonstrates their plans for growth and how they would benefit from an apprentice.  The winning company will be given the chance to take on an apprentice for 12 months at no cost.

Lucy Delaney, business development manager at Keele Science and Business Park, said: “The Business Boost Awards offers us a fantastic opportunity to recognise aspiring business minds in our community.

“Part of our role at Keele University Science Park is to support and help businesses in the area continue to grow in their industries and this is the time of year that these businesses are able to celebrate all the hard work that they’ve put in over the last 12 months.”

The closing date for entries is August 3.