Let’s sing the praises of the town’s top companies By HENRYK ZIENTEK Business Reporter
henryk.zientek@examiner.co.uk
IT’S time for the town to celebrate business success.
Local companies have made commendable efforts to overcome the ravages of recession in recent years. Now those efforts are being redoubled as firms face up to continued uncertainty in a much-changed economic climate. Many companies have continued to achieve success – in areas such as exporting, job creation and product development – despite the obstacles in their way. So now is the time to recognise the skills, innovation and enterprise that go into creating our winning businesses. The Examiner Business Awards 2010, which are launched today, aim to do just that. The Examiner has been joined once again by event sponsor Chadwick Lawrence in the search to recognise and reward the businesses and individuals making a major contribution to the local economy. The competition will culminate with a glittering awards night at the Galpharm Stadium when senior figures from the local business community will join category finalists, sponsors, their guests and the awards judges in the celebrations. Entries are now invited for 11 categories in these, the fifth, annual awards. The categories are: New Business of the Year, SME of the Year, Business of the Year, Community Award, Green Award, International Business of the Year, Innovation and Technology Award, Employer of the Year, E-Commerce Award, Young Business Person of the Year and Business Person of the Year. The closing date for entries is Friday, September 10, 2010. A panel of judges will choose the category winners, who will be receive trophies and certificates at the spectacular awards night on Thursday, November 11, at the Galpharm Stadium. BBC Look North presenter Harry Gration will again host the gala event. A five-strong judging panel will run the rule over entries in the competition. The judging panel will include Jeremy Garside, managing partner of law firm Chadwick Lawrence; Prof John Thompson, of Huddersfield University’s Business School; Ken Gillespie, director of regeneration at Kirklees Council; and
Examiner business correspondent Henryk Zientek. PJoining them will be Prof Bob Cryan, vice-chancellor and principal of Huddersfield University, who was named Business Person of the Year at the 2009 awards in recognition of his achievements spearheading new developments at the university and building stronger links with industry and commerce. Mr Garside urged local companies to take part in the town’s premier business awards – and demonstrate their talents and achievements. He said: “The awards have proved that the Kirklees area is thriving, which is why we are determined to continue to promote and support business success in the area. “It is important to recognise the achievements of local businesses and their proprietors. “For that reason Chadwick Lawrence is proud to be supporting the awards once again in 2010.” Roy Wright, editor of the Examiner, said: “During these times of economic uncertainty there's more reason than ever to celebrate the success of our local businesses. “The fourth annual Huddersfield Business Awards, in association with Chadwick Lawrence, provide an opportunity to recognise the achievements of firms and individuals making a major contribution to their organisations and the town – often in the face of difficult trading conditions. “I hope you will help to reinforce Huddersfield's reputation for enterprise by taking part in this year's awards.”
■ LOOKING BACK: Jeremy Garside, managing partner of Chadwick Lawrence, with Prof Bob Cryan, who was named Business Person of the Year at the 2009 Examiner Business. Prof Cryan, vice-chancellor of Huddersfield University, will now join the judging panel for the 2010 competition The judges will draw up a shortlist of three entries for each category, with the exception of Business Person of the Year where only one winner will be chosen. Shortlisted entries will be featured in the Examiner and the winners will be announced at the not-to-be-missed awards night. The Examiner Business Awards are open to all companies with a business address in the Examiner's circulation area. A map of the circulation area is on the entry form. To enter, simply choose the category or categories most suitable for your business achievements, complete the entry form and return it with a supporting statement about your specific achievement to the Events Department, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB or email your entry form to businessawards@examiner.co.uk. You can download an entry form from www.examinerbusinessawards.co.uk or call 01484
437702 or email businessawards@examiner.co.uk to request a copy. To reserve seats at the gala dinner and awards presentation call 01484 437702. The panel of judges will review all entries against the specific category criteria as well as turnover, growth, profitability, job creation, future potential, entrepreneurship and other factors outlined in your supporting statement. Mr Wright stressed: “Overcoming the impact of the credit crunch and the recession is no mean feat. Now it’s time to recognise the resilience and resourcefulness of our local companies.” He added: “The 2010 awards promise to be bigger and better than ever. “So don't miss your chance to make a mark with staff, customers and suppliers by entering the awards, shouting out about your achievements and contributing to the continued success of Huddersfield's business community.”
Eleven categories – so take your pick! New Business of the Year If your business began trading after January 1, 2009, why not enter this award and receive recognition for your hard work and determination? You may have brought a fantastic new product to market, found a niche area to focus on or overcome all odds to achieve success. Tell us about your business, your market place, your performance and your future plans to win the recognition you deserve. Revell Ward SME of the Year Whatever your trade, if you employ up to 50 employees and can demonstrate achievements in your marketplace with evidence of an excellent business strategy, good financial performance and your potential for the future, enter this award and highlight your achievements. Business of the Year If you are the best business in Huddersfield, enter this award! Employing a workforce of more than 50, the business of the year will be able to
demonstrate all round business excellence, financial performance, business strategy and future plans.
degree to which national and international sales have created jobs and benefited our region’s economy.
Community Award Are you a company with a conscience and a commitment to social responsibility? Do you have a positive impact on your community? Make sure you receive the recognition you deserve for your commitment to your community and enter this award.
E-Commerce Award This category recognises and rewards businesses that have used e-commerce to enhance their performance. Judges will look for evidence of innovative use and a demonstrable impact on the commercial return of the business.
Green Award Has your business applied environmental policies in the workplace? Have your products or services made a positive contribution to the environment? This award will highlight the very best examples of environmental actions by local businesses. HSBC Commercial Banking International Business of the Year Has your business generated a substantial and sustained increase in activity outside of the region? The judges will look for evidence of the barriers that you have overcome and the
Innovation & Technology Award Open to any business engaged in the commercialisation of research and development of intellectual property, across all sectors. This award will consider companies irrespective of size or stage of development. Judges will be looking for evidence of or at least the clear potential for profitable trading in the knowledge sector as well as a beneficial economic impact to the region. PROHMS Employer of the Year We are looking for an employer who can demonstrate excellence in its approach to workforce
development. Entrants will be asked to demonstrate why workforce development and training is important to the organisation, how training needs and skills requirements are assessed and addresses, and the direct benefit gained by both individuals and the organisation. Fantastic Media Young Business Person of the Year Are you or one of your employees aged 40 or below able to demonstrate outstanding achievements or are you a rising star in your field? Our young business person of the year will display excellent leadership and management skills that drive success for their business. Chadwick Lawrence LLP Business Person of the Year Do you, or does someone you know, stand out from the crowd and inspire others around you? Do you/they stand out as an individual who has grown the reputation of both the region and their company, representing the entrepreneurial spirit that typifies the region’s resilience and resurgence?
Award sponsor underlines a long-term commitment LAW firm Chadwick Lawrence – “Yorkshire’s Legal People” – is supporting Huddersfield Business Awards for the fifth consecutive year.
Having sponsored the awards since the inaugural year, Chadwick Lawrence is a prominent member of the regional business community and believes in celebrating the success of local organisations to encourage further economic growth and attract more investment to the Yorkshire area. Chadwick Lawrence has offices throughout the region and is based in Huddersfield. With 95 lawyers and almost 200 staff the company is one of West Yorkshire’s biggest law firms. As such, the company takes the opportunity to actively support regional initiatives. It stages regular free seminars and training for local business and is a keen supporter of the Huddersfield Town Centre Partnership, taking a keen interest in promoting efforts to foster economic growth. The law firm is also heavily involved with other business groups working to highlight current issues affecting the business community. Jeremy Garside, managing partner of Chadwick Lawrence, said: “Working in partnership with our many commercial clients we quickly identify trends and issues affecting the region’s businesses – and as a result we work proactively with customers to address these.” It is this approach that has led to Chadwick Lawrence having many long-term relationships
with its commercial clients. The team works predominantly with small to medium-sized businesses with up to a £40m turnover and is able to handle almost all aspects of business law. The Chadwick Lawrence commercial services team is made up of three departments – corporate and commercial property, commercial litigation (including regulatory law) and employment law. The growth and expansion of the team resulted in the opening of a new office in Wakefield in 2008. Accessing the right advice at the right time is crucial for business owners who are faced with making important decisions about the future of their business or indeed in handling any other problems, challenges or dilemmas they may encounter. The recent economic climate has brought new questions and challenges for property-based businesses and the launch of a specialist legal team to assist businesses with commercial property advice and risk management has proved invaluable in helping the owners of commercial property and landlords – or indeed tenants. Specialist solicitors regularly handle cases in areas such as employment law, commercial contracts, commercial property work, employee compliance and training, disputes, licensing and planning, health and safety and much more. With several offices throughout the region, Chadwick Lawrence covers the whole of West Yorkshire. Visit www.chadwicklawrence.co.uk
■ WINNING RECIPE: Bob Styring, of category sponsor Business Link (left), presents the Business of the Year Award to the Newsholme Food Group team of (from left) Jeremy Thwaite, David Newsholme, Andrew Simmonds, John Newsholme, Trevor Newsholme and Ian McCann at the 2009 Examiner Business Awards
Sweet taste of success for family-run food company PICKING up the plaudits at the Examiner Business Awards has provided a boost for one ambitious Huddersfield firm. Oakes-based Newsholme Food Group was named Business of the Year in the 2009 competition after impressing judges by its expansion plans and investment in new premises to create more jobs and help meet growing demand for its cooked
meats and frozen ready meals. Company founder Trevor Newsholme and sons John and David were among representatives of the firm to receive the award from Bob Styring, of category sponsor Business Link, at the awards dinner held at the Galpharm Stadium. John Newsholme, joint managing director, said: “You enter these awards and hope for the best, but you never expect to win. It was an excellent night and although it was nice for the directors to receive the award it was really a team effort. “There was a real sense of achievement among all the employees after we won the award and we put a colour photograph of the presentation in our brochure which went out to new customers.” Mr Newsholme said the company had continued to prosper since winning the award, adding: “We will have to see about entering again this year – and perhaps landing the double!” Newsholme Food Group started in 1950 as T E Newsholme Ltd with a single butcher’s shop – but has grown to become a major player in the market for cooked meats. It has invested more than £5m in its operations, including building a 50,000sq ft extension to its New Hey Road premises. The group includes the Country Park Foods brand as well as frozen ready meals operations CPS Foods and Oakes Fine Foods. It also has a distribution network to take its products into mainland Europe as well as across the UK. Newsholme supplies customers including Makro, Heron Frozen Foods, J&S Foods, Leeds Bacon and Batley’s Cash and Carry. It is also targeting new markets following an appearance in May at the 2010 Food and Drink Expo at Birmingham’s NEC.
Yorkshire’s Legal People. Sponsors of the Huddersfield Examiner Business Awards 2010
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