Guernsey Awards for Achievement 2012 is launched
Guernsey’s Awards for Achievement 2012 has been launched with a brand new look. Four new business awards have replaced the Best Small, Medium and Large Awards and the Excellence in Training Award. The overall business award sponsored by the Commerce & Employment Department, the Guernsey Business of the Year Award, remains as do the two individual awards, the Specsavers Unsung Hero Award and the Guiton Group Ambassador of the Year Award.
The four new awards are: NatWest Best New Business Award, Healthspan Excellence in Marketing Award, the BWCI Innovation Award, and Condor Ferries Employer of the Year.
Minister for Commerce & Employment, Deputy Kevin Stewart, said a fresh approach to the business awards had been adopted to better reflect how businesses work today.
‘The Awards for Achievement has long been an extremely successful premier event within the Island’s business calendar and whilst the core essence of the gala evening will remain, it was felt a new dynamic to the business awards would help to emphasise more the specific areas which many businesses focus on when trying to compete in local, European and international marketplaces’, he said.
He continued, ‘The new businesses categories aim to reflect the complexities and challenges which modern business face in trying to achieve success and will enable businesses to be judged on the criteria which society and their customers and clients also judge them.’
The NatWest Best New Business Award is open to all companies which have started from scratch within the last five years. The judging panel will be looking for businesses to demonstrate outstanding performance in a number of key areas and prove that they have a clear vision for sustainable growth.
Rob Girard, Island Director at NatWest said, ‘The success of new business activity is critical to the sustained prosperity of Guernsey’s economy, both financially and socially. Economic conditions and confidence are vital to the development of new business growth and whilst these areas are not strong at the moment there is plenty of evidence to suggest that Guernsey still has great potential. It is important that we ensure this sector of our economy continues to flourish and we hope that this Award will help to recognise those new businesses that are making a difference.’
The Healthspan Excellence in Marketing Award is open to those businesses that have developed a marketing campaign or strategy, within the last 3 years, for either a business as a whole or a specific product or service.
Chairman of the Healthspan Group, Derek Coates, said marketing had been the key ingredient in the recipe for success of his business and its value deserved to be recognised at Guernsey’s prestigious business awards evening.
‘To succeed, marketing must be the very heart and soul of every business. By discovering the needs of defined target customers it is responsible for developing the right products that can beat the competition. It must lead the advertising, promotion, distribution and pricing of these products as well as fostering excellent customer service and customer loyalty,’ he said.
Entrepreneurial businesses which have achieved success either through bringing new products and services to market, adapting existing products for a new market or who have applied an innovative approach to areas of their business can enter the BWCI Innovation Award.
Stephen Ainsworth, Senior Partner of the BWCI Group says the award is open to all businesses from sole traders to large organisations who can demonstrate how innovation has benefitted their business and the economy of Guernsey.
‘BWCI firmly believes that innovation is vital for a business to remain competitive and successful, particularly in challenging times. Guernsey’s economy continues to thrive due to innovation being at the heart of the decision making of many local companies and we want to recognise and reward those businesses’, he said.
The Condor Ferries Employer of the Year is open to those businesses who can demonstrate how development of their staff has brought business benefits to both their organisation and the Bailiwick.
Ian Milner, Guernsey Director Condor Ferries said, ‘It is fully accepted that any successful business today has to have its staff at the heart of its operation. Across all areas of our own organisation we recognise the value and importance of training and skills development to delivering a high quality of service.’
He continued, ‘We will be particularly looking for businesses to demonstrate how they channel the creativity, enthusiasm and knowledge of their staff to bring benefits to areas of their organisations and how staff involved in community initiatives have had a positive impact on employees, the business and the local community.’
The Guernsey Business of the Year Award sponsored by the Commerce & Employment Department will remain largely unchanged. Unlike previous years the nominations will not be drawn from the short lists of the other business awards; any business across the Bailiwick is eligible to enter providing they can show measurable success across all aspects of their business.
The Specsavers Unsung Hero Award exists to give recognition to those who give of their time to help others within their community, whilst the Guiton Ambassador of the Year Award is open to anyone who has shown extreme dedication and effort in promoting Guernsey to the wider world. Nominations for these awards will open in September.
Nominations for the business awards close on Wednesday 7th November. More information and entry forms can be downloaded from the awards website www.guernseyachievementawards.com or by contacting Natalie Davidson at The Guernsey Event Company on 728686 or email natalie@eventguernsey.com
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