Ridings looking forward to 2016 and awards night

The awards put the spotlight on the best businesses within the city and celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of the district.

As part of the sponsorship, the centre will present the winner of the Lifetime Achievement category with their accolade during the awards ceremony taking place on Thursday, June 16 at Unity Works.

Eileen Holroyd, Centre Manager at The Ridings Shopping Centre, comments: “We’re thrilled to be sponsoring the 2016 Wakefield Business Awards. This partnership couldn’t be better timed as we embark on a very exciting journey following our recent purchase.

“Wakefield has many fantastic businesses across a wide range of sectors and I would urge all local companies to submit their nominations in the hope of being crowned the winner of one of these highly prestigious awards.

“We are very much looking forward to celebrating those businesses that are driving and improving the city’s economy and are thrilled to be presenting the Lifetime Achievement award.”

And 2016 is shaping up to be an exciting and memorable year for The Ridings; after it published plans for a multi-million pound investment following the sale of the centre to NewRiver Retail, the retail property investor, in January of this year.

The refurbishment plans include significant works and cosmetic changes to the centre helping to support a refreshed and improved retail mix alongside a stronger food and beverage offering. Work is expected to start within the coming months.

For the first time this year the district’s best retailers will be celebrated with new categories in the contest.

The National Retailer category is for any national chain with a Wakefield outlet and will be judged on trading performance and standards locally. Companies which contribute to the city’s nighttime economy can be nominated in the Evening Retailer category. And retailers not trading under a parent company or chain can enter the Independent Retailer category.

Award catergories:

Lifetime Achievement,

National Retailer of the Year, Employee of the Year,

Small to medium sized business of the Year,

Evening Retailer of the Year, New Business of the Year,

International Business of the Year,

Customer Service,

People’s Choice,

Business of the Year,

Business Person of the Year,

Independent retailer of the year.