Wakefield Business Awards 2016: Does your company have what it takes to be a winner?

Wakefield Business Awards are back and they’re bigger and better than ever before.

Now in its sixth year, the awards will celebrate the district’s entrepreneurial spirit as well as incorporating new retail categories combining the success of an even wider range of businesses.

From the best in customer service to the most exciting new business, from the most innovative independent business to the most inspiring individual, the awards highlight them all.

Last year’s Business Person of the Year Award winner was star of BBC’s The Apprentice Claire Young, who shot to fame in 2008 when she reached the finals of the popular TV business contest.

Since then Miss Young has grown her business School Speakers as well as fund-raising for different charities and being an ambassador for Girls Out Loud, which mentors and inspires young teenage girls.

She is also the patron of Theatre Royal Wakefield and is one of the driving forces behind successful new business magazine Topic UK.

Miss Young said: “Winning the award was the professional highlight of my year.

“It was a complete surprise and I was thrilled to be selected.”

She said that hundreds of people contacted her after the event which in turned raised the profile of her business School Speakers.

She said: “It encouraged me to put myself forward for others awards, which I went onto win. I would recommend to anyone in business to nominate or apply as the application is very short and the potential benefits are huge.”

Miss Young added that she will definitely be returning to the awards ceremony this year. She said: “Good luck to all of you, I look forward to seeing you there.”

The district’s Wakefield Business Awards 2016 include sponsors Haribo, HSBC, Trinity Walk, YPO, Wakefield First, Bagnall Hopkins, The Ridings and Juice Personnel.

This year’s ceremony will take place at Unity Works on Thursday, June 16. The vibrant venue is home to a number of businesses and meeting rooms, which makes it the perfect powerhouse to showcase those driving and improving the city’s economy.

Organised by the Wakefield Express, the awards help to raise the profile of businesses in the city, giving them a platform to showcase their work and offer an insight as to why Wakefield’s business community is booming.

If you’ve got a trailblazing business, or know of one, you can nominate a person or company, or your own enterprise, by going to www.jpeventsnorth.co.uk/wakefield/events/business-awards or you can submit nominations via email [email protected] Deadline for nominations is May 6.

There is also chance to sponsor the last few remaining awards categories. For more information contact Lynda Hargill on 01924 433058 or email [email protected].

FULL LIST OF CATAGORIES:

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 sponsored by Haribo

International Business of the Year sponsored by HSBC

Customer Service sponsored by Trinity Walk

People’s Choice sponsored by YPO

Business of the Year sponsored by Wakefield First

Business Person of the Year sponsored by Bagnall Hopkins

Independent retailer of the year sponsored by The Ridings

Full list of categories