Entries for this year's Midlands Family Business Awards open
today 3rd May, and submissions from family-run or owned businesses
and their leaders from across the region can be made from now until
the 30th June.
The not-for-profit Awards have Smith Cooper as headline sponsor,
and are underwritten by Nottingham insurance and financial advisory
firm The Wilson Organisation, itself a third generation family
business.
They are unique in the Midlands, being the only initiative that
gives family businesses the opportunity to shine and showcase their
successes across ten categories, including the headline Midlands
Family Business of the Year Award.
According to their organisers, this year's Awards, their
categories and the entry process itself have all been refreshed in
response to feedback from family businesses themselves, as project
manager Hilary Campton explains:
"We have sought and listened to the feedback from the 130-plus
family businesses that entered the Awards in 2010. We appreciate
the main issues and concerns they have when entering Awards,
notably that they are pressed for time both in terms of the
nomination and judging processes themselves, and that the Awards
must be transparent and worthwhile.
"So for 2011, we have refreshed and further simplified the
nomination process, as well as introduced three new categories to
broaden the relevance to yet more family businesses. These are
'Rural Family Business of the Year', 'Service Excellence' and 'Best
Small Family Business', together with the Awards' other categories,
namely Business Innovation, Commitment to the Community, Fastest
Growth, International Development, Leading Adviser to Family
Businesses and the overall Family Business of the Year.
"It is free to enter the Awards, and businesses can enter
themselves or their own business, a friend, client or contact, in
as many categories as they wish. We have also modified the process
for making a submission, to make it as simple, quick and easy as
possible - nominations can be made using the online Award
submission process on the website www.familybusinessawards.co.uk or
by using the paper entry option, forms for which can be downloaded
from the website."
The Awards' panel of independent judges confirmed so far
includes Tim Storer, MD of Pukka Pies, Nick Wheeler, founder of
Charles Tyrwhitt, Kavita Oberoi, Oberoi Consulting and Octavian
Security, Rob Lynch, Institute of Directors, Carrie Rubin, director
of the Pentland Group, Grant Gordon, director general of the
Institute of Family Business, Colin Slater, MBE, Dhiren Katwa and
Andy Coyne.
The panel also includes Trevor and Linda Fletcher, directors of
The Hardstaff Group, which won the Innovation category in the 2010
Awards.
Wilsons' MD Charlotte Prow adds: "The chance for family
businesses to meet with our judges has been hailed as a unique
opportunity and experience by all companies shortlisted in the 2010
Awards, who see this as a key benefit to entering the Awards."
Additional category sponsors of the Awards are Aviva, Barclays,
Key Personnel, Positive Outcomes, ProspectIP, PwC, Roythornes and
Unum. The Awards will once again run as a charitable,
not-for-profit initiative, with The Children's Society, The Willow
Foundation and The Venture Foundation named as beneficiaries for
the second year.
For more information about the Midlands Family Business Awards
2011, visit www.familybusinessawards.co.uk, or contact Ped Briggs,
The Wilson Organisation, Tel: 0115 942 0111, email:
pbriggs@wilorg.com.
Five businesses will be shortlisted for each of the ten
categories and invited to an informal interview with the judging
panel during September. Two runners-up and a winner in each
category, and the overall Midlands Family Business of the Year,
will be announced at a prestigious ceremony in Birmingham on
Thursday 17th November 2011.
The Wilson Organisation, based in Nottingham, is underwriting
the Midlands Family Business Awards. The company provides
professional independent insurance, financial, risk management and
corporate finance solutions to businesses and individuals both
regionally and nationally. It is a Top 100 UK independent broker
and has developed innovative solutions through strong relationships
with insurers and financial services providers. For more
information, visit: www.wilorg.com,
or Tel: 0115 942 0111.