Information
Award Entries are now closed for 2011
Thank you to everyone who submitted and entry. The Award Ceremony & Dinner will be held on 6th October – more details
Award Ceremony : 6th October 2011 at Weymouth College 18h30 – Tickets £55 available from Kieren Hasler – Weymouth College 01305 208819
Why should my business enter?
- Positive publicity and recognition across the county.
- Recognition as a leader in your field in a highly respected awards process.
- The thrill of winning! A chance to celebrate with your employees and customers.
Award Categories?
- New Business – Sponsored by Humphries Kirk Solicitors Enter Award
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Entry by self nominationAward open to businesses based in S&W Dorset that have been trading for less than 36 months. The award will go to an enterprise that has been most successful in turning an initial business plan into business success.Evidence required: (Max 250 words per item, 1000 total plus max 6 pages of attachments)- What research was done for your initial business plan. What were your measures of success and milestones and why?
- At the start-up of your business, did it go as expected, and how did you overcome setbacks?
- How well has your business met or exceeded targets ? – provide data and give examples of particular wins.
- How do you plan to grow your business?
- Tourism & Hospitality – Sponsored by Resort 2012 Enter Award
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Entry by self nomination Award open to businesses based in S&W Dorset providing Tourism & Hospitality services. The award will go to an enterprise that has made the most progress over the last 18 months in developing their offer and developing new markets. Evidence required: (Max 250 words per item, 1000 total plus max 6 pages of attachments)- Explain your business and business plan to develop new markets – including any market research you did.
- What resulting changes did you make to your customer offer to enter new markets?
- What changes did you make to the way your business is run – What measures did you use to determine the business benefit
- How will the changes impact your long term business prospects?
- Retailer & Customer Service – Sponsored by Lloyds TSB
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Entry by client nomination with Client evidence Award open to any service business from S&W Dorset The award will go to the business that can present a well planned and implemented customer plan; and can demonstrate its success through achievement of high and measurable levels of customer satisfaction. Evidence required: (Max 250 words per item, 1000 total plus max 6 pages of attachments). We would welcome applications from e-retailers as well as from more traditional businesses.- Describe your Customer Service plan, and provide a copy of your stated Customer Care Policy
- Give examples of change/s made within the business as a result of your Customer Care Policy.
- Provide examples/testimonials of satisfied customers, in particular where difficulties within the customer service delivery have been overcome.
- How has the implementation of the Customer Care Policy improved business performance? Give Examples.
- Technology & Innovation – Sponsored by DJ Property
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Entry by self nomination Award open to any enterprise in S&W Dorset that has implemented a significant technical engineering innovation at the heart of a product or project. The award will go to a business that is best able to demonstrate a radical innovation that has directly led to a new product or service. Evidence required: (Max 250 words per item, 1000 total plus max 6 pages of attachments)- Outline your innovation strategy and the way it generated the innovation.?
- What were the motivational drivers behind this strategy?
- How have you identified markets for the innovation and quantified the business opportunities within those market places.?
- Show that the product or project innovation has made, or is likely to make, a significant impact in its end marketplace, or will significantly advance technological progress in its field of application.
- Small Business – Sponsored by Hive Beach Café Enter Award
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Entry by self nomination Award open to any enterprise based in S&W Dorset with 5 employees or fewer. The award will go to the business that can demonstrate the most successful all round achievements in all aspects of its business operations. Evidence required: (Max 250 words per item, 1000 total plus max 6 pages of attachments)- Provide an outline of your business strategy and explain how successful it is to date
- What are the current challenges and future opportunities and how will the business sustain productivity or service provision in response to these?
- Give an example of success/business wins.
- Outline your training strategy and skills improvement within the workforce.
- Learning in the Workplace – Sponsored by Weymouth College Enter Award
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Entry by self nomination with Workforce testimonial Award open to any enterprise in S&W Dorset that has a documented workforce learning strategy. The award will go to a business that is best able to demonstrate a sustainable approach to learning in the work place. Evidence required: (Max 250 words per item, 1000 total plus max 6 pages of attachments)- How were the skill needs identified within the organisation?
- What internal and external resources were used to meet the desired future outcomes or achievements? E.g. in-house or external learning sources.
- How successful have you been at putting the workforce through the company training scheme – provide worker testimonials.
- As a result of the training, what additional benefits were experienced by the organisation and by individuals in the workforce? e.g. profit margins/bottom line, change in workforce, motivation, confidence etc.
- Entrepreneur Award – Sponsored by Equation Accounting Enter Award
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Entry by self nomination Award open to any individual or team in South and West Dorset who have been trading under three years. This new award category is open to individuals from the age of 16 upwards. The award will go to the individual or team who can demonstrate the most successful new venture or business innovation and show how their entrepreneurial vision has contributed to the economic well being of South West Dorset. Evidence required: (Max 250 words per item, 1000 total plus max 6 pages of attachments)- Provide an outline of your initial business innovation and show how your idea is unique
- Explain how the innovation was planned, how you turned it into reality and any obstacles you overcame
- How successful has your business innovation been to date? Give examples of particular successes / business wins of which you are your proudest accomplishments.
- What are the future opportunities and how will the business sustain success in response to these?
- Business Engagement in the Community – Sponsored by Basepoint Enter Award
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Entry by self nomination with community evidence Awarded to an organisation that takes the most successful approach to running a successful business and engaging with the community in which it operates. Evidence required: (Max 250 words per item, 1000 total plus max 6 pages of attachments)- Provide an outline of your business strategy particularly showing how community engagement is integral to the business
- Give examples where your business has been involved with the community in one or more of the following areas:- Charity support activities; Social /community responsibility and involvement; Environment or carbon footprint improvements; Work life balance of the workforce.
- Describe the impact the engagement has had on in areas of your business such as trading, PR, profit or workforce
- How will the business monitor developments within your community and respond accordingly into the future?
- Export Award – Sponsored by Old Mill Accountants & Financial Planners Enter Award
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Entry by Self nomination Award open to any enterprise based in S&W Dorset that is actively exporting as part of its core business. The award will go to the business that can demonstrate the highest achievement of recent export growth as measured either by year on year sales or penetration of new export markets. Evidence required: (Max 250 words per item, 1000 total plus max 6 pages of attachments)- Describe your business and your original plans to engage in exporting
- Describe how you have adapted to exporting and how you have overcome any problems
- How have you measured export performance and how successful have you been against the forecasts in your business plan?
- Provide evidence of your successful export performance
- Business of the Year – Sponsored by David Upshall Insurance Services
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There is no specific requirement for this award, as all applicants entering the 2011 Open 4 Business awards will automatically be considered. The judging panel will award the winner of this category based upon strength of entry and degree of success within the other award categories. - Flame – Female – Sponsored by Pineapple Business Support
Awarded to a person who has made a significant contribution to Business
If you have any suggestions you would like to put forward for the Flame Award please email them to GarethJones@weymouth.gov.uk - Flame – Male – Sponsored by Fiona Penny at Sunflowers Floral Design
Awarded to a person who has made a significant contribution to Business
If you have any suggestions you would like to put forward for the Flame Award please email them to GarethJones@weymouth.gov.uk
Top tips for winning
- Don’t rush your application – start planning now
- Keep to the point and supply clear examples covering every aspect within the award criteria.
- Be proud of your achievements