Winners Urge Businesses to ‘Go For It’……….

23 May 2022

Published in: Black Country Chamber of Commerce News

---

Previous Winners Urge Businesses To Apply For Chamber Awards

---

Winners Urge Businesses to ‘Go For It’……….

Previous winners of the Black Country Chamber Business Awards are sending out a collective message to companies across the region contemplating entering this year’s awards - ‘just go for it’…….

That’s the message coming from organisations named winners in the 2021 Awards, who picked up glittering prizes in the region’s longest running business awards.

Winner of the large business of the year award in 2021 was the Beacon Centre, its CEO Lisa Cowley said, “We are really proud to be part of the Black Country and have enjoyed a supportive, longstanding relationship with the Chamber. When we saw the opportunity to enter the Business Awards, we jumped at the chance to enter and be part of celebrating the resilience of local businesses and sharing each other’s successes.

“When we were announced as large business of the year, it meant so much to us, particularly after a difficult few years for us as a charity, with the pandemic significantly impacting our fundraising.

“Both the event and the award have led to opening doors to new local connections and supporters, as well as providing a fantastic news story for us to share across all of our channels and giving a boost to employee morale.

“If you are considering entering your organisation, I would really recommend doing so.”

The region’s longest running Business Awards, due to kick off on Friday 16th September this year at Wolverhampton Racecourse, are free to enter for Chamber Members and Non-Members and are a great way to raise the profile of a business, share the success and celebrate the achievements of the region’s business community.

Lindsey Flynn, CEO of Wolverhampton based WELL Training voted small business of the year said, “Our story began in the Black Country, so it meant a lot to be recognised by our region’s Chamber of Commerce. We had felt for some time that we have been a hidden success story for the wider region, engaging with clients around the globe to deliver compelling training, so the award felt like recognition we have earned.

“As a West Midlands-based business with an international reach it meant a lot to see our work recognised in the region where we live and work.

“The WELL team all had good reason to be proud after seeing our work celebrated after being tested in such difficult times and coming out the other side with growth and a great deal of potential success ahead.

“The Chamber award win was as much for our clients as they are for the WELL team.”

Since 2001, the Chamber has continued to celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of regional firms through the flagship, Black Country Chamber Business Awards.

One of the showpiece events in the business calendar, the Black Country Chamber Business Awards promotes the best of the region and welcomes 500 individuals to its annual awards ceremony.

Service business of the year in 2021 was Oldbury based commercial heating specialists, Lord Combustion Services, its Managing Director, Stuart Smith said, "Given the Black Country's industrial heritage, the Chamber Awards are among the best in the region for members to gain recognition of their achievements.

“We wanted Lord to be acknowledged as a business given the hard work and dedication of our staff in response to the challenges of the pandemic. We also wanted to put forward individuals who have set high standards for their work in our industry.

“The recognition of winning two awards meant a lot to everyone in our team as they show we are a successful business with high standards of excellence."

Chris Leggett, Director of Osborn Communications who picked up the start-up business of the year title said, "Being named as the Chamber's 2021 start up business of the year award was a great endorsement for Osborn Communications as a new business.

“Given the reach of the Chamber and its heritage as a leading organisation in the region, we entered in the hope of being placed among the start-ups to be making a positive impact.

“Winning the award and the recognition from Black Country Chamber of Commerce opened doors with fellow members and the wider business community.”

This year the Chamber has introduced new award categories including excellence in diversity and equality and marketing campaign of the year with the event once again shining a spotlight on individual businesses and people working in vital parts of the region’s economy.

Neil Anderson, Head of External Affairs for the Black Country Chamber said, “This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the innovative, successful, and high-performing businesses that are located right across our region.

“With a wide range of categories on offer, our 2022 Business Awards will offer recognition to a range of sectors and business approaches, which all contribute to driving forward growth and investment across the area.

“There is a huge appetite for the return of our Awards gala night for the first time since 2019 and these Awards are only possible because of local business support; I would like to thank all the sponsors involved again this year.”

Terry Monkton, CEO of international trade business of the year 2021, Simworx said, “The Chamber awards evening is rather special and showcases the best of the Black Country, so to win an award in such esteemed company is a very positive experience that the whole company took great pride in.

"The PR generated is excellent and I would encourage any member to participate and put themselves forward for the 2022 awards.

“It was incredible for Simworx to win the 2021 Black Country Chamber of Commerce’s award for International Trade Business. To be recognised in this way, given some of the amazing companies that we have in the Black Country was somewhat special, especially given the challenges that as an exporter, COVID presented to us.

Sentiments echoed by Walsall based Steps To Work, named exceptional team of the year in 2021 who said, “Winning this award has opened up further business opportunities, especially when bidding for contracts that require evidence of social value commitments. If you're thinking of entering this year's awards, do so... you won't regret it!"

How To Enter

The Awards Entries for the Awards are now open, with a closing date for entries of the 30th of June.

The Awards are free to enter for Chamber members and non-members.

Details can be found on the Business Awards website at:  https://www.blackcountrychamber.co.uk/business-awards/

2022 Award Categories….…

Large Business of the Year

Family Business of the Year – sponsored by Azets

Small Business of the Year

Start Up Business of the Year - sponsored by Black Country and Marches Institute of Technology

Excellence in Professional Services

Excellence in Manufacturing and Engineering - sponsored by CK Chartered Accountants

Third Sector Business of the Year

Excellence in International Trade – sponsored by Birmingham Airport Black Country

Businessperson of the Year - sponsored by University of Wolverhampton

Business Commitment to the Community

Marketing or Communications Campaign of the Year

Excellence in Diversity and Equality

Excellence in Tech and Innovation - sponsored by The EBC Group

Outstanding Support to the Armed Forces