The Company of the Year Award celebrates businesses that have performed outstandingly throughout the year. Recognising a firm that has stood out from the crowd, the winner of this category will have developed a strong business presence with proof of achievements including strong market share, economic turn-around and innovative approach. Judges will be looking for a business that can be universally admired for their commercial practice and dedication to success. Businesses from all sectors are eligible to apply.

The award is open to companies in the region which normally employ no more than 250 full-time staff members, and have a proven record of success. Recognising a business that has shown marked success over the year, this award celebrates companies that are integral to the economy. For all finalists, judges will consider the prospective growth and development opportunities for the future of each business. Businesses from all sectors are eligible to apply.

This award honours the region’s top employers. These companies will have demonstrated strong investment in their employees as well having a reward scheme and other key employee benefits. It’s time to reward them, as they do their staff. They will be recognised as one of the best places to work in the area!

Businesses from all sectors are eligible to apply.

This award celebrates the individuals behind some of the most innovative and successful businesses in Essex. Looking at the individual achievements of the entrepreneur, the results returned by their business and their unique approach to the marketplace they operate in, the judges will select finalists that best represent the entrepreneurs and business spirit of the region.

This award is open to a Leadership Team that has demonstrated remarkable leadership skills during their management. This award will recognise the inspiring leaders who head up a successful organisation, while at the same time inspiring and empowering their staff by investing time into their people. Innovation, creativity, and determination are just some of the key traits that the judges will be looking for in these applications.

The Excellence in Innovation and Technology Award celebrates a company that has made strides in their field, be it creating or introducing something new within the industry, while continuing to strengthen the regional economy. The finalists will be selected and judged on the quality of their products and services, their dedication to sales performance, their commitment to innovation and the sustainability of their business.

This award is for established family businesses across all industry sectors that can demonstrate sustained success across a broad range of measures, whilst ensuring all family values are followed. The judges will also be looking at the aspirations of your business to demonstrate how both current and future family generations will be involved in the growth of the business.

This award is open to companies in the region that have been in operation for a maximum of three years as of January 1st 2019. This coveted award recognises one of the region’s brightest new businesses and the contribution it will make to the county in the future. Judges will be tasked with analysing business plans, achievements to date and potential for growth within the next few years. Businesses from all sectors are eligible to apply.

The companies nominated for this award will have demonstrable strengths in service excellence, business growth, innovation, technology, training and personal development. This category covers a wide range of professional services, including legal, financial, retail and hospitality, to name but a few.

Judges will be looking for a service company that has achieved and succeeded in measurable business goals.

This award recognises those companies that make customer service a priority in their day to day operations. The judges will be looking for a company that can demonstrate how they deliver excellent customer service and can showcase this with testimonials and through their methods. Businesses from all sectors are eligible to apply.

The finalists for this award will have demonstrated considerable dedication to corporate, social and ethical responsibility, providing the community with the many positive outcomes of their commercial activity. Judges will focus on businesses that have contributed substantially to the community through various means including society-led projects, aiding economic regeneration and supporting local suppliers.

The Enterprising Women category is a celebration of all women from all backgrounds who have become successful in their chosen fields. Whilst becoming an integral part of the industry in which they thrive, these women have created a name for themselves and their businesses due to their outstanding achievements and their determination to keep moving forward. The winner of this category will demonstrate exceptional business development skills and will be a member of one of the most innovative and successful businesses within Essex.

The winner of this award will have achieved measurable results and continue to build upon their reputation for retail excellence.

Judges will consider the contribution the business has made to the economic stability of the county – the eventual winner will represent one of Essex’s finest retail businesses.

The Supplier of the Year award is open to companies that excel and provide quality products or service to the events and hospitality industry. The judges are also looking for responsiveness and flexibility to customer requests as well as the continued development of their products and services.

Sustainable businesses are so important in today’s environment and this category rewards those who are making strides to become more sustainable year on year. Entrants will be asked to describe their policies around sustainability and CSR as well as demonstrate how they handle certain productions. Judges will focus on businesses that have used sustainability to improve performance and have shown investments within their product/ service to make themselves more sustainable as a company.

This award is open to companies in the region that have demonstrated sales and marketing excellence over the year. As part of the judging criteria for this award, judges will examine the innovation and creativity of the business, as well as its ability to find solutions for sales and marketing challenges.