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.

The award is open to companies in the region which normally employ no more than 75 full-time staff 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.

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. Companies must be able to demonstrate that the safety and security of their employees is of the utmost importance. 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!

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 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.

This award celebrates the entrepreneurs behind some of the most innovative and successful businesses in Nottinghamshire.

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 entrepreneurial spirit of the region.

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.

This award recognises the businesses that are providing valuable opportunities for young jobseekers in the area. Over recent years, the younger generation have struggled in the job market, and this category celebrates the employers who are supporting the youth of today.

The finalists in this category will have gone above and beyond to take on a number of apprentices and provide them with the support and training needed to kick-start their careers.

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 award celebrates the best of the county’s many not-for-profit organisations that make a contribution to the community around them.

Recognising the excellent performance of the public sector, not-for-profit and charitable organisations in the Nottinghamshire area, the award will be judged on the organisations’ ability to maintain financial performance, as well as looking at the cultural influence of the business and the potential benefits it brings.

This category will celebrate a company that has made strides in its field whilst continuing to strengthen the regional economy. The finalists will be judge on the quality of their products and services whilst also looking at how they uphold the traditions of the local area. Strengthening the economy is key whilst also looking at sales performance, sustainability and investment.

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.

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.

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, hospitality and general services, to name but a few.

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

This category celebrates advancement in innovation and the use of science and manufacturing to improve the company. 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 seeks to recognise partnerships focused around the joint work of two or more organisations. The category is open to any endeavour, project or association that sees businesses or organisations working in a partnership. Entrants should provide evidence that the partnership has improved service and/ or added value to the outcomes for local communities. This can include; sponsorship opportunities, local enterprise partnerships, not-for-profit organisations and many others. They should also be able to show that the companies involved are different legal entities working together towards a mutual benefit.