Warrington Business Awards are back and bigger than before (From Warrington Guardian)
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Warrington Business Awards are back and bigger than before
3:24pm Thursday 5th April 2012 in News
Neil and Christine Hamilton at last year's ceremony
For full details of all the awards and deadlines, click here
WARRINGTON Business Awards 2012 were officially launched at The Centre, Birchwood, last Thursday morning at a breakfast networking event with dozens of businesses attending.
Hosted by the Warrington Guardian, the awards are now in their 13th year.
Chris Hughes, regional managing director of Newsquest North West, told the audience that the awards had changed this year and taking onboard feedback from last year that the aim for 2012 was to get more people and businesses involved – for the awards to be a real and meaningful celebration of everything Warrington businesses have achieved and continue to achieve, despite the economic pressures we are all facing.
The number of awards has been increased to 12 – giving more opportunities for the businesses of Warrington to back the awards and sponsor a category.
He welcomed this year’s judges who are: The Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire David Briggs, Professor Steven Broomhead, chairman of Warrington Wolves, Professor Peter Harrop, pro-vice chancellor and provost of University of Chester, Jonathan Walsh, managing director of MEPC Birchwood and Peter Crompton, chairman of Warrington and Co and managing director of the BE Group.
The judges urged businesses in the town to support the awards by entering to make sure that a diverse range of businesses are supporting them.
Nick Fellows, group advertisement manager for Warrington Guardian, explained the 12 award categories including those new for 2012 which include Apprentice of the Year and Impact Business of the Year, and how to enter them.
He said it was important to promote local businesses, to share individual success, to promote positive brand awareness, share success with employees and increase confidence with potential business and investors.
Sponsors of this year’s awards include Golden Square, 02, Network Warrington, RBS, Parasol, David Wilson Homes, United Utilities and Warrington Borough Council. There are still some award categories available for sponsorship.
Last year’s Business of the Year, Rock Oil – a family firm in the town for more than 80 years – said that winning had produced a real ‘feel good factor’ within the business.
They had used the award success in both internal and external marketing and to obtain media coverage within a specialist motoring publication.
The two trophies they won are proudly on display.
Nicola Priest, group editor of the Guardian, talked about the strength of the newspaper’s audience with a weekly combined print and online audience of more than 100,000 and almost 700,000 page impressions on the Warrington Guardian website each month.
She said it was vital that businesses in the town shared their news with the Guardian.
The 2012 awards will be held at a gala dinner at The Park Royal Hotel, Stretton, on Friday, July 13.
For more information and full details of all the awards and deadlines, click here
