THIS year’s Burton Mail Business Awards are set to be the biggest yet after a bumper crop of applications.
Bosses running the awards, which celebrate Burton, Swadlincote and Uttoxeter’s entrepreneurial talent, have received more than 60 nominations.
Awards director Dave Bryon, who also serves as director of the Burton and District Chamber of Commerce, said: “We had a lot of applications which came in quite close to the deadline date.
“We have had more than 60 applications and they are from a good mix of businesses across East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire.
“Among the applications, there are some excellent business performances over the past year.
“The awards steering committee will now meet to review the entries on today, and the top three entrants in each category will be exclusively revealed in the Burton Mail later in the month.
“The judging panel will then visit the premises of the top three firms in each category.” The awards will be handed out at a gala ball at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium in October.
The five judges will come from the Burton Mail, Burton and South Derbyshire College, East Staffordshire Borough Council and South Derbyshire District Council.
The awards shortlists will be published in the Mail on September 14.
Mul t i - n a t i o n a l businesses such as Toyota, JCB and Burton-based brewing giant Molson Coors will all sponsor awards on the night.
Pub chain Punch will also back an award, as well as public sector organisations such as Trent and Dove Housing Association.
The awards evening itself will be sponsored by Mace Securities and Electrical, which won last year’s best small business award.
New categories which did not feature in last year’s awards include employee of the year, best customer service performance and best professional services company.
