Recognising the significant number of Leisure, Hospitality & Retail businesses which service the local communities, as well as drive tourism, this award highlights excellence within this sector. Open to any restaurant, hotel, café, pub, leisure facility, shop, theatre, visitor attraction or similar business. We are looking for an organisation in this sector that excels in their field and drives tourism to the Harrogate & District area.

Ensure your entry covers the following:

• How your business stands out from the competition
• Ways in which your business puts Harrogate on the map
• Your business response to the COVID-19 pandemic
• How you promote your business to attract new customers
• Future plans
  

Technology and digital firms are playing an increasingly important part in today’s business environment, and this award will be presented to a company from this sector which harnesses technological innovation to give their firm the edge. They are leaders, and not followers, in the technological arena, and truly understand how the world of business has changed in the 21st century.

Ensure your entry covers the following:

• Details of the digital or technical developments you have used which harness innovation.
• How this has impacted your business growth
• How your business stands out from competitors.

The winner of this category is likely to have its roots in food, farming or agriculture. Judges will be looking for a business that contributes to the rural economy and community, has successfully steered its way through the pandemic, and can demonstrate effective marketing and a strong future.

Ensure your entry covers the following:

• What sets your business apart from the competition?
• Use of innovative practices to encourage customers to your business
• Future plans and the impact on the rural economy & community

This award will be presented to a business that puts sustainability and environmental protection at the heart of its business model. It may operate within the environmental sector (e.g. waste management companies) or it may be active in any other sector (hospitality, transport, etc) but will ensure that its environmental impact is kept to an absolute minimum, for example through recycling, carbon offset, water conservation or sustainable energy schemes.

Ensure your entry covers the following:

• Details of the schemes you have implements to improve your commitment to climate change and other environmental issues.
• The impact the changes have had with your customers and your business and even the wider community.
  

This award will be presented to the organisation that can demonstrate the most significant contribution to improving the district’s offering as a tourism destination over the past couple of years and is open to any organisation connected to leisure or business tourism. Examples of contribution could be a marketing campaign or strategy which has attracted more visitors to Harrogate District, a refurbishment programme, examples of excellent customer service or partnership work. The winner will need to present tangible evidence of their specific contribution to tourism in Harrogate and District.

Ensure your entry covers the following:

• Tangible evidence of your contribution to improve the  districts as a tourism destination.
• Future plans to encourage more tourism to your business and to the Harrogate district
  

This is a brand new category for 2022 which is aimed at independent businesses in the Harrogate region, whether this is a privately owned business, a sole proprietorship or owned by a very small group of individuals. Judges will be interested in the ethos and background to the independent business, its profitability and the unique selling points which make it a success, the difference it has made in its sector and how it has overcome any challenges. They will also be looking at future projections and plans.

Ensure your entry covers the following:

• History and background of the business.
• Unique selling points and how it is a success compared to competitors.
• Impact on the sector as well as any challenges overcome.

This award will be presented to the small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) that stands out from the crowd due to its performance, growth and dynamism (businesses employing from 1-49 staff members). It may be early in its development, and have big ambitions which it is already starting to successfully translate into reality, or it may be a slightly larger business which is thriving and providing employment locally. This is a popular category, so competition is likely to be stiff, so please ensure you put as much detail as possible in your entry.

Ensure your entry covers the following:

• Give details of what your business has done to stand out from the crowd in performance, growth dynamism.
  
• Innovative business practises implemented that have delivered an engaged workforce who strive for results.
  
• Details of your short and long term goals and how you plan to implement these.

This award recognises businesses with more than 50 employees who have delivered consistent growth whilst maintaining a strong balance sheet, and who demonstrate innovative business practices which are delivered through an engaged workforce. The judges are looking for businesses which have successfully grown their organisation, showing strong leadership and clearly defined strategic objectives.

Ensure your entry covers the following:

• Explain your company culture and approach you take to employees development
• Show how your employees demonstrate strong relationships with customers and/or suppliers
• Give details on leadership within the business and how strategic objectives have shaped the company's growth.
• Give evidence of strong financial performance and how you stand out from competitors.

This category is seeking individuals, teams, charities or businesses whose efforts during the coronavirus crisis inspired others in the community. We are looking for inspiring applications from/about those who have used creativity, connection, and community to navigate their survival in the face of adversity. Please show details of policies or specific activities that benefited the community in your application.

Ensure your entry covers the following:

• Details of what you have done to help others during the pandemic
• The impact this has had on you/your business and others around you.

Apprenticeships are vital in bridging the skills gap that takes such a heavy toll on British business. Even more employers are now offering young people the chance to earn as they learn, but which of our region’s trainees has gone the extra mile, and had a positive impact on their employer – and looks set to be one of the business leaders of tomorrow?

Ensure your entry covers the following:

• The contribution that the individual has made during their apprenticeship including their commitment and attitude to the role.
• Personal development and benefits of the scheme for the apprentice.
• Evidence of outstanding achievement and how this has impacted the company.

Entrepreneurs are the dynamic visionaries who bring change and innovation to our commercial and economic landscape. Bold, bright and disruptive, they see gaps in the market where others see barriers and exploit them to bring wealth, jobs and opportunity to our communities. This award will be presented to an entrepreneur who has created a successful business using little more than an idea, lots of energy and total dedication.

Ensure your entry covers the following:

• Your business achievements and any challenges faced
• Plans for the future
• Ways you display leadership qualities to drive the business forward.

This award recognises the business that has shown pre-eminent commitment to the development and welfare of its people, by encouraging communication, creativity and proactivity throughout the organisation. The winner will be able to show appreciation, genuine commitment to, and trust in, its people leading to success in business, as well as a fulfilling and stimulating working environment. An award for a business that has great staff relations, good staff retention, with excellent training and who cares for their employees. The best companies to work for! The judges will look for evidence and testimonials that confirm all of the above.

Ensure your entry covers the following:

• Details of your training and development schemes
• How you gain trust trust from your employees leading to a committed workforce
• Staff turnover.