Open to any restaurant, hotel, café, pub, retail, leisure facility, or similar business excelling in its field and driving positive economic impact for the area. In no more than 1000 words, applications will demonstrate:

• Overview of your business and top achievements in the last 12 months
• Approach to team, staff retention and training
• Approach to customer experience and loyalty
• Involvement in the local community

Open to SaaS companies, digital agencies, technology innovators who are excelling in their field. In no more than 1000 words, please provide evidence of the following;

• Overview of your product or service, USP and markets you operate in
• Key achievements in your business directly related to the technology or digital product or service
• How you ensure you are competitive and continually leading in your field
• How you ensure your staff and customers remain engaged with your product or service

Celebrating businesses located in a rural community, small town, village or hamlet. In no more than 1000 words, applicants will need to demonstrate:

• How your business is making a positive difference to your area; creating jobs, economic growth and/or innovation
• How your business compares to urban businesses in the same sector/industry
• Your approach to customer experience and retention, employee engagement and attracting new talent
• Your top achievements in the last 12 months and plans for the next 5 years

This award celebrates organisations that have diversity and inclusion at the heart of their business. In no more than 1000 words, applicants should demonstrate the following key points:

• How the company embraces the benefits of a truly diverse workforce.
• Strategy to offer opportunities for employees with different backgrounds and abilities to thrive and be engaged in the organisation
• Demonstrate the impact of, and positive outcomes from, embracing diversity and inclusion, in relation to the success of the company
  

This award will be presented to a business that puts sustainability and the environment at the heart of its business. In no more than 1000 words, describe your company’s commitment to:

• Ensuring its environmental impact is kept to an absolute minimum, for example through recycling, carbon offset, water conservation or sustainable energy schemes.
• Sustainability achievements in the last 12 months
• How you are helping to drive wider progress in the green economy
• Demonstrate your business growth and financial success whilst delivering social and environmental benefit.

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. Applications for this category should include:

• Overview of your business and top achievements in the last 12 months
• Approach to team, staff retention and training
• Approach to customer experience and loyalty Involvement in the local community
• Tangible evidence of your specific contribution to tourism in Harrogate and District

This category recognises businesses that have made a significant commitment to supporting employee health and wellbeing. In no more than 1000 words, please explain:

• What action you are taking to promote health and wellbeing in the workplace
• The positive impact implementing an employee health and wellbeing strategy has had on the company and how this will benefit future growth
• Ways your strategy is different to other companies in your field
• Testimonials from staff about their experience.

This category is aimed at independent businesses in the Harrogate region. This could be a privately owned business, a sole proprietorship or a business owned by a very small group of individuals. In no more than 1000 words, entrants will need to:

• Explain the ethos and background of the independent business, including its profitability and the unique selling points which make it a success
• Outline the difference the business has made in its sector and how it has overcome any challenges
• Detail any future projections or plans for the business

To recognise outstanding performance by a company with a workforce of 1-249 staff who is excelling in their field. In no more than 1000 words, entrants must demonstrate:

• Evidence of clear strategy and vision, aligned with financial growth and/or team
• How you have overcoming challenges and turned difficult situations around
• Excellence in your field and commitment to customer service Investment in training and performance
• Innovative or effective marketing

To recognise outstanding performance by a company with a workforce of 250+ staff who is excelling in their field. In no more than 1000 words, entrants must demonstrate:

• Evidence of clear strategy and vision, aligned with financial growth and/or team
• How you have overcome challenges and turned difficult situations around
• Excellence in your field and commitment to customer service Investment in training and performance
• Innovative or effective marketing

This award will recognise any apprentice or trainee who has gone that extra mile and exceeded the expectations of their trainer or mentor. In no more than 1000 words, provide evidence of how your apprentice:

• Has shown exceptional drive and commitment to their apprenticeship, learning and personal development
• Is an inspiration to other apprentices and employees in the business
• Demonstrates an ability to overcome obstacles and barriers in learning or at work
• Has brought an idea into the business which has had tangible results to the company

This award celebrates a business leader or entrepreneur who shows outstanding drive, commitment and results. In no more than 1000 words, applicants should demonstrate how the individual excels in the following areas;

• Enterprising qualities and sound management practices
• Approach to sustainable growth and commercial acumen
• Entrepreneurial skills and inspiration to others
• Leadership skills and ability to bring their team into their vision and future plans

This award recognises a dynamic contribution a company has made to the local community by supporting local charities, initiatives or other community events. This category is not open to charities, CICs or community focused organisations. In no more than 1000 words, entrants will

• Explain the company’s strategic mission to engage with the local community and why this was important to the business
• What the strategy involves and how this is implemented
• The positive impact the strategy has on the community; people, places, purpose
• How the business works with the community in relation to employee engagement, marketing, training and support.