Categories

This category is open to any retail, health & beauty 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

This special award will be given to an individual who has shown a lifetime of commitment to their field, sector, industry or business. In no more than 1000 words, please provide:

• Description of the individual and career history
• Overview of their career highlights and achievements
• The impact they have had on their business or sector, on their peers, employees, the wider community 
• Supporting testimonials

This award celebrates innovation; of products, services, business models or initiatives. If you are doing something different that is creating change or making a positive difference to your clients, customers or staff, then this award is for you.  In no more than 1000 words, applicants will need to demonstrate;

• An overview of your innovation
• The process implemented to research, develop and launch it
• The positive impact of your innovation; covering any or all of the following - business, team, clients, stakeholders, wider community.
• Future plans and how innovation plays a part in them

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 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.

This award is open to start-up businesses operating for under two years. In no more than 1000 words, please provide:

• An overview of why the business launched and the gap in the market at that time
• Evidence of your business success and progress to date
• How your business/service/product compares to other start-ups, particularly those in your business sector
• Vision and plans for future growth

This category will recognise outstanding performance by a company with a workforce of 50+ 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 and/or team growth
• 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 recognises a young person aged 28 or under who has shown progression and growth in the last 12 months with the potential to achieve greatness in the future. Their achievement or potential can be in any discipline or field such as sport, education, business or personal growth. In no more than 1000 words, tell us about:

• Your major achievements to date and journey so far
• Any challenges you have faced and how you have overcome them
• Your plans for success in the future

This category recognises a business that can demonstrate an efficient and innovative approach to manufacturing. In no more than 1000 words, applications should show:

• Growth and consistent commercial performance, increased market share and operational effectiveness
• Approach to training, team and future talent
• Approach to sustainability and positive impact on the environment.
• Any investment in R&D and the ROI it has generated

This category recognises outstanding performance by a company with a workforce of 1-49 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

This award is the ultimate accolade for all our entrants and the winner will be chosen from the category winners.

This category is open to any restaurant, hotel, café, pub, leisure facility, visitor attraction 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

This award celebrates a business person 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 category is open to any Rural Business in the Larne area. 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