The Shropshire Business Awards 2009 are officially launched today, giving thousands of companies across the region the chance to celebrate their achievements.

Despite a credit crunch which became a recession, companies in Shropshire are bidding to survive and thrive in the economic downturn.

The ninth awards ceremony is to be held in July and promises to be a celebration of excellence, giving businesses a “feelgood” factor and optimism amid difficult trading conditions.

To visit the Shropshire Business Awards Official website click here

Enter the awards online on this page

The showpiece award is Company of the Year, for the most successful company in Shropshire, based on its all-round performance.

One of the most popular categories of recent years, Customer Service, makes a return as does the award for Best New Business.

And this year sees the launch of new categories, with the titles of Best Green Business, Best Manufacturing Business and Best Employer up for grabs.

The Manufacturing award will recognise companies which remain the bedrock of the economy during challenging times.

Best Green Business seeks to reward firms which realise their responsibility to help protect the environment, and Best Employer will celebrate the company which has demonstrated its investment in its workforce.

Also for the first time in 2009, there will be an award for Homeworkers, recognising the entrepreneurial spirit in Shropshire, the “kitchen-table enterprises” which have exploited the advantages of working from home.

Companies can also enter for the Technology, Enterprise and Innovation Award, aimed at companies which can demonstrate how they are using the latest techniques and practices to keep them at the cutting edge.

This year’s awards are organised by Shropshire Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Shropshire Star, and supported by a series of big-name sponsors including the new Shrewsbury Council, and the Borough of Telford & Wrekin.

Shrewsbury businessman Tony Randall, president of Shropshire Chamber, said the awards were a great chance for businesses to shine.

“The awards are a chance for all businesses to converge in July to showcase business excellence in Shropshire.

“Anytime is the best time to enter for an award, and this year the support we’ve had with our own patrons and strategic partnerships shows the appetite for business professionals to connect, with high level networking.

“The awards give another classic opportunity to be involved, with 500 people all with a mutual interest – business.”

Mr Randall said the Chamber itself was going from strength to strength despite the downturn.

“We are 22 per cent up on membership numbers this year and our renewals are at 86 per cent, which is one of the highest in the network.

“We used to have eight patrons and we now have 17 and eight new strategic partners, which shows the resilience of the Shropshire business community.

“There is an appetite for high-level networking and we are setting up a procurement club with some high-profile Shropshire names.”

Mr Randall said he supported the introduction of new categories for 2009.

“The new award categories are important and relevant, and the manufacturing sector needs a lift, needs the business community to support it, and what could be a better way than actually having an award for it. It’s tremendous.”

The black tie and posh frocks event will take place on July 3.

Entries are being encouraged from businesses large and small, new and established. The only stipulation is that you must have a Shropshire base and employ people in the county.

Entries are FREE and you can take part in as many categories as you like, with the closing date for entries Friday, June 5. You can either nominate yourselves, or put forward a business you feel deserves recognition.

Director of Shropshire Chamber, Richard Sheehan, said businesses wanting to recognise the efforts of their workforce should also enter the awards.

“Not only is this a challenging time for companies, but it’s a challenging time for their employees. Businesses entering themselves for the business awards are showing a confidence in their employees and recognising the effort they put in.

“It is absolutely right that those efforts should be recognised in such a high-profile event.”

Since its launch in 2001, the Shropshire Business Awards has established itself as the biggest event on the county’s corporate calendar. More than 500 people are expected to attend the 2009 awards, with ticket information and prices to be announced in due course.

• Enter the awards online below
  
• Click here to see the criteria for each awards category