Last chance to join 2021 awards
Nominations for the 2021 Bathlive Business Awards are closing today – so if you haven’t entered yet, now’s your chance.
The awards – with headline sponsor Truespeed – will be held on November 10 at Bath Pavilion, with nominations open until 2pm today.
The ceremony is returning after a two-year break to recognise the achievements and resilience of the local business community during the pandemic.
Businesses of all sizes across all sectors in Bath and the surrounding area have worked tirelessly to overcome obstacles presented to them in what has been a hugely different economic landscape from that of 2019, when the awards were last held.
On that night, also at the Bath Pavilion, renewable energy supplier Pure Planet took home the prizes for Business of the Year and Start Up Business of the Year.
The Which?-recommended provider, which has more than 100,000 customers and employs 180 staff at its head office in the city, has gone on to rack up the accolades, finishing second in The Times’ 2020 list of Top 100 small companies and was named among the best companies to work for in the South West.
Steven Day, co-founder and chief executive of Pure Planet, pictured, said the company was “very honoured” with the recognition it received while among its peers in the local business community at the Bath Business Awards two years ago.
Mr Day said: “We are extremely proud to be a Bath-based business. As well as being a beautiful place to live and work, this area has a wonderful pool of creative, talented individuals and innovative tech companies who help drive our growth in sustainable, renewable energy. To be recognised amongst our peers by the vibrant local business community in Bath means a great deal to us as a continuously growing company and we are looking forward to the awards taking place again this year.”
In the face of adversity Bathbased companies have shown great adaptability, ingenuity and resilience to keep their operations going or to bounce back after long periods of being locked down.
Businesslive and its sister website Bathlive and newspaper the Bath Chronicle are looking for companies that deserve to be recognised in a year like no other.
We want to hear from businesses that feel they’ve accomplished something extraordinary during an extraordinary time.
Whichever category you feel your business is a good fit for, we want to hear from you. To enter, or for more information on the awards, visit the Bathlive Business Awards website.
Business of the Year Award – sponsored by Truespeed
The winner will be selected by our judges. They will be the overall winner of winners.
Start Up Business of the Year Award – sponsored by HIGOS Insurance
Getting a company off the ground is challenging in favourable economic climes, let alone amid national lockdowns brought about by a global pandemic. This award is open to organisations that have been established within the past two and half years (since January 2019) and have defied the odds to grow their fledgling venture or win backing for a product or service they are developing.
SME Business of the Year Award – sponsored by Opportuni AI Ltd
Open to any company from the Bath area with up to 150 employees, judges will assess entrants’ ability to weather the coronavirus pandemic, their plans for growth in 2021 and how they had a positive impact on the local area.
Large Business of the Year Award – sponsored by Novia Financial
This category is open to Bath firms with 150 employees or more. Much like the SME Business of The Year, judges will take into account the innovation and success of the company in a variety of areas over the previous two years.
Innovation Award
Ingenuity is a characteristic most
businesses in Bath have displayed during the pandemic. National lockdown restrictions forced many firms to find new ways of operating, or a new service or product to help them through this testing period. The Innovation Award will be presented to a firm that had an original idea or made a change that has benefited its staff or customers.
Business Person of the Year Award
Have you or one of your colleagues gone that extra mile to deliver an incredible achievement over the past year? Through setting and achieving targets, inspiring others around them with leading practices that strengthen the organisation, this award is for a person who has helped drive a company towards success.
Best Place to Work Award
For many the working environment has changed dramatically, with the spare bedroom becoming the new office in many cases. With many workers now returning to the workplace, even on a flexible basis, it is more important than ever that employees feel safe at work and connected to their employers. Judges for this award will factor in any new home working models or adjustments a company made during the national lockdowns and how they helped their staff to continue working from home.
Corporate Social Responsibility Award
This award will recognise the business that has demonstrated responsible business practices across the four areas of local community, environment, their people and supply chain. Judges will look for evidence of a contribution to the overall well-being of the community, its environment and general quality of life. Applicants must demonstrate a working partnership using positive influences to support suppliers and other partners to adopt best environmental, workplace and community practice.
Environmental and Sustainability Award
The winner of this award will be a company that is working towards sustainable development goals or taking active steps towards more environmentally conscious operations. Your organisation may have made improvements in energyefficiency, carbon reduction or sustainable working, or you may have introduced environmental policies across your business, such as using green communications or endorsing carbon footprint reduction.
Tourism and Hospitality Resilience Award
The pandemic has impacted on all sectors, but especially on tourism and hospitality, a cornerstone of Bath’s economy. This award will be presented to a business within the sector that has adapted during the Covid-19 pandemic. Judges will be looking for businesses that have overcome adversity whether that is through offering a take-out option to survive, creating outdoor seating or switching an entire business model. We also want to hear about how these businesses may have supported their local community and their plans for the future.
Outstanding Contribution to Bath Award – sponsored by Stone King
This award will go to the business person who has made a positive and lasting contribution to their business, the local economy and community in Bath over a number of years.