Hamilton Advertiser

All set for business

- MICHAEL PRINGLE

Businesses across Lanarkshir­e will once again be recognised for their achievemen­ts with coveted excellence awards set to return following an enforced hiatus because of the pandemic.

North and South Lanarkshir­e Councils have revealed The Lanarkshir­e Business Excellence Awards are back and that planning is already well underway to celebrate business and local enterprise at this year’s event.

The awards are amongst Scotland’s longest running, and celebrate the achievemen­ts of local businesses.

They are open to all Lanarkshir­e businesses and social enterprise­s across all sectors and are free to enter.

Companies can each apply for up to two of the 10 categories that are open, with this year’s winners set to receive their awards at a sparkling ceremony in September.

SLC’S executive director of community and enterprise resources, David Booth, said: “After such a difficult time for everybody over the last two years and more it is great to see these awards return to the business calendar this year.

“I am sure every business putting themselves forward will be of the usual high standard and reflect how they have coped with the pandemic and so many other issues that are facing companies at this current time.

“The strength and resilience of our local businesses never ceases to amaze me and I look forward to seeing the calibre of entries from across Lanarkshir­e.”

Pamela Humphries, head of planning and regenerati­on at NLC, said: “It’s great news that the Excellence Awards are back in business following the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Their timing couldn’t be more significan­t, as businesses of all sizes recover from the impact of the pandemic and come together to recognise achievemen­t over such a difficult period.

“Lanarkshir­e is home to thousands of companies, from small family-run businesses to large multi-nationals, delivering high quality services and products across many service areas.”

Business confidence is once again starting to build following the pandemic, with the number of start-ups engaging with Business Gateway increasing from 581 from March 2020 to February 2021 to 1065 from March 2021 to February 2022.

This figure has almost doubled from the first year of the pandemic and demonstrat­es recovery across business sectors.

The closing date for all applicatio­ns is Friday, April 29. There will be an online workshop offering advice on submitting award applicatio­ns held on Thursday, April 21. Further details and how to register for these are also listed on the awards website.

Winners will be announced at the glittering awards dinner at Motherwell Concert Hall on Friday, September 2.

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