Entries are arriving thick and fast for Perthshire Chamber’s glittering ‘Back for the Future’ Business Star Awards. But you still have until Monday to make a nomination across a range of categories. The Star Awards - one of the most eagerly anticipated ev

The 2021 award categories are as follows:

Apprentice of the Year Award - Judges will be looking for entries that showcase the difference the apprentice has made to the organisation they work in with clear demonstrations of ability, outstanding achievements through practical and theoretical practice and the personal qualities, skill and commitment to make them stand out as a worthy winner of the Apprentice of the Year Award. Open to Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprentices of any age.

Most Promising New Business - This category is for the best business start-up and is open to companies in the region that have been trading for a maximum of three years as of April 30, 2021. This award aims to recognise a newcomer that is already making waves and promising to be in the market for the long term. Entrants may come from any sector, and be of any size, and have been successful in identifying a market gap to launch a new business. Nominees should showcase how innovation, product/ service development, market knowledge and effective leadership have played a part in their growth to date and plans for future expansion.

Best COVID Response and Reinvention Award - This award is for businesses that have undertaken a transformative response – operationally, commercially or strategically – to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to survive and thrive. This category will recognise those who embraced change and judges will be looking for a demonstration of how innovation and adaptation helped sustain the business or even helped it grow. Those entering will be able to demonstrate their innovations with case studies, showing the results and how the innovation contributed to the business performance. The innovation can be of any type and size and in any business sector. It can cover a raft of subjects and could include new ways of working, technology, inventions, products, digital solutions, partnerships or processes. Examples of businesses which pivoted their operations will also be welcome in this category.

Best Use of Social Media - This category is for those businesses which embraced change and harnessed the power of social media for success and survival. Whether through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok or any other social platform, businesses should be able to clearly demonstrate how their creative and targeted use of digital platforms has helped them drive business and increase their brand profile over the past 18 months, while ensuring a high level of customer care.

Outstanding Young Business Person - This award celebrates an extraordinary young business person aged 30 and under who exhibits qualities that inspire the business community. Open to young entrepreneurs building their own business or employees that have had an outstanding impact on their business.

Excellence in Customer Service Award - This award recognises those businesses consistently exceeding customer expectation and offering an exceptional level of customer care and service. Businesses will be able to demonstrate any initiatives that have proved truly transformative and demonstrably improved standards of service, with examples of how they have gone above and beyond for their customers. This entry should focus particularly on what has been done over the past 18 months, as well as demonstrating a generally high level of customer experience and be able to support the entry with customer support and testimonials.

Community Hero (Group) - This award will go to a group - a business, organisation, charity or set of individualswho went the ‘extra mile’ throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The winner will have demonstrated excellence under pressure that benefited business or communities during this time. Judges will be looking for a group which has