CHESHIRE BUSINESS AWARDS Who will be named the firm favourites?

WITH the search for this year’s cream of the crop under way for the Cheshire Business Awards 2016, this week we turn our attention to more of the individual categories for which we are seeking entries. ● Apprenticeship Award:

Apprenticeships are good for both businesses and for individuals. They are an important way of improving the skills base in Cheshire and Warrington, giving young people opportunities beyond the classroom and providing local companies an opportunity to inspire and shape their future workforce.

This award is open to any business in the region who has demonstrated a real commitment to training local young people through apprenticeships, providing them with real work experience whilst being supported by workplace mentors.

Apprentices should have been actively engaged in the shaping of working practices and been offered a job on completion, ideally with a plan for further development and/or progression opportunities within the business.

Last year’s winner and this year’s sponsor is Barlows Electrical.

Barlows (UK) Ltd is an electrical company, based in Manchester and South Cheshire, undertaking domestic, commercial and industrial installation and maintenance nationwide.

In 1980, when the company consisted of five staff, in order to expand, the company decided to invest in apprenticeships, a strategy that became embedded into the culture at Barlows.

In the early years two apprentices were trained which has increased steadily until now there are more than 60 apprentices in training. The success of the organisation has been built on a loyal and effective stream of apprentices completing their training in training centres, coupled with remaining staff, who are constantly updated on all aspects of the firm’s work.

Barlows (UK) Ltd. have won more than 20 major awards in the last five years and have been invited to Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street to discuss their apprentice training programme.

A company spokesman said: “We are delighted to be able to sponsor the Apprenticeship Award at this year’s Cheshire Business Awards.” ● Green Business Award:

This award celebrates excellence in green practice, strategy and product. Has your business applied environmental policies in the workplace? Do your products or services make a positive contribution to the environment? Have you reduced your car- bon footprint through efficiency management? This category recognises a local business that shows evidence of a green ethos which has a commercial return for the business.

Last year’s winner was Hero Renewables.

To enter visit our website www. cheshirebusinessawards.co.uk and download an entry form, alternatively call the events team on 01244 606472 or email enquiries@chesh- irebusinessawards.co.uk to request a copy.

The deadline for entries is Friday, July 29, 2016.

All entries received will be reviewed by our independent panel of judges and the shortlists announced in paper in September.

Winners will be announced at a gala dinner and awards ceremony on Friday, October 7 at Chester Cathedral.