Councils’ coveted excellence awards are back in business

Businesses across Monklands 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 Lanarkshire Business Awards are amongst Scotland’s longest running, and celebrate the achievements of local businesses.

The awards 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.

Pamela Humphries, North Lanarkshire Council’s head of planning and regeneration, 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.

“The awards present an opportunity to highlight the incredible diversity, quality, resilience and innovation of our business sectors and celebrate their success.”

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.

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.”

The 10 categories at this year’s awards are: Lanarkshire’s Best Family Business – sponsored by Masonry Solutions Ltd.

Lanarkshire’s Innovation in Business Award – sponsored by LESL.

Excellence in Customer Service – sponsored by Visit Lanarkshire.

Lanarkshire’s Best Business (0-10 employees) – sponsored by Red Tree Business Suites at Clyde Gateway.

Lanarkshire’s Community Impact Award – sponsored by Morgan Sindall.

Lanarkshire’s Best Business (11-50 employees) – sponsored by City Facilities.

Lanarkshire’s Best Business (51 employees or more) – sponsored by UKSE.

Lanarkshire’s Best New Business – sponsored by Business Gateway Lanarkshire.

Journey to Net Zero Award – sponsored by CMS Windows.

And Lanarkshire’s Employer of the Year – sponsored by North Lanarkshire’s Working and South Lanarkshire Works 4 U.

The closing date for all applications is Friday, April 29. There will be a free online workshop offering advice on submitting award applications held on Thursday, April 21.

Further details, and how to register for the workshop, are also listed on the awards website.

The winners will be announced at a glittering awards dinner at Motherwell Concert Hall on Friday, September 2.

For more details on categories, and how to apply, visit https://lanarkshirebusinessevents. co.uk/

Welcome return Planning is well underway for this year’s event