Nominations are now open for the 2017 UK Private Business Awards (PBAs), which celebrate the best of UK private businesses and their contribution to communities and the UK economy.
Now in their seventh year, the UK Private Business Awards recognise the achievements of entrepreneurs and the impact of family-owned and owner-managed undertakings on the job-creation and prosperity of the UK and its regions.
Northern Ireland firms have a strong track history of success in the PBAs. Over the years of the competition, ten local organisations and individuals have been finalists. In 2013, Craigavon-based, Ulster Carpet Mills (Holdings) Ltd. was named UK Exporter of the Year, while in 2012 at the second annual awards ceremony, Belfast’s Bryson Charitable Groupwas named Social Enterprise of the Year.
Two local companies and one individual made the 2016 PBA finals where Cookstown-based, Keystone Group was short-listed under Technology Innovation of the Year; CDE Global, also from Cookstown, made the final in the International Business of the Year category; and Gary McIldowney, from Slim’s Healthy Kitchen in Belfast, was short-listed in the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year category.
Northern Ireland entrepreneurs and private businesses are eligible to enter in one or more of the 10 categories:
Martin Cowie, PwC Northern Ireland partner urged local companies and entrepreneurs to celebrate their success by entering the 2017 awards:
“We're looking for the UK's brightest entrepreneurs and private businesses to tell us why they deserve to be recognised.
“This competition showcases the very best of the UK’s companies and individuals and our past track record demonstrates that Northern Ireland can compete with the very best of the UK’s entrepreneurs, businesses and their management teams.
“The Awards categories allow a broad range of companies and individuals to participate and reflect the ever increasing diversity in the private business landscape - this offers great opportunities for Northern Ireland to showcase its best companies, social enterprises and people.”
The nomination period runs from 16 January 2017 to 24 March 2017 and the deadline for submitting a full entry form is 3 May 2017.
The 2017 Private Business Awards will be judged by a panel of business leaders and entrepreneurs on 8 June 2017, and a shortlist for each category will be announced on 10 June 2017.
The winners will be announced at a gala dinner on 14 September 2017 at The Brewery, Chiswell Street, London EC1.
To find out more about the awards or to nominate a business, visitwww.ukpba-awards.co.uk
