The chairman of Caerphilly Business Forum is urging local companies to get the recognition they deserve by entering themselves in the organisation’s awards.
Tony Sheehan, who owns Risca-based construction firm Joyner Group, said businesses often miss out on the opportunity to be recognised in front of their peers.
He said: “As someone who is very focussed on the day job, I know exactly how easy it is to miss out on this type of opportunity. However, I have also personally seen the difference it makes to businesses in raising their levels of awareness, making new contacts and positioning their businesses as good employers in the area.
“The Caerphilly Business Forum Awards are specifically designed to recognise businesses of all sizes within Caerphilly County Borough who demonstrate the area’s widespread levels of innovation, entrepreneurship and optimism across the region. We are also delighted to have the support from Caerphilly County Borough Council as a large employer of many companies’ local talent.
“In making the process as easy as possible, we have simplified the entry form and want to encourage as many businesses from the area to put themselves forward and gain the recognition they deserve whilst continuing to do what they do best on a daily basis.”
Barbara Saunders, HR Director at packaging company Seda UK knows exactly what a difference the Caerphilly Business Forum awards can make.
After receiving the Premier Award in 2012 Seda UK has expanded its product range, secured additional investment and created more jobs within the local area.
She said: “Having relocated to Blackwood from the South East in order to accommodate our growth with support from Welsh Government and Caerphilly County Borough Council, we were very keen to demonstrate our commitment to the local area and manufacturing.
“Through supporting the awards, initially as a sponsor, we were able to see a number of companies at the cutting-edge of innovation. This inspired us to enter as a business and we have not looked back since.”
Seda UK currently employs more than 300 people and has quadrupled its turnover since 2004.
Saunders added: “The importance of these Awards cannot be underestimated.
“Not only did it give us external recognition and validation for the quality and standard of our products, but also for the entire manufacturing team without whom this success and growth would not be possible.”
The Caerphilly Business Awards are held in association with Business Edge, Coleg Gwent and the eight categories are sponsored by Chwarae Teg, Federation for Small Businesses, Caerphilly County Borough Council, Finance Wales, PHS Group, Glenside Commercial, Caerffili Cwm a Mynydd and South East Wales Community Economic Development Programme.
The categories are: New Business of the Year; Young Business of the Year (high growth); Business of the Year (with 25 employees or fewer); Business of the Year (with more than 25 employees); Young Achiever; Women in Business; Contribution to the Rural Economy and Social Enterprise of the Year.
A Premier Award, sponsored by Broomfield and Alexander, will also be presented to the overall winner on the night.
Other event sponsors include Anytime Films, Carrick Designs, Lady Muck Cleaning, Norgine, Educ8 and Rose-Innes Designs.
For more details on each of the categories, please go to www.cbforum.co.uk. The closing date for entries is Friday, September 20.
The Awards Dinner takes place at Llancaich Fawr on Friday, November 22.