Companies in Caerphilly County Borough have been urged to enter this year’s Caerphilly Business Forum Awards 2014.
Firms of all sizes and sectors based in Caerphilly have until October 3 to get their entries in.
Crosskeys-based chemical firm ISCA, who won the top title – known as the Premier Award – in 2013, said their victory had sparked interest and admiration from customers and others, both in the UK and across the world.
The firm won the award, along with the title Business of the Year – Under 25 Employees, for its pioneering work in developing and manufacturing specialist chemicals and polymers for customers in industries as diverse as textiles, mining, aerospace and personal care products.
ISCA’s technical director, Anthony Hudson, said: “Winning two awards on the night was a great surprise and a really great morale boost for the team. We all had a spring in our step afterwards, knowing the work we do was getting recognised. Many of the clients we export to globally asked us about the awards afterwards. It definitely sparked a great response.”
The experience of ISCA was shared by Caerphilly-based credit management company Waters and Gate, 2013 winners of the Best New Business category.
Allan Poole, Operations Director at Waters and Gate, encouraged new businesses to get involved. He said: “Winning the award was completely unexpected, but, as a new business it gave us the validation from our peers that said we were on the right track.”
Judging of the awards by a panel of senior business people will take place during October and the winners will be announced at the high profile Caerphilly Business Forum Awards dinner, taking place on November 21 at Bryn Meadows Hotel in Maesycwmmer.
This year’s award categories are Business of the Year – Over 25 Employees, Business of the Year – Under 25 employees, Manufacturing in Action, Innovation and Contribution to the Rural Economy. In addition businesses can nominate individuals for the Women in Business, Apprentice of the Year and Employee of the Year awards.
The awards are held in association with Coleg Gwent, with the support of sponsors; pharmaceutical firm, Norgine, Wales’ largest training provider, ACT, commercial vehicle sales and support firm, Glenside Commercials, rural development programme, Caerffili Cwm a Mynydd, the Federation of Small Businesses, IT firms Dell and Excellence IT, Wales’ largest independent accountancy firm, Broomfield & Alexander, insurance brokers Thomas Carroll, Caerphilly County Borough Council and Finance Wales.
Denise Lovering, Chair of Caerphilly Business Forum, said: “The Caerphilly area has traditionally been one of South Wales’ industrial powerhouses and, over the last 13 years, the Caerphilly Business Awards have become one of Wales’ most respected business award programmes. We’re delighted to see businesses from all sectors and high-quality enterprises coming forward to showcase their work and compete for these awards and hope many more will do so before the closing date on October 3.”
For details on each of the categories visit www.cbforum.co.uk.