Caerphilly Business Forum has launched its 11th annual awards at Llancaiach Fawr Manor near Nelson.
Tuesday’s breakfast-time launch, sponsored by Bedwas firm Excellence IT, saw three new categories added to the annual awards making this year’s awards the largest ever.
The 2012 Caerphilly Business Forum Awards will be held at Llancaich Fawr Manor on Friday November 23 in association with Business Edge, Coleg Gwent.
The new categories will be the New Business of the Year, sponsored by Business in Focus, Social Enterprise of the Year, sponsored by South East Wales Community Economic Development and the Contribution to the Rural Economy, supported by Caerffili Cwm a Mynydd.
In addition, there will be five other categories; the Young Business of the Year (High Growth); the Business of the Year (with 25 employees or Fewer), sponsored by CCBC; Business of the Year (with more than 25 employees), sponsored by Mollertech; the Young Achiever Award, sponsored by PHS and the Women in Business Award, sponsored by Glenside Commercial.
The winners of each of these eight categories will then be put forward for the Premier Award, sponsored by Broomfield and Alexander.
Tony Sheehan, Caerphilly Business Forum’s new chair, said: “It’s really pleasing to see so many past winners supporting the awards again this year. That is a great endorsement of the tangible benefits these awards bring not only to winners but also those nominated and everyone who gets involved.
“Last year was a big year for us with the tenth annual awards being a landmark for Caerphilly Business Forum but we were all determined not to let that momentum slip. The result is that this year’s awards will not only be bigger but more inclusive of the broad spectrum of businesses in Caerphilly County Borough.
“A large part of this area is rural and we’ve made great strides in the last year to work with businesses operating in these locations and related sectors. The Contribution to the Rural Economy award, supported by Caerffili Cwm a Mynydd, helps us reach out to them so that we can truly represent them.
“And we are conscious of the need to stimulate growth in the economy to produce jobs for people who live here and provide support in our communities where it is most needed. Here, the Business Start Up award, with backing from Business in Focus, and the Social Enterprise of the Year award made possible by the support of South East Wales Community Economic Development, enable us to provide encouragement and recognition where it is needed.”
Closing date for entries is September 21 2012. Further details of each of the categories can be found at www.cbforum.co.uk/awards-2012-entry-forms/