Putting the successful businesses which support our local people and economy in the spotlight, the Western Morning News Business Awards 2021 is more important this year than ever.

Providing some positivity after a year of struggle, our business industry deserves to be recognised for its innovation, commitment and determination.

Enter online before the deadline on Monday, August 9 to be in with a chance of scooping a prestigious title.

On Thursday, December 2at the Crowne Plaza, Plymouth, our community will be reunited for the Western Morning News Business Awards 2021. For more information about the special event to enter, visit the online hub.

The Western Morning News Business Awards are returning in 2021

2019 was a busy year for master bat maker Harry Solomon who won the Western Morning News Business Awards Young Business Person of the Year, as well as scooping the same title at the Plymouth Herald Business Awards.

Ever since Harry got involved with cricket specialists Wombat Cricket in 2012, he has helped the company grow. Quickly making his way up the ladder, he became director of Wombat Willow and Wombat Estate Management Ltd in 2017 alongside his job hand-making the finest cricket bats to sell worldwide. Not only that, but in 2020 he also became director of Redback Cricket, another company that produces award-winning, top quality bats.

Harry was delighted with his success at the awards, he said: "It was a great feeling to firstly be nominated; winning was a big surprise to me and I wasn’t expecting it as there was some great other nominations. To win both the Plymouth Herald and Western Morning News Awards in the same year is an achievement I’m very proud of."

Due to his win and coveted new titles, Harry said he has been able to make new business connections through winning the award, aiding in the company's development.

Since the event, the business has grown substantially and is even in the process of expanding again over the next year, ensuring its status around the world as the manufacturer of Devon’s finest handmade cricket bats. It is even taking on a new apprentice this summer to help keep on top of the demand.

"There has never been a better time to support local," Harry mentioned, "It’s massively important to celebrate and promote local businesses, along with British manufacturing."

An advocate for helping others achieve success like his own, Harry champions events like the Western Morning News Business Awards shining a spotlight on the new talent: "Young people in business should be celebrated as they are the future and it’s not easy starting up a business at a young age."

Offering his advice to fellow young entrepreneurs, Harry said: "Firstly make sure your idea, hobby or product has scope and you have a vision for growth. Secondly, be prepared to put in the hours. There are no set working hours when running your own business."

For your chance to win, enter online before Monday, August 9.

The categories for the Western Morning News Business Awards 2021 are:

Start-Up Business of the Year

The Start-Up Business of The Year award will go to an organisation that: has been established within the past two and a half years (since January 2019); demonstrates evidence of entrepreneurship and/or innovation; das defied challenging economic conditions to succeed, grow and thrive; can evidence solid business plans, future growth potential and a determination to succeed.

The judges will take into consideration managerial performance, sales growth, profit achievement, number of people employed and evidence of a satisfied customer base.

SME Business of the Year

This will be awarded to a profitable, growing business, of up to 150 employees, which has had a positive impact on the region's economy.

The judges will be looking at all aspects of a company's performance, paying particular attention to: managerial and financial performance; evidence of success against targets set; potential for growth; long-term plans and company strategy; product and service development; staff training and development.

Please supply financial performance to support your application.

Large Business of the Year

This will be awarded to a profitable, growing business, with 150 or more employees, which has a positive impact on the region’s economy.

The judges will be looking at all aspects of a company's performance, paying particular attention to: managerial and financial performance; evidence of success against targets set; potential for growth; long-term plans and company strategy; product and service development; staff training and development.

Please supply financial performance to support your application.

Innovation Award Sponsored by Openreach

This award celebrates new ideas, processes, products, services, technologies and applications that have had an impact on an organisation's success over the past 12 months.

Applications will be measured against:

  • Originality of the innovation, its impact, practicality of its application and the measurable benefits to the business.

  • All aspects of an innovative new product/service launch, including research and development, launch activity and the actual or likely commercial success of the product/service.

  • Key success factors will include: degree of innovation, time taken to market, design process/best practice, market edge, USP, potential for growth/competition and profitability.

  • Other factors might include job creation/safeguarding, environmental sustainability, use of teamwork, project management capability, customer delight/novelty factor and use of market research. Development to prototype stage only is expressly excluded from this award.

Business Person of the Year Sponsored by Go South West

The Business Person of the Year will be an exceptional individual, either a successful entrepreneur or senior manager who has made a significant impact on their business and can demonstrate outstanding achievement whilst inspiring others around them.

Judges will be looking for entrants who have:

  • Set and achieve objectives which demonstrate commercial success, ambition, energy, skill and vision.

  • Led the development and implementation of practices to strengthen the organisation.

  • Provided exceptional and inspirational leadership that creates a sense of directions and momentum for development within the business.

  • Worked proactively to exceed the expectations of customers and raised the profile of the organisation.

Best Place To Work

This award will go to the company that believes its environment is the best place to work, whether this is through its workplace set up or through a home working system.

The judges will be interested in how the company establishes credibility in terms of vision, communication and coordinating activities; how employees are treated with respect and equality; how a company encourages employees to take pride in their work; how the atmosphere created is conducive to a successful team environment and employees wellbeing and safety.

Following the challenges and achievements of a national lockdown with many businesses having to move to a home working model, we will also consider entries that can demonstrate how the business successfully handled the lockdown and the move to working remotely; how it kept in contact with teams and any new initiatives put in place to help keep the teams engaged and take pride in their work. The award is also open to those businesses who already used flexible working practices prior to lockdown and how this helped their approach.

Corporate Social Responsibility Award

This award will recognise the business who has demonstrated responsible business practices across the four areas of local community, environment, their people and supply chain.

Judges will look for evidence of a contribution to the overall well-being of the community, its environment and general quality of life. Applicants must demonstrate a working partnership using positive influences to support suppliers and other partners to adopt best environmental, workplace and community practice.

Environmental & Sustainability Award

This category recognises outstanding performance in environmental responsiveness and sustainable activity.

The winner of this award will be a company that: is working towards sustainable development goals and can demonstrate the impact; taking active green steps towards more environmentally-conscious operations and ethics; made improvements in energy-efficiency, carbon reduction or sustainable working; has introduced strategies and policies that show foresight and reflect a well-considered green approach – rather than fractional, ad-hoc actions.

Our judges want to feel inspired by your powerful story and are looking to see where you’ve come from, the obstacles you’ve faced, what motivates you to keep going and what your biggest achievements are.

Tourism & Hospitality Resilience Award

The Tourism & Hospitality Resilience Award will recognise businesses within the tourism and hospitality industry that have demonstrated resilience and innovation and adapted during the Covid-19 pandemic. Judges will be looking for businesses who have overcome adversity whether that us through offering a take out option to survive, creating outdoor seating or switching their entire business model. We also want to hear about how these businesses may have supported their local community and their plans for the future.

Apprentice Of The Year Award

This award is open to an apprentice who has shown outstanding progress and commitment to their own personal development. The apprentice is defined as a person who is learning a trade from a skilled employer, having agreed to work for a fixed period. The nominee must have been employed by their current employer for a minimum of 12 months before the closing date (August 19, 2021).

This award seeks to acknowledge and celebrate an apprentice’s exceptional contribution to their workplace. The successful entrant will be measured against the following criteria:

Passion: shows a true passion for their chosen apprenticeship.

Commitment: demonstrates commitment to your personal development and progression

Contribution: shows outstanding contribution to their workplace - in particular, areas or projects where they have exceeded expectations

Success: demonstrates inspirational levels of achievement and attainment.

Lifetime Achievement Award

This award will go to the business person who has made a positive and lasting contribution to their business, the local economy and community – over a number of years. Our judges want to hear about individuals who have made a lasting contribution to and made a significant impact to the region’s business community.