Select Lincolnshire Food and Drink Awards October 2015
The Select Lincolnshire Food and Drink Awards celebrate businesses who go the extra mile
and will recognise the huge commitment shown to the industry while showcasing your
product helping to raise standards across the whole county.
The benefits of being shortlisted or a winner of Select Lincolnshire Food and Drink awards
are extensive in terms of creating business profile.
As a member of Select Lincolnshire for Food you are eligible to enter the following
categories appropriate to your business.
Grower of the Year
Producer of the Year
Retailers of the Year
Wholesalers of the Year
Bed and Breakfast of the Year
Hotel of the Year
Self-Catering Establishment of the Year
Teaching Establishment of the Year
Pub of the Year
Restaurant of the Year
Tea Room of the Year
Caterer/Venue of the Year
Business Award
Your application will enable you to demonstrate:
your offer of high quality Lincolnshire food, drink or product, customer care,
service and information
your contribution to the long term sustainability of your local community in
which you live and run your business
Select Lincolnshire Food and Drink Awards October 2015
Application Guidance Notes
Please complete your application with as much additional information as you feel relevant to
give a clear picture of your business. Use the word limit available to extol your virtues.
Additional evidence will enhance your application and can comprise photos, press articles,
marketing materials etc.
Criteria for entry
Entrants must be a Member of Select Lincolnshire.
Additional criteria:
Pub of the Year - The Pub experience should be of a significant nature incorporating a range
of beers, real ale, wines and beverages as well as quality, seasonal, locally sourced
produce. Entrants should also demonstrate their contribution to the long-term sustainability
of the local community in which they live and run their business providing an outstanding
experience for its customers.
Restaurant of the Year - The Restaurant experience should be of a significant nature
incorporating a wide range of seasonal menus including locally sourced foods supported by
a varied beverage menu. Entrants should also demonstrate their contribution to the longterm sustainability of the local community in which they live and run their business providing
an outstanding unique experience for its customers.
Grower - Growers are regarded as those businesses who grow or rear a raw product.
Producers - Producers are regarded as those businesses who take raw products and
process these into products.
Caterer/Venue - A business who delivers an external catering service or is a venue who
caters for events.
Teaching Establishment – A business who delivers educational courses to children or adults
whilst incorporating the commitment of Select Lincolnshire membership.
Business Award – A business who supports and is committed to local Lincolnshire Agri/Food
industry and businesses.
How to enter
Entries comprise
Mystery shopping/business support report
Application form per category
Judging
Awards will be made by a panel of selected judges from industry partners and businesses.
The first stage of judging is based on the combination of assessment from the mystery
shopping/business support research and business category application forms submitted by
the closing date. Mystery shopping/business support element will comprise a combination of
website research and telephone enquiry.
Select Lincolnshire Food and Drink Awards October 2015
A shortlist of three applicants will be selected from each category, who may then receive a
judging visit. Where scoring is close the shortlist will be extended.
Depending on the category being assessed, the judging of the shortlisted businesses may
include announced visits. Announced visits may not be undertaken to all finalists if the
judges deem the written submission is sufficient to determine the level of the Award.
Finalists should therefore note that the lack of a visit does not mean that they are not still in
the running for an award.
Businesses will be notified by 5th October, 2015 if they are a finalist.
Judges will be looking for evidence of excellence and best practise in all areas of business
operations.
A word limit has been set for each section/question and it is strongly recommended you
keep your entry to the stated word count.
Any claims made in applications must be substantiated and may be subject to testing by
judges.
Judging panels will comprise business and industry representatives, appointed for their
experience and knowledge.
Supporting Evidence
We encourage you to provide supporting material and evidence to help the judges fully
understand and assess your application.
Consider providing relevant supporting evidence such as photographs, extracts of marketing
initiatives, brochures, menus, training plans & awards, press cuttings, examples of customer
letters, examples of feedback forms, staff newsletters, access/green policies, access
statement, etc.
If you wish to submit evidence electronically please email attachments as jpegs or pdf's to
gillian.richardson@lincs-chamber.co.uk. Titled Awards Evidence.
Next Steps
Complete the application form and return to us with any supporting information by 5pm on
Thursday 24th September 2015.
To be received at
Select Lincolnshire Awards
Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Commerce House
Outer Circle Road
Lincoln
LN2 4HY
Select Lincolnshire Food and Drink Awards October 2015
Terms and Conditions
By submitting an entry into Select Lincolnshire Awards, you agree to be bound by the
following terms and conditions:
The closing date for receipt of entries is 5pm on Thursday 24th September 2015.
Businesses can enter more than one category, but separate entry forms and supplementary
information must be completed for each.
Please note that by being shortlisted the business automatically becomes a finalist.
However, the judges reserve the right to give Highly Commended Awards at their discretion.
Please note that VisitEngland or their agents do not accept responsibility for the return of
any entries and/or supplementary information, including those consisting of artistic or other
material.
The judges’ decisions are final and they cannot enter into discussion about the shortlisting
process, choice of finalists or choice of winners.
Select Lincolnshire Food and Drink Awards October 2015
Application Form
I am applying for the following award
Tearoom
Pub
Restaurant
Hotel
Self-Catering
Bed and Breakfast
Caterer/Venue
Education/Teaching
Producer
Wholesaler
Retailer
Grower
Business
Business/Property Name:
Contact Name:
Business Type:
Address:
Telephone:
Mobile:
Email:
Website
Please Tick
Select Lincolnshire Food and Drink Awards October 2015
Business Details
How long has the business been operating:
(Yrs & Months)
Are you part of a business chain? If so
which one.
How many Staff do you employ: (Show
proprietors/owners + Full Time + Part Time)
Give details of any periods the
property/business is closed:
Describe your business (max 200 words):
Give a brief history of your business and describe the full range and nature of the product /
service you provide, and the overall customer experience.
Consider your achievements and how these support you in winning this award.
Select Lincolnshire Food and Drink Awards October 2015
Finalists will demonstrate exceptional commitment to excellence in
quality, customer care and business practices in the following areas:
1: Your Commitment to Excellence/Celebrating Lincolnshire (max 200 words):
Describe your values, philosophy and commitment to excellence, and tell us what you think
puts you above the competition and at the top of your sector of the industry.
Previous Awards:
Select Lincolnshire Food and Drink Awards October 2015
Please list all awards or quality ratings you have attained in the past two years including the
whole of 2012
Title of Award
Level (e.g. Gold)
Awarding
Organisation
Year
Select Lincolnshire Food and Drink Awards October 2015
2: Outstanding Customer Service (max 300 words):
Describe your customer care values and philosophy and give examples of how you believe
that your service is outstanding. Include how you handle customer enquiries. Describe how
you deal with health & safety issues and/or complaints and feedback. Please give examples.
Select Lincolnshire Food and Drink Awards October 2015
3: Customer welcome, experience (max 300 words):
Give details of how your customers are welcomed. This might include any physical
improvements and developments that you have made to your business to enhance your
customers’ experience: and may include for example, new menus, additional products,
better labelling etc. Did this have an impact on your business? For example increase in
positive customer comments. Please give examples.
Select Lincolnshire Food and Drink Awards October 2015
4: Staff Knowledge (max 200 words):
1. Please detail your training values and philosophy for your business. How do you ensure that
you and/or staff gain the correct knowledge to ensure that the customer receives high quality
service? Give examples how this has improved the services provided to customers..
Select Lincolnshire Food and Drink Awards October 2015
5: Sourcing/producing your products (Max 100 words):
How do you ensure that your customer receives the best quality and selection? How do you
benchmark/measure the quality of the products you use? Give details of how you source
your products and your criteria for sourcing suppliers. Also give details of how your business
contributes to the local economy.
Select Lincolnshire Food and Drink Awards October 2015
6: Marketing and Promotion (max 300 words):
2. Give details of your target market(s) and describe how your product fits the audience you are
targeting. Explain briefly how you attract new and/or repeat business and any innovative
marketing and promotional campaigns you have carried out. How do you measure your
marketing success.(This can include product development, logistics, displays and
packaging)
Select Lincolnshire Food and Drink Awards October 2015
7: Accessibility (max 200 words):
Give details of how your business / service / product is accessible to all. Give examples.
Select Lincolnshire Food and Drink Awards October 2015
8: Sustainability (max 300 words):
Give examples of how your business is embracing sustainability e.g.
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The local economy -local purchasing, local produce. Employing local people, supporting other
local businesses
Residents, visitors, all customers (forging links, local community groups or schools,
connecting with charities, encouraging access for all in employment and or customers
The environment -managing energy, waste or water consumption
Describe how you communicate your efforts to make your business more sustainable and how
you encourage customers and staff to get involved.
Select Lincolnshire Food and Drink Awards October 2015
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