Criteria
Large Business of the Year:
Purpose: To recognise a business for outstanding achievements in growth, turnover and profitability, clear
vision and plans for the future, consideration of international markets, innovation and creativity and
overcoming challenges.
Criteria: The judges will examine financial performance, innovativeness and the firm's recent past to
determine the quality of the entrants
Small/Medium Business of the Year:
Purpose: To recognise outstanding performance by a company having a workforce of 25 or fewer and which
is based in or has a significant presence in The News circulation area. A clear vision and plans for the future,
consideration of international markets, innovation and creativity and overcoming challenges.
Criteria: Winning characteristics could be: a successful turn-around of a struggling or slow-moving company;
successful exploitation of innovation; excellence in setting up a major new operation and bringing it into
production at a high level of efficiency; pioneering new markets; remarkable growth in size or profits. In a
sentence, the judges are looking for something special for all to admire and from which all can learn.
Start-Up of the Year:
Purpose: To recognise those businesses which have gone from 0 to 100mph in two years .
Criteria: The successes should speak for themselves and the judges will be looking for evidence of rapid
expansion, niche-filling, excellent turnover or job creation – or all of the above.
Those trading for more than two years can not enter this category.
Business Personality and Achievement of the Year:
Purpose: To recognise an imaginative and creative manager or employee whose individual contribution to
the success of a business has been outstanding or who has demonstrated inspired leadership.
Criteria: The judges will look for evidence of improvement to the company directly attributable to the entrant
plus testimonials from within and/or without the organisation.
Community Contribution of the Year:
Purpose: To recognise a dynamic contribution to the local community or a commitment to the environment by
a company based in or having a significant presence in The News circulation area. This category is not open
to businesses or organisations who undertake community activities as a core business.
Criteria: Entrants will be able to show a clear mission - either in a one-off venture or in an ongoing
commitment - to helping and/or improving their local community or the environment. The initiative can be
anything that would help improve people's lives and enhance the relationship between the company and the
community in which it is based. The contribution might be monetary, or involve the provision of resources
and expertise.
International Development of the Year
Purpose: To recognise businesses which can demonstrate the importance of exporting to the success of the
business.
Criteria: Judges will seek evidence that the business has achieved significant sustainable growth by opening
and / or exploiting new markets outside of the UK. Nominees are invited to show the impact exporting has on
growth and profitability, research methods and sources and plans for further export development.
Innovation of the Year:
Purpose: To recognise businesses which are achieving or can show they expect to achieve significantly
through the innovation of products and processes.
Criteria: Entrants will be expected to demonstrate how new technologies or novel practices have increased
output and efficiency and how continued innovation is planned to advance the company in the future.
Team of the Year:
Purpose: To recognise an outstanding performance by a team of three or more employees, who either
usually work together or did so for a special project or task.
Criteria: The judges will be looking for evidence and/or testimonials that confirm the entrants' ability to work
cohesively as a team, sharing a common understanding that leads to attainment of defined goals that make
a real difference to the business.
Hospitality, Tourism & Leisure:
Purpose: To recognise any business that puts the Portsmouth area on the map as a great place to live and
visit
Criteria: The judges will be looking for evidence of a business's contribution in attracting new visitors to the
area or its excellence within the hospitality and leisure industries.
Retailer of the Year:
Purpose: To recognise any retailer, large or small, which is making big noises in the retail world.
Criteria: The judges will be looking for evidence of what sets a retailer apart from its competition, either in
terms of its achievements, its best practice, or its success.
Apprentice of the Year:
Purpose: To recognise any apprentice who has gone that extra mile and exceeded the expectations of their
trainer or mentor
Criteria: The judges will be looking for inspirational stories of young learners, exceptional achievement
and, in particular, they will be looking for entrants to demonstrate commitment to their personal development
and progression through learning, ability to overcome obstacles and barriers in learning or at work,
inspirational qualities and attainment of high standards.
Employer of the Year
Purpose: An award for a business that has great staff relations, good staff retention with excellent training
and who cares for their employees. The best company to work for!
Criteria: The judges will look for evidence and testimonials that confirm all of the above.
Customer Service:
Purpose: To reward those companies or particular staff within an organisation that goes above and beyond
the call of duty for their customers.
Criteria: The nominations will be made by readers of The News who thinks they've been given the service
that stands out from the rest.
Lifetime achievement :
The award winner is chosen by the judges, though any suggestions will also be considered
Overall Business of the:
The judges will select the Business of the Year from the winners of the other categories.
Closing date Friday December 5 2014
Please submit six hard copies of your entry to Liz Parker, JP South Events Department, The News,
1000 Lakeside, North Harbour, Western Road, Portsmouth, PO6 3EN
Category:.............................................................................................................................................................
Entrant:................................................................................................................................................................
Position:...............................................................................................................................................................
Company:.............................................................................................................................................................
Address:...............................................................................................................................................................
Telephone:...........................................................................................................................................................
e-mail:..................................................................................................................................................................
Nominator (if other than the entrant):..................................................................................................................
Position:...............................................................................................................................................................
Company:.............................................................................................................................................................
Telephone:...........................................................................................................................................................
e-mail:..................................................................................................................................................................
Twitter Name …...................................................................................................................................................
Evidence and arguments on why this company / individual is a powerful contender in the category selected:
This should include business accounts or proof of profit and turnover for the last three years. In the case of
the Start-Up category proof from the start of the company will be required.
Testimonials (if necessary, to be simply listed here and cross-referenced to separately-enclosed
contributions):
Other information you believe will be of help to the judges. No more than three items are required:
Rules and Conditions
1. The awards are open to individuals, partnerships, organisations and businesses based in or having a significant
presence in the circulation area of The News, namely south-east Hampshire and the Chichester area of West Sussex.
2. Entry is by authorised entry form only. The form itself provides for identifying information only. Entrants are required to
submit whatever statements, testimonials and records they wish for the relevant category. The judges reserve the right to
seek more information or clarification of submissions. Five hard copies of your entry are require.
3. Contenders may enter themselves or be nominated by another. If a contender is nominated by someone outside the
business then the business will be invited to submit an entry in accordance to the rules and criteria of the awards. The
only category exempt from this would be Customer Service.
4. No responsibility will be accepted by the competition organisers for any material sent or any entry lost or delayed in
the post. Entries cannot be returned.
5. Entries will be judged by a panel appointed by The News and to include representatives of the main sponsor, of
category sponsors and the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce.
6. The winning entries will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held at the Portsmouth Guildhall on
Friday March 6 2015
7. A condition of entry is that entrants co-operate with the media and in particular with The News for the publication of a
story about their business (whether before or after the announcement of the winners) and also with any other media
coverage that may be given to their business.
8. The organisers will, within the scope of these rules, treat all entries as given in confidence but can accept no
responsibility for any failure of confidentiality. Entrants should take appropriate steps, prior to entering the competition, to
protect those aspects of their entry that may be patentable or registrable as designs or are otherwise secret and all other
intellectual property rights.
9. The main sponsor is not eligible to enter any category. Category sponsors may not enter the category they have
supported.
10. Individuals and organisations may enter more than one relevant category. Each entry should be on a separate entry
form.
11. Entries should be submitted to arrive no later than December 5, 2014. Entries received after that date will not be
considered.
12. There can be no appeal against the decision of the organisers - represented by the editor of The News - or of any
judge or panel appointed by them; their decisions must be accepted as final in respect of all matters concerning this
competition, including the interpretation of these rules and conditions. Should the organisers consider insufficient entries
have been received, they reserve the right to reduce the number of prizes to be awarded. Normal News competition rules
apply.