Time to reward brightestand best in local businessIT’S time to start celebrat-ing business success!

Local companies have beenworking hard to forge ahead dur-ing some of the toughest eco-n o m i c t i m e s a nyo n e c a nremember.

Many of them have overcomehuge economic difficulties to winnew orders, boost sales and investin training, plant and machinery.

They have achieved exportingsuccess, created jobs anddeveloped new products andservices.

Now it’s time once again toreward the cream of the crop andrecognise the skills, innovationand enterprise that provide therecipe for any successful busi-ness.

T h e E x a m i n e r B u s i n e s sAwards 2011 aim to so just that.

The Examiner has been joinedonce again by long-standinge v e n t s p o n s o r C h a dw i c kLawrence in the search to find thoseoutstanding businesses and individualswho make a major contribution to thelocal economy.

The competition will culminate in aglittering awards night at the GalpharmStadium when senior figures from thelocal business community will join cat-egory finalists, sponsors, their guests andthe awards judges in the celebrations.

Entries are now invited for 12 categories– New Business of the Year, SME of theYear, Business of the Year, CommunityAward, Green Award, International Busi-ness of the Year, Innovation Award,Employer of the Year, Young BusinessPerson of the Year, Business Person of theYear, the Make it Huddersfield Award andthe Judges’ Choice Award.

A panel of judges will choose the cat-egory winners, who will be receive trophiesand certificates at the spectacular awards

night on Thursday, November 3, at theGalpharm Stadium.

BBC Look North presenter Harry Gra-tion will again host the gala event, whichwill also feature a celebrity speaker.

Jeremy Garside, managing partner ofChadwick Lawrence, urged local compan-ies to take part in the town’s premierbusiness awards – and demonstrate theirtalents and achievements.

He said: “The awards have proved thatthe Kirklees area is thriving, which is whywe are determined to continue to promoteand support business success in the area.

“It is important to recognise theachievements of local businesses and theirproprietors.

“For that reason Chadwick Lawrence isproud to be supporting the awards onceagain in 2011.”

Examiner editor Roy Wright added:“The Examiner Business Awards, in asso-

c i a t i o n w i t h C h a d w i c kLawrence, provide an opportun-ity to recognise the achieve-ments of firms and individualsmaking a major contribution totheir organisations and the town– often in the face of difficulttrading conditions.”

And he urged businesses: “Ihope you will help underline thetown’s reputation for enterpriseby taking part in this year'sawards.”

The Examiner BusinessAwards are open to all compan-ies with a business address in theExaminer’s circulation area. Amap of the circulation area is onthe entry form.

To enter, simply choose thecategory or categories most suit-able for your business achieve-ments, complete the entry formand return it with a supportingstatement about your specificachievement.

D ow n l o a d a n e n t r y fo r m atwww.examinerbusiness awards.co.uk.

Alternatively, you can call 01484437702 or get a copy of the form by emailbusinessawards@examiner.co.uk.

The deadline for entries in Friday,September 9.

To reserve seats at the gala dinner andawards presentation call 01484 437702.

The panel of judges will review allentries against the specific category cri-teria as well as turnover, growth, profitab-ility, job creation, future potential,entrepreneurship and other factors out-lined in your supporting statement.

Said Mr Wright: “The 2011 awardspromise to be bigger and better thanever.

“So don’t miss your chance to make amark with staff, customers and suppliersby entering the awards. Let’s show thatHuddersfield businesses are the best!”

■ SIGNAL HONOUR: Jonathan Thornton (right), chairmanof Thornton and Ross, receives the award for BusinessPerson of the Year 2010 from Jeremy Garside, managingpartner of Chadwick Lawrence, at the Galpharm Stadiumevent

Categories providing a chance to shineChadwick Lawrence LLP BusinessPerson of the Year Do you, or doessomeone you know, stand out from the crowdand inspire others around you? Do you/theystand out as an individual who has grown thereputation of both the region and theircompany, representing the entrepreneurialspirit that typifies the region’s resilience andresurgence?

Britannia Rescue New Business ofthe Year If your business began tradingafter January 1, 2010, why not enter thisaward and receive recognition for your hardwork and determination? You may havebrought a fantastic new product to market,found a niche area to focus on or overcomeall odds to achieve success. Tell us aboutyour business, your market place, yourperformance and your future plans to win therecognition you deserve.

Kirklees Stadium Development LtdSME of the Year Whatever your trade, ifyou employ up to 50 employees and candemonstrate achievements in yourmarketplace with evidence of an excellentbusiness strategy, good financialperformance and your potential for the future,

enter this award and highlight yourachievements.

Walker Singleton Business of theYear If you are the best business inHuddersfield, enter this award! Employing aworkforce of more than 50 the business ofthe year will be able to demonstrate all roundbusiness excellence, financial performance,business strategy and future plans.

Stafflex Community Award Are you acompany with a conscience and acommitment to social responsibility? Do youhave a positive impact on your community?Make sure you receive the recognition youdeserve for you commitment to yourcommunity and enter this award.

Green Award Has your business appliedenvironmental policies in the workplace?Have your products or services made apositive contribution to the environment? Thisaward will highlight the very best examples ofenvironmental actions by local businesses.

HSBC International Business of theYear Has your business generated asubstantial and sustained increase in activityoutside of the region? The judges will look for

evidence of the barriers that you haveovercome and the degree to which nationaland international sales have created jobsand benefited our region’s economy.

Kirklees Council Make ItHuddersfield Award Are you proud tosay that your business is based inHuddersfield? Are you flying the flag for ourtown as well as your products and services?This award will recognise a business whobest demonstrates how their products,services and/or campaigns contribute tobuilding a positive profile of Huddersfield,spreading the word that this is a place wherebusinesses make it.

Fantastic Media Young BusinessPerson of the Year Are you or one ofyour employees aged 40 or below and ableto demonstrate outstanding achievements?Are you a rising star in your field? Our youngbusiness person of the year will displayexcellent leadership and management skillsthat drive success for their business.

PROHMS Ltd Employer of the YearWe are looking for an employer who candemonstrate excellence in its approach toworkforce development. Entrants will be

asked to demonstrate why workforcedevelopment and training is important to theorganisation, how training needs and skillsrequirements are assessed and addresses,and the direct benefit gained by bothindividuals and the organisation.

University of HuddersfieldInnovation Award Open to any businessengaged in the commercialisation ofresearch and development of intellectualproperty, across all sectors. This award willconsider companies irrespective of size orstage of development. Judges will be lookingfor evidence of or at least the clear potentialfor profitable trading in the knowledge sectoras well as a beneficial economic impact tothe region.

David Brown Engineering JudgesChoice Award The winner of this award isselected from all the entries received by thejudges. Consideration will be paid to thepresentation, attention to detail and financialperformance of nominees. The winner maynot be shortlisted in any of the categories,but in the eyes of the judges will havedemonstrated commitment, determinationand dedication

■ WELL DONE: David Kershaw (centre), member services director for SimplyBiz Services plc,receives the Business of the Year Award from category sponsor Mark Hanson (left), of HansonChartered Surveyors, with event compere Harry Gration at the 2010 Examiner Business Awards

Legal firm contributes totown’s thriving economy

LAW firm Chadwick Lawrence –“Yorkshire’s Legal People” – hasrenewed i ts long -s tand ingassociation with the ExaminerBusiness Awards.

Having sponsored the awards from thebeginning, Chadwick Lawrence is a prom-inent member of the regional businesscommunity.

And the firm believes in celebrating thesuccess of local organisations – to recognisetheir achievements, encourage further eco-nomic growth and attract more investmentto the Yorkshire area.

Chadwick Lawrence has off icesthroughout the region and is based inHuddersfield.

With 95 lawyers and almost 200 staff thecompany is one of West Yorkshire’s biggestlaw firms.

The company takes the opportunity toactively support regional initiatives.

It stages regular free seminars and train-ing for local business and is a keen sup-porter of the Huddersfield Town CentrePartnership, taking a keen interest in pro-moting efforts to foster economic growth.

The law firm is also heavily involved withother business groups working to highlightcurrent issues affecting the business com-munity.

Jeremy Garside, managing partner ofChadwick Lawrence, said: “Working inpartnership with our many commercialclients we quickly identify trends and issuesaffecting the region’s businesses – and as aresult we work proactively with customersto address these.”

It is this approach that has led to Chad-wick Lawrence having many long-termrelationships with its commercial clients.

The team works predominantly withsmall to medium-sized businesses with upto a £40m turnover and is able to handlealmost all aspects of business law.

The Chadwick Lawrence commercialservices team is made up of three depart-ments – corporate and commercial prop-erty, commercial litigation (includingregulatory law) and employment law.

The growth and expansion of the teamresulted in the opening of a new office inWakefield in 2008.

Accessing the right advice at the righttime is crucial for business owners who arefaced with making important decisionsabout the future of their business or indeedin handling any other problems, challengesor dilemmas they may encounter.

The recent economic climate hasbrought new questions and challenges forproperty-based businesses. The launch of aspecialist legal team to assist businesseswith commercial property advice and riskmanagement has proved invaluable in help-ing the owners of commercial property andlandlords – or indeed tenants.

Specialist solicitors regularly handlecases in areas such as employment law,commercial contracts, commercial prop-erty work, employee compliance and train-ing, disputes, licensing and planning,health and safety and much more.

With several offices throughout theregion, Chadwick Lawrence covers thewhole of West Yorkshire.

Visit www.chadwicklawrence.co.uk

Company takes pride in beingranked among business eliteA COMPANY providingsupport to independentfinancial advisers took oneof the top trophies at lastyear’s Examiner BusinessAwards.

And winning the title ofBusiness of the Year has

played a part in the furthersuccess ofHuddersfield-basedSimplyBiz Services plc.

The company waslaunched in 2002 bychairman Ken Davy, who is afamiliar figure in the town aschairman of HuddersfieldGiants.

SimplyBiz grew to employ150 staff and provideservices to a membership ofmore than 2,000independent financialadviser firms.

Together, they account formore than 5,000 registeredindividuals.

As well as providingservices such as back officeand book-keeping software,expert technical guidanceand help with compliance,the group – based at theGalpharm Stadium – alsostages hundreds of events ayear covering businessdevelopment, investment,mortgages, pensions andcompliance.

Judges in the 2010Examiner Business Awardswere impressed by thecompany’s track record ofgrowth, its solid businessmodel and the evidententhusiasm and hard workof its staff.

It was also praised for its

commitment to helpingmember firms remaincompliant and become moreprofitable and successful.

SimplyBiz has beenrecognised with a string ofawards for its technicalsupport, the quality of itsprofessional advice and itsrate of growth.

But being rated one of thetown’s top businesses lastyear was a definitehighlight.

David Kershaw, memberservices director, said:“SimplyBiz were delightedto be presented withBusiness of the Year Awardat the 2010 HuddersfieldExaminer Awards.

“Not only was this a greatmorale boost to our staff, ithas enabled us to berecognised within thefinancial services industryas a leading andwell-managed operation.

“As a consequence, theaward has added to ourcredibility which hasenabled additional businessto be won.”

Added Mr Kershaw:“SimplyBiz and its staff areparticularly proud of ourachievement and take adelight in displaying thecertificate in our receptionfor all to see!”

We know businessinYorkshireSponsors of theHuddersfield Examiner Business Awards 2011Chadwick Lawrence delivers a competitiverange of expert legal services

• Corporate & Commercial Services• Commercial Property• Dispute Resolution• Employment• Corporate Recovery & Insolvency• Specialist Legal Services

01484 519 99913 Railway Street, Huddersfield, HD1 1JS

www.chadwicklawrence.co.ukHuddersfield | Halifax | Wakefield | Leeds