Entries are now open for the sixth Times Business Awards, which returns next year. With ten category prizes including an overall Outstanding Business of the Year award up for grabs, businesses in and around Tunbridge Wells will attend the black-tie awards night on March 30 hosted by journalist and radio presenter Nick Ferrari.
The winning businesses, chosen from those shortlisted for the gala evening at the Science Theatre at Salomons Estate, will be chosen by this year’s panel of judges.
The judges for 2023 come from a range of sectors, and each has been selected to bring their own unique insight into not only what makes a good company, but also what makes a good business for the local area.
Every year, judges read through hundreds of entries to create a shortlist in each category, before thrashing out the final winners’ list in time for the awards evening.
Among the new categories is a special award for charities and not-for-profit organisations.
Organisations in this category will get the chance to tell the judges about their cause and the demographic they help, in a bid to be officially recognised as Charity of the Year 2023.
Another category which is bound to be popular is Creative Business of the Year, which offers the creative, design, marketing, and PR sectors the chance to sell themselves to the judges – and go on to win over the public.
And any company which is beating the rising cost of energy by clever power management, or through investment in energy-efficiency, is a candidate for Green Business of the Year.
Entry forms can be downloaded from TimesBusinessAwards.co.uk and must be submitted by February 20.
Sponsorship opportunities
Sponsorship opportunities are available for the Times Business Awards 2023, including headline sponsor and some award categories.
Previous headliners have included: law firms Cripps and Pemberton Greenish, G. Collins & Sons, Elysian Residences, and Lexus.
Many sponsors come back to the awards again and again, supporting their category from the first entries to the on-stage moment at the black-tie awards night.
Tunbridge Wells-based designer childrenswear retailer Childrensalon has been loyal sponsors of the Family Business of the Year category, supporting it year after year – including 2023.
Childrensalon CEO Michele Harriman Smith said
“It was wonderful sponsoring the Family Business of the Year award.
“We enjoyed meeting other family businesses that are growing and experiencing the same challenges as we have, and we look forward to taking part again in the future.”
The Finance Hub also returns in 2023 as sponsor of the Best Business with 26+ Employees award.
Meanwhile, law firm Thomson Snell & Passmore graduated from sponsoring Start Up Business of the Year in 2019 to Outstanding Business of the Year in 2022 and again in 2023.
Wealth managers Charles Stanley are this year’s sponsor of the Entrepreneur of the Year category, after supporting the Best Business with 1-25 Employees in 2022.
The Times Business Awards categories
- Start-Up Business of the Year Award
- Creative Business of the Year
- Entrepreneur of the Year
- ‘Green’ Business of the Year
- Charity of the Year
- Best in Food and Drink Award
- Best Family Business of the Year
- Best Business 1-25 Employees Award
- Best Business 26+ Employees Award
- Outstanding Business of the Year Award