NEWS COMMENT
MAKING THEIR MARK !
Shortlists revealed for 2022 Make Your Mark awards
The shortlists have been revealed for the returning Make Your Mark awards after more than 50 entries were received for the eagerly awaited event .
The 2022 Make Your Mark awards , in association with Husqvarna , are being organised by Aycliffe Business Park Community ( ABPC ), with the glamorous awards ceremony to be held at the stunning Redworth Hall Hotel on Friday , May 20 .
As well as headline sponsors Husqvarna , the awards are also being supported by Gestamp , Stiller , Ebac , Business Durham , Think Kudos , Jacksons Law Firm and Richardson Barberry , the developers behind the new Forrest Park development .
Axe-throwing venture Valhalla North will go up against 3M and BTS Facades & Fabrications for the big award – Aycliffe Company of the Year – when the winners are revealed on May 20 .
Logico , C & A Embroidery & Print and Bespoke Electrical will battle it out for the Small Business of the Year award , while II-VI , Cobots Online and BTS Facades make up the shortlist in the Engineering & Manufacturing category .
Excelpoint , Cobots Online and Valhalla are the final three in the Innovation category , while OHTS , Upex and Digital Edge are vying for the Service Business of the Year award .
Valhalla and BTS Facades will go up against Roman for the newly-created Environment award , while Rare Rockets , The Fish Tank and Valhalla make up the shortlist in the Newcomer of the Year category .
Meanwhile , Connor Bland from Stiller Warehousing & Distribution and Ellie Shooter from Digital Edge are both hoping to take the Apprentice of the Year award away .
ABPC business development manager Martin Walker said : “ We ’ re delighted with the response to the return of Make Your Mark after three years , both with the entries received and the support from sponsors .
“ Our sponsors had the difficult task of choosing these shortlists and winners for the eight categories this year , and we think it makes up a strong line-up of some of Aycliffe Business Park ’ s finest firms , from large global employers to growing micro businesses .
“ It promises to be a fantastic celebration on May 20 and we ’ re all looking forward to it .”
MAKE YOUR MARK 2022 – THE SHORTLISTS
Apprentice of the Year ( sponsored by Think Kudos ): Connor Bland ( Stiller Warehousing and Distribution ) and Ellie Shooter ( Digital Edge ).
Newcomer of the Year ( sponsored by Business Durham ): Rare Rockets , Valhalla North and The Fish Tank .
Environment Award ( sponsored by Ebac ): Valhalla North , Roman and BTS Facades & Fabrications .
Service Business of the Year ( sponsored by Stiller Warehousing & Distribution ): OHTS , Upex Electrical Distributors and Digital Edge .
Innovation Award ( sponsored by Gestamp ): Valhalla North , Excelpoint and Cobots Online .
Engineering & Manufacturing ( sponsored by Richardson Barberry ): II-VI , Cobots Online and BTS Facades & Fabrications .
Small Business of the Year ( sponsored by Jacksons Law Firm ): Logico , C & A Embroidery & Print and Bespoke Electrical .
Company of the Year ( sponsored by Husqvarna ): Valhalla North , 3M and BTS Facades & Fabrications .
WHAT IS A RISK ASSESSMENT , AND DO I NEED ONE ?
Employers are required by law to protect their employees as well as others from harm .
A key measure in identifying risks and hazards is the risk assessment . Under health and safety regulations , the minimum you must do is :
• Identify what could cause injury or illness in your business ( hazards ).
• Decide how likely it is that someone could be harmed and how seriously ( the risk ).
• Take action to eliminate the hazard , or if this is not possible , control the risk . If you employ five or more staff , you must record the significant findings of the risk assessment and any group of employees identified by it as being especially at risk .
In conducting a risk assessment , it is important to involve relevant staff and to consider abnormal operations and maintenance rather than just routine tasks .
Employers should also consider the range of people at risk which could include employees , special class employees ( disabled , pregnant , young or elderly ), maintenance staff , contractors and visitors .
You should review your risk assessments if there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid , or there has been a significant change in the matters to which it relates .
A review could be prompted by an accident , near miss or change in staff , machinery or activity .
As more staff return to the office following the pandemic , now is a good time to review risk assessments as work activities may have changed as well as the number of staff in the office .
For advice on introducing , updating and enforcing post-termination restrictions , or challenging the enforceability of restrictive covenants , contact me on 0191 206 9262 or via pclark @ jacksons-law . com . Paul Clark Head of employment , Jacksons Law Firm
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 9