Bringing Aycliffe Business Park Together | 19
The Xcel Centre will provide a stunning backdrop
for the Make Your Mark event in September.
“THE IDEA IS THAT WE GET AS
MANY OF THE BUSINESSES ON THE
PARK TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE OUR
SUCCESSES COLLECTIVELY”
The judging panel will consist of the ABPC
Steering Group, although members will not
judge categories which either include their own
company or firms associated with them.
Then guests will gather for a three-course
evening meal and celebration at the Xcel
Centre, which will start with a drinks reception
and complimentary pictures so everyone gets a
memento of the night.
A high-profile speaker will entertain the room
before the winners are revealed, while a fullylicensed bar will provide refreshments on tap.
The glittering event will be sponsored to ensure
it’s affordable for all businesses, but any profits
that are made will be donated to a local charity.
It’s a well thought-out and detailed event drawn
up by the Steering Group which should have
businesses reaching for the entry forms.
Rachel Townsend Green, a member of the
Steering Group, said: “We want to add to the
sense of community that we’ve already created
on the park, as well as raise awareness of the
some of the businesses on the park that we
don’t already know about.
AYCLIFFE
BUSINESS PARK
MAKE
YOUR
MARK
AWARDS 2014
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
This award is looking for nominations for
apprentices from their employers on Aycliffe
Business Park, to celebrate and reward
people working, currently engaged in,
or having completed, an Apprenticeship.
Applications should explore how becoming
an apprentice has benefited both the
apprentice and the business.
APPRENTICESHIPS
“There are still a lot of businesses that we don’t
yet know about, some of which will, I’m sure,
have achieved some great things over the last
year or two.
For an organisation that has implemented
an apprentice scheme as an integral part
of developing their workforce.
“It’s a very British thing not to blow your own
trumpet, but we feel it’s important to allow
businesses to do exactly that in this instance,
we’re celebrating successes of all kinds.
COMPANY OF THE YEAR
“SMEs are a fundamental part of the business
park and will be as integral a part of this event,
as national companies on the business park.
”
To enter the Aycliffe Business Park awards,
application forms will be made available
through the Aycliffe Business Park website
and www.aycliffetoday.co.uk while hard copy
packs will be available from the Xcel Centre
and Newton Press offices on St Cuthbert’s
Way.
This award will go a company on Aycliffe
Business Park who has performed
outstandingly this year.
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
Celebrating organisations on Aycliffe
Business Park seeing the best return on an
investment in people, this award recognises
the employee strategy that best attracts,
retains and develops talent – and how it
contributes to sustainable growth and being
an employer of choice.
ENGINEERING
& MANUFACTURING AWARD
To recognise and highlight a company
that has demonstrated engineering and
manufacturing excellence.
EXPORT AWARD
To encourage and recognise a company
that has generated substantial and
sustained increases in export activity.
THE CATEGORIES
HEART OF THE COMMUNITY
This award celebrates excellence in
corporate, social and ethical activity, and
seeks to identify those organisations which
best exemplify the social and community
spirit which is at the core of Aycliffe
Business Park culture.
INNOVATION AWARD
To identify and reward the company which
has launched the most innovative new
product / service on Aycliffe Business Park
in the calendar year 2013.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
This award is open to companies on Aycliffe
Business Park that have been in operation
for a maximum of two years as of June
30th, 2014.
SERVICE BUSINESS
OF THE YEAR AWARD
To reward and recognise professional
service organisations that have shown
demonstrable strength in their respective
field and a contribution to the local economy
with the services they provide.
SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
This award is open to companies on Aycliffe
Business Park that normally employ no more
than 75 full time staff and which have a
proven record of success.