The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 58: December/January 2021 | Page 4

BUSINESS NEWS

Business Awards to highlight pandemic success stories

Business advisory and support organisation Inspire has announced the launch of the Inspire Business Awards .
Open to businesses across the South West , including those in Swindon and Wiltshire , the awards are set to showcase a diverse range of business success stories from across the region .
The awards will be somewhat different from those held in pre-pandemic times . Some categories will focus specifically on the achievements of businesses in responding to the challenges faced since March 2020 .
Other categories will focus on some of the forthcoming challenges businesses will face including the sustainability agenda and the need to work towards a lower carbon economy . The categories for the Inspire Business Awards are :
• Business of the year 25 employees
• Business of the year 10-24 employees
• Business who has excelled in delivering Customer Excellence
• Business who has led the way in Export and International Trade
• Business with the most impressive progress towards Net Zero
• Manufacturer of the year
• Best Advisory Firm in terms of Client impact
• Food Business of the year
• Most innovative hospitality business in recovering from the effects of the pandemic
• Best new product or service brought to market during the pandemic
• Business with the most positive impact on their community since March 2020
Prizes for the winners will include one year ’ s fully-funded access to one of Inspire ’ s experienced Non-Executive Directors .
Rob Perks , Executive Chairman at Inspire , said ,“ I am pleased and excited to be announcing these unique awards . Unique because of the transforming power of the prizes and the support available to every entrant .
“ The awards will enable great businesses to shout about their achievements during the last incredibly difficult 18 months but will also enter them into a process which will take their businesses on to even greater success .”
The awards are open for entries until Friday 14th January . To find out more and to enter visit : www . inspirebiz . co . uk / inspirebusiness-awards

NOMINATE A CHARITY TO RECEIVE A FESTIVE FINANCIAL BOOST

Specialist insurer Ecclesiastical is giving £ 120,000 to good causes as part of its annual 12 days of giving Christmas campaign .
Now into its fifth year , Ecclesiastical is once again inviting Wiltshire residents to nominate a registered charity close to their hearts to benefit from this festive financial boost .
Ten lucky winners will be announced each weekday from 6th to 21st December . Bath Cancer Unit Support Group based in Trowbridge and The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Tilbury were some of the local beneficiaries in 2020 , following overwhelming public support in the county .
It ’ s quick and easy to nominate a charity online . Nominations are open until 20th December and you can vote for your favourite charity at : www . movementforgood . com / 12days .
Winners will be drawn at random – and while it ’ s not a popularity contest , the more times a charity is nominated the more chance it has of being selected . Ecclesiastical is encouraging everyone to use their social media channels to ask people to vote for their favourite cause to give them the best possible chance of winning .
Last year saw an amazing 285,000 people around the UK support the 12 days of giving Christmas campaign in total , with a staggering 17,800 charitable causes up and down the country receiving votes .
Mark Hews , Group Chief Executive Officer of Ecclesiastical , said , “ As a commercial company with a charitable purpose , giving back is at the heart of our business . In fact , Ecclesiastical is the fourth largest corporate donor in the UK . Our annual 12 days of giving Christmas campaign has supported hundreds of charities over the past four years and I ’ m delighted that we will once again help charities change lives for the better .
“ We know that for many charities , £ 1,000 can make a real difference . We ’ re encouraging everyone to nominate a cause close to their hearts this Christmas to be in for a chance to win a festive financial boost .”
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