The 2021 Chamber Goole and Howdenshire Business Excellence Awards opens for entries!

This year's winners

THE 2021 Chamber Goole and Howdenshire Business Excellence Awards has officially opened for entries and, this year, there’s a special award to recognise and celebrate the ways in which businesses and organisations have risen to the many challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Another new category for 2021 is a Team of the Year Award to celebrate the many ways in which staff pull together to create the best outcome for their company and one another.

There are eleven different categories for businesses to enter in all but, as in previous years, the independent judging panel will also be asked to select an Overall Business of the Year Award (sponsored by Link Agency) from the entrants, and the organising committee will nominate someone to receive the Tim Richardson Lifetime Achievement Award.

Now in its eleventh year, the awards scheme and ceremony is organised annually by a committee of volunteers from the local business community as a celebration of all that’s great about doing business in the Goole and Howdenshire area.

Garrey Haase, Chairman of the organising committee and the founder of the awards, said: “When we came together to announce the winners of the 2020 awards in February of this year, none of us could have anticipated the unprecedented circumstances that the business community has faced in recent months. It has been a testing time for so many, and few businesses and organisations have remained unchanged by the impact of Covid-19. However, there are also some wonderful stories of resilience and creativity that have emerged from this most difficult of times. That’s why we felt that it was more important than ever for us to go ahead with the 2021 awards.

“It’s also why we have introduced our special Covid-19 Award to recognise the ways in which businesses have radically rethought the ways in which they work, coming come up with creative ideas and solutions.”

Garrey, who owns and runs the Yorkshire Eyewear branches in Goole and Howden, said: “Now, perhaps more than ever before, is the perfect time to celebrate those businesses that have not only survived but also adapted, grown and excelled at what they do. We do hope that as many businesses as possible will take the opportunity to enter and share their success stories with us.”

The categories for this year as follows:

• Innovative Business (sponsored by Press Association).
• Team of the Year (sponsored by Leisure Timber Ltd.).
• Covid-19 Award (sponsor to be confirmed).
• New Business of the Year (sponsored by Danbrit Holdings Ltd.).
• Small Business of the Year (sponsored by MNA Group Ltd.).
• Large Business of the Year (sponsored by Chronicle Publications Ltd.)
• Contribution to the Community – Business (sponsored by H. Walton Ltd.)
• Contribution to the Community - Charity/Voluntary sector (sponsored by Jos. Richardson & Son Ltd.).
• Environmentally Friendly Business of the Year (sponsored by Siemens).
• Marketing Excellence (sponsored by Fil).
• Self-employed/Micro Business of the Year (sponsored by Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce).
• Training and Development Award (sponsor to be confirmed).

It is hoped that the black tie awards ceremony, which is organised in partnership with the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, can be held at Goole High School on Friday 19 February. However, the organising committee will follow Government guidelines aimed at minimising the spread of Covid-19 and, if necessary, the ceremony will be postponed until it’s safe for guests to gather together. The event will be hosted by the BBC’s Harry Gration, who has compered the event since it was first launched.

Organisations entering the awards are encouraged to enter more than one category and ‘go all out’ to showcase their strengths and skills. For more information and entry forms, visit the website at www.goolebusinessawards.co.uk. The closing date for entries is Monday 7 December.