Which company is going to be named Business of the Year? Will we get a woman as Business Person of the Year this time? Who will be recognised for their outstanding contribution?
This last category, which is decided by the judging panel, will be a hard act to follow after Ann Cotton accepted the honour this year for her creation and leadership of the charity which educates girls in the developing world, Camfed, which also features among the county’s top 100 companies listed in November.
Current holder of the Business of the Year title is Xaar, which was widely tipped for the top award while Accio Group was named Small Business of the Year.
The Innovation title is currently held by joint winners, Crescendo Biologics and Featurespace and the Business Person of the Year is currently Paul Jackson, who heads Forward Composites.
The Cambridge Building Society was named Employer of the Year, and Amino, the Swavesey-based set top box company for IPTV took the TWI Award for Technology Export. The Barclays Award went to Marshall Motor Holdings, and surely we shall be seeing more of them.
As has been the case for the past two decades or more, the big night will take place in the Great Hall at King’s College, and the date this year is Thursday, March 19, when the guest speaker and host for the evening will be the BBC’s Jeremy Bowen. We booked him a couple of years ago but he got stuck in a war zone.
And there is an extra special element for this year. Previously we have held the champagne reception in two rooms at King’s, but this time we have been allowed to hold it in the chapel, so that everyone can be together from the beginning of this big night.
The sponsors and categories this year are TWI for Technology Support, Hewitson’s award for Business Innovation, the Price Bailey award for Business of the Year, Biomed Realty Trust award for Business Person of the Year, Pure Resourcing Solutions award for Employer of the Year, the MedImmune award for Outstanding Contribution, the Allia Award for Social Entrepreneurship, the Small Business of the Year sponsored by Cambridge Business and the Barclays Growth Award. As before, Barclays is the headline sponsor.
So don’t delay if you would like to be part of all this and benefit from the kudos and publicity attached to the BEAs. You can nominate yourself or your company, or someone else and their business.
Enter here for each category
- HEWITSONS AWARD FOR BUSINESS INNOVATION
Which company’s initiative in terms of innovation research and development has most impressed you during 2014?
ENTER HERE - Hewitson's Award for Business Innovation - SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Which company with a turnover of up to £5 million has impressed you most in terms of innovation, product, quality, service, imagination, marketing and managerial skills?
ENTER HERE- Small Business of the Year - BARCLAYS GROWTH AWARD
We are looking for businesses that are achieving sustainable growth in turnover and profit, and can demonstrate their increased market strength. They may be achieving this through adaptability, quality of management, or diversification into new markets.
ENTER HERE - Barclays Growth Award - PURE RESOURCING SOLUTIONS AWARD FOR EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
The best employer category is looking for a locally based organisation that successfully inspires, motivates, develops and rewards its staff, encouraging employees to work together to achieve the organisation’s objectives within is a positive working environment.
ENTER HERE - PRS Employer of the year - TWI AWARD FOR TECHNOLOGY EXPORT
An award to recognise companies that have in the last 12 months successfully exploited or exported a technology, product or service into international or emerging markets.
ENTER HERE - TWI Award for Technology Export - BIOMED REALTY TRUST AWARD FOR BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR
Which business person in the region has impressed you most as an individual over the past year at any level?
ENTER HERE - Biomed Award for Business Person of the Year - PRICE BAILEY AWARD FOR BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Which locally based company/organisation led the way during 2014 in terms of growth, diversification, or consolidation and deserves the accolade of the region’s Business of the Year?
ENTER HERE - Price Bailey Award for Business of the Year - ALLIA AWARD FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Which initiative has delivered or will deliver the most impressive impact on society in terms of social, environmental and economic impact. The initiative could be operating at a local, national or international level but must demonstrate significant ability or potential to make a transformational difference. This initiative could be delivering social impact in terms of: the audience it reaches;a ground-breaking innovationl;demonstrating quality;building awareness of an issue that affects society
ENTER HERE - Allia Award for Social Entreprenuership - MEDIMMUNE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION
The winner of this award is decided by our distinguished panel of judges.