One week left to enter Family Business Awards

Family owned or run businesses from across the Midlands have just seven days left to enter the 2012 Midlands Family Business Awards.

Submissions for the Awards’ ten categories, including the headline Midlands Family Business of the Year, are completely free and can be made online at www.familybusinessawards.co.uk until midnight on Friday 29th June 2012.

Now in their third year, the Awards are the Midlands’ only initiative to recognise the work and achievements of family businesses and owners. Underwritten by Nottingham insurance and financial advisory firm The Wilson Organisation, they are a charitable, not-for-profit initiative, and this year are raising funds for The Prince’s Trust.

Headline sponsors of the Awards are accounting and business advisory firm Smith Cooper, with other category sponsors Aviva, Barclays Corporate, Geldards LLP, Harvey Ingram, PwC, Royal Sun Alliance, Thomas Miller Investment & First Actuarial, and Unum.

The Awards’ independent panel of judges includes Perween Warsi CBE, the founder and chief executive of Derby-based S & A Foods, Hussein Lalani, MD of 99p Stores, Mark Samworth of Samworth Brothers, Parveen Mehta, Director of Birmingham-based Minor Weir Willis Limited (MWW) Justin Hall, MD of HJ Sock Group
Jason Wouhra, director of East End Foods, Lucy Haynes of the CBI, Tim Storer, MD of Pukka Pies, and Ron Lynch, Institute of Directors.

The ten categories in the Awards are:
• Midlands Family Business of the Year 2012
• Business Innovation of the Year
• Commitment to the Community
• Fastest Growing Family Business
• Leading Adviser to Family Businesses
• Service Excellence
• Outstanding Contribution
• Best Small Family Business
• Manufacturing Excellence
• Environmental Sustainability.

The Awards’ Creative Director Hilary Campton, comments: “For any business, entering awards requires time and energy, but the investment can return dividends, both internally and externally. The Awards aim to celebrate the work and achievements of the region’s fantastic family businesses and we would urge all family businesses to enter and gain the recognition they deserve!”

All Award finalists and winners will be unveiled at a prestigious ceremony at Leicester’s Curve on Thursday 8th November 2012.

For more information visit www.familybusinessawards.co.uk