Waiting is almost over for awards

12:03pm Tuesday 7th October 2008

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THE waiting is nearly over for finalists in the Open 4 Business Excellence Awards sponsored by Weymouth Football Club.

Organisers received nearly 60 entries for the annual Oscars' of the south and west Dorset business community.

And the finalists will hear on October 16 at Weymouth College if they have won one of the glittering prizes.

The annual dinner and awards night kicks off at 6.30pm with a champagne reception before a dinner, entertainment and awards presentations.

Judges sifted through the entries before settling on a shortlist for awards in six categories and the overall winner of the Business of the Year title.

This year - for the first time - there will also be a flame' award for the individual who has contributed most to the business community over the past year.

The awards categories are:

• Small Business of the Year
• Learning in the Workplace Award.

• Community Responsibility Award.

• First Time in Business Award.

• Innovation in Business Award.

• Excelling in Customer Service Award Judges have named the companies in the running for the seven titles although the exact nominees - and winners - of each categories will be revealed at the awards ceremony.

The 12-strong list of finalists vying for the awards are As One Theatre productions, Blondz hairdressing salon, New Reflections hair and beauty salon, Extra Mile Chauffeur Travel, Onus emergency equipment suppliers, Catwards Draughting Ltd, Remmer Deboer and Partners equine veterinary care, Equation Accounting, the Nothe Tavern, Tahnees Hair Salon, Kingston Maurward College and Spirit of the Sea.

A carefully selected panel of judges picked the finalists in a secret session at the Dorset Echo offices. They were Liz Willingham from Liz Lean PR, Kit Finney from JCF Financial, Charlotte Hockey from the CEM Group and Dorset Echo managing director Paul Kinvig. The Echo is a media supporter of the awards.

Finalists have undergone a business diagnostic from Business Link and have been filmed by Champagne Productions for a nomination clip to be show at the awards night. College students will be handling the catering, hospitality and entertainment on the night.

Organisers say that the Open 4 Business Awards are an ideal place to raise the profile of a business and the perfect opportunity to show business achievements to date, share plans for the future, create new business opportunities and celebrate current business relationships. Each award winner will receive a prize of professional services from the sponsor of the award category to the value of £1,000.

NOMINEES

As One Theatre productions Blondz hairdressing salon New Reflections hair and beauty salon Extra Mile Chauffeur Travel Onus emergency equipment suppliers Catwards Draughting Ltd Remmer Deboer and Partners equine veterinary care Equation Accounting The Nothe Tavern Tahnees Hair Salon Kingston Maurward College Spirit of the Sea.

CATEGORIES, SPONSORS AND PRIZES

THERE are seven awards up for grabs this year. Weymouth Football Club is the headline sponsor for the event. As the main sponsor its name is attached to the Business of the Year Award.

The Business of the Year title will go to the overall winner from all the other categories.

The prize package for Business of the Year includes hospitality for six guests with seats in the directors' box for the Weymouth match against Wrexham on November 15.

The guests will have hospitality in the boardroom at the game.

The prize also includes editorial in the match day programme, a perimeter advertising board measuring 10 ft x 2ft 6inches and four tickets for every home match from November 15 for the rest of season.

Also included is the use of a Weymouth Football Club player for one PR appearance. The prize also includes a mascot package to include match day hospitality for the mascot and two guests.

Finally, pictures and stories about the winner will go on the club's website.

Weymouth Football Club is also sponsoring the Small Business of the Year Award.

The prize package includes a trophy for the winner and match day hospitality for six guests for the match against Mansfield Town on Saturday, November 29. It also includes a perimeter advertising board measuring 10 ft x 2ft 6inches, a season-long half-page advertisement in the match day programme, a link from the club's website, pictures and a story on the club website, and signed home and away shirts.

Enterprise Training is sponsoring the Learning in the Workplace Award.

The prize includes a place on the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) Certificate in First Line Management course with Weymouth College, including all course registration fees, or similar training courses of equivalent value.

Business Link is sponsoring the Community Responsibility Award.

The prize includes a Business Link business review offering a fresh perspective to the winning business, helping to create plans, identifying priorities and defining a way forward.

The Enterprise Connection is sponsoring the First Time in Business Award.

The prize package includes business support, advice and guidance and training.

Poundbury Systems Ltd is sponsoring the Innovation in Business Award.

It is offering technical business support services and advice as part of the prize.

The Excelling in Customer Service Award is being sponsored by Champagne Video Productions.

The prize includes a short film which can be used by the winning business to further enhance their customer service or marketing opportunities and be used as a tool for their website.

The package also includes an HD-ready flat-screen LCD television with built-in DVD player to display the film.

For more Open 4 Business information, event details, and for help in entering the awards, click on www.o4business.co.uk or call Gareth Jones on 01305 838476.

Service award winners
to be named next week

THE winners of the Open 4 Business Window Display and Customer Service Competition will be named on October 13.

The Dorset Echo is sponsoring the contest, which has been set up by the Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism and Dorset Retail Skillshop.

It has been introduced as part of the Open 4 Business festival this year.

There will be separate prizes for the best window displays on the Open 4 Business theme for Weymouth and Portland traders.

Additionally, customers have nominated the best customer service from an individual at shops with registered window displays.

There will be prizes - one for Weymouth and another for Portland.

The Dorset Retail Skillshop is co-ordinating the contest and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council is backing it.

The awards, with a runner-up in every category, will be presented by Weymouth and Portland Mayor Tim Munro.

He will hand over prizes to the winners at a special chamber of commerce evening at the Banus Club on the Esplanade on October 13 at 7pm.

Last year David the Jeweller in St Thomas Street won the Retail Skillshop's top customer service award.

Last year, the Skillshop awards were based on a team of mystery shoppers assessing around 30 shops, but this year the window competition is open to all Weymouth and Portland traders.