Award categories
Aimed at celebrating Cumbria's business community and promoting the very best business practices, the winners will be announced at a gala dinner at the Rheged Centre, near Penrith, on Thursday, October 21, 2010.
CATEGORY 1: 
Training & Development Award
- Demonstrates positive commitment to the ongoing training and education of its employees
- Can prove how investment in training has brought success
- Shows staff have gained the necessary skills to maximise their contribution
- Can show how its people development strategies have improved its performance and created a committed, motivated and effective workforce
CATEGORY 2: Exporter of the Year:
This award is aimed at companies which have developed new markets outside the county of Cumbria and can demonstrate:- Significant export sales in relation to the size of the company
- Success in accessing markets outside the county and/or overseas
- Trade growth through exports and the ability to sustain that growth
CATEGORY 3:
Community Involvement
- Providing financial support to community projects
- Giving practical assistance in terms of time or expertise
- Allowing charities, schools or community organisations to benefit from the resources of the business
- For social enterprises, the activity should be outside their core purpose
- Particular emphasis will be placed upon the proportionate investment by your business in terms of time and effort as opposed to pure cash contributions
CATEGORY 4: 
Innovation and Technology Award
This award will reward the company that has developed the most innovative new product, system or process over the last year and can demonstrate the
positive impact it has had on the business. The winner will be able to show:
- A clear vision of what the innovation project, product, system or process had to achieve
- How the product was developed
- Gains in revenue or market share
- The overall benefits to the business or its customers
CATEGORY 5: Environmental Awareness Award
This award is to recognise outstanding performance in environmental awareness and commitment to the protection of the local environment. The judges
will be looking for companies that have:
- Successfully sold 'green' products or services
- Demonstrated by their actions environmental leadership in their business sector or geographic locality
- Made improvements in energy efficiency
- Implemented projects which have minimised the local or national environmental impact of the company's operations
- Introduced re-use and recycling systems and initiatives
CATEGORY 6: Innovation in Energy Award
This award will recognise innovations in the energy sector which can lead to technical and commercial success. It can reward products or services which demonstrate true innovation in the sector in Cumbria which makes a significant local and national contribution. Entrants might consider:- Renewable sources
- Use of waste streams
- Increased energy efficiency
- Reduction in carbon emissions
- A product or service which adds value to the industry with the potential to benefit the supply chain, development and job creation
CATEGORY 7: Best Tourism Attraction or Project
Following the success of this category in 2009, we are again encouraging readers of all our newspaper titles and websites to nominate their favourite
tourist attraction.
The ten most popular destinations will then be promoted to our readership giving them the opportunity to vote for the number one attraction. Nominations must be received by August 1, 2010.
CATEGORY 8: 
Business of the Year Small - under 50 employees
- Managerial and financial performance
- Evidence of success against targets set
- Potential for growth
- Long term plans and company strategy
- Product/service development
- Staff training and development
CATEGORY 9: Business of the Year Medium - 51-250 employees
The judges will be looking at all aspects of company performance paying particular attention to:
- Managerial and financial performance
- Evidence of success against targets set
- Potential for growth
- Long term plans and company strategy
- Product/service development
- Staff training and development
CATEGORY 10: 
Business of the Year Large - 251+ employees
- Managerial and financial performance
- Evidence of success against targets set
- Potential for growth
- Long term plans and company strategy
- Product/service development
- Staff training and development
CATEGORY 11: 
Web and Information Technology
- Excellence of website design, in terms of visual appearance, navigability and interactivity
- A demonstrable impact of the use of web technology on the business, internally and externally
- The innovative use of internet technology to improve business performance or boost competitiveness within an existing business, or to start a new enterprise
CATEGORY 12: Employee of the Year
This award will go to someone who really makes a difference to their business and deserves recognition. It might be someone whose attitude and example really stimulate all those around him/her; someone who has overcome real difficulties or who shows exceptional customer service. The winner will be an outstanding employee.
CATEGORY 13: 
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
This award will go to someone aged 30 years or under who has had a big impact either running their own business(es) or working as part of a business.
The judges will be looking for someone who can demonstrate:
- How their actions and strategies have been instrumental to the success of their/the business
- Evidence of strong financial performance, including the clear identification of an opportunity that has had a measurable impact on the success of their/the business
- Enterprising behaviours such as participation, risk taking; management and leadership; vision; originality and innovation
- How they have overcome barriers to achieve at a high standard (ie social, geographical or physical)
- A positive impact on the wider Cumbrian economy and local communities through employment, additional work as mentors or in the voluntary sector
Nominations can be made by:
- The entrant directly if they run their own business
- A sponsor/nominee from the business they work for
CATEGORY 14: 
Businessman of the Year
This award is for a businessman who has made an outstanding contribution to their company or organisation. You can put yourself forward or be
nominated by another person. The judges will be looking for someone who has:
- Demonstrated exceptional commitment
- Shown inspirational leadership and vision
- Had a significant impact on improving the performance of the business
CATEGORY 15: Businesswoman of the Year
This award is for a businesswoman who has made an outstanding contribution to their company or organisation. You can put yourself forward or be
nominated by another person. The judges will be looking for someone who has:
- Demonstrated exceptional commitment
- Shown inspirational leadership and vision
- Had a significant impact on improving the performance of the business
CATEGORY 16: 
Lifetime Contribution to Cumbria
There will be no shortlist published for this award and only the winner will be invited to the event.
- Training & development
- Exporter of the year
- Community involvement
- Innovation & technology
- Environmental awareness
- Innovation in energy
- Tourism attraction or project
- Small business of the year
- Medium business of the year
- Large business of the year
- Web & information technology
- Employee of the year
- Young entrepreneur of the year
- Businessman of the year
- Businesswoman of the year
- Lifetime contribution
AWARD CATEGORIES
