Nominations open for annual awards

The annual event, which proved a sell-out success last year, launched this week, with businesses large and small encouraged to get involved. Nominations have opened across 15 categories, from green business to business personality, with prizes to be presented at Worthing Pavilion on November 14. Encouraging firms to take part, judge and winner of the business personality award last year, Tina Tilley, said: “It was such a fantastic event last year and it was great to hear the success stories of businesses you had never heard about. “Adur and Worthing is a very innovative area and the awards will celebrate them.” Anyone can nominate a business for any given award, up until the closing date of September 22. Applicants are invited to fill in a few basic details about the company and its achievements. A panel of judges will then decide the winners. Mrs Tilley said it was ‘critical’ to provide as much information as possible to help the judges make their decisions. She said: “It is important to have supporting evidence and testimonials when asked to do so. It is critical. “Encourage others to support you if you are going for an award and maybe advise them to enter the awards themselves.” Adur District Council cabinet member for regeneration, Pat Beresford, judged the competition for the first time last year and was ‘full of praise’ for the process. He said he did not have a specific top tip for potential entrants but judges were impressed last year by the enthusiasm shown by many. He said: “Whether they were making a meat pie or an extremely complicated piece of computer equipment, you could see the enthusiasm coming off of the page. “The sheer variety of what is going on in the whole of this coastal strip was surprising. Some of the companies you never knew existed.” Mr Beresford said he was keen to see more Adur businesses get involved with the awards this time. At last year’s ceremony, East Worthing digital thermometer innovators ETI were the big winners, scooping two of the awards. Its managing director, Peter Webb, was also presented with the lifetime achievement prize. To nominate a business for an award, or for more information, visit www.jpsouthevents.co.uk/events/event/adur-worthing-business-awards/ Entries received by August 11 will be entered into a prize draw to win an iPad.