After two long years the Sheffield Business Awards are back! And this month we will find out who have won the prizes at the most prestigious ceremony in the city.
We’re proud to say The Sheffield Business Awards are organised by unLTD Business in partnership with Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by CMS. They will take place on December 9 at Peddler Market’s well-known venue 92 Burton Road in Kelham Island.
Taking the mic is Paul Sinha from TV quiz show ‘The Chase’ who will guide us through 14 awards, which sees some new categories in among the traditional ones. It should be a fantastic night, not least for those shortlisted and the companies who will deservedly walk away with a trophy.
Employer of the Year
Sponsored by The Sheffield College
This award recognises an organisation that excels in offering the most comprehensive work environment, either through the implementation of a learning and development culture, staff incentive schemes, recognition/remuneration and retention packages or health and wellbeing initiatives.
B Braun Medical UK
Evoluted
HLM Architects Ltd
NOCN Group
“We are delighted to sponsor this category given our strong impact on the local economy as a leading education and training provider. At The Sheffield College, we teach and train 14,000 young people and adults a year equipping them with the qualifications and skills they need to go further in their careers and transforming lives through learning. We work with around 2,700 employers in Sheffield and beyond. Our training enables employers to address skills gaps, accelerate business performance and boost competitiveness and growth.
Andrew Hartley,
The Sheffield College
Large Business of the Year
Sponsored by Shorts
Open to organisations employing over 100 full-time members of staff and/or an annual turnover of +£25 million, this award will go to a business that has achieved consistent growth backed by a strong financial performance.
CC33 FS Limited
MattressOnline.co.uk Ltd
Shakespeare Martineau
SME of the Year
Sponsored by Sheffield Hallam University
This award recognises a Small or Medium Business employing up to 100 full-time members of staff and not exceeding a £25 million annual turnover that has achieved consistent growth backed by a strong financial performance.
Castings Technology International Ltd
DeeperThanBlue
Gradconsult
YesTax
Social Impact Award – Best Not-For-Profit / Charity / Social Enterprise
Sponsored by Evoluted
This award recognises a not-for-profit organisation, charity or social enterprise that has significantly contributed towards social impact in Sheffield.
Age UK Sheffield
Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care
Sheffield Futures
Sheffield United Community Foundation
“We were keen to sponsor the Social Impact Award because we’re passionate about supporting our local community, so helping to recognise the hard work of an incredible business that is doing just that was very important to us.
The competition was tough this year, with all of the entries blowing us away. Every business that made the shortlist truly represents the best of Sheffield, so we are very excited for the winner to be announced on the night.
Seeing the amazing impact that some of the businesses have made was also wonderful, and makes us proud to be part of such a great city!
Every applicant deserves recognition for everything they’ve achieved this year, but we believe the winning business will be the one that shows uniqueness, creativity, and innovation in the way they strive to make a positive impact on Sheffield.”
Ash Young, Evoluted managing director
Start-Up Business of the Year
Sponsored by Business Sheffield
This award recognises a business that has been created since January 1, 2020 during the pandemic and has become successful in its own right, or has achieved a significant breakthrough in its sector during a very difficult time to start a business.
Entrants, from across our area, had to demonstrate in their application success in any of the following areas, such as sales, market share, international trade, and job creation.
Carmats.co.uk
Dynamic Engrave & Print Ltd
Parkwood Springs
Simoda Ltd
“Reading the success stories about these start-up businesses is nothing short of inspirational! We work with start-up businesses on a daily basis, many of whom aren’t sure whether they should give it a go. It’s incredible to be able to point them in the direction of these real life examples of perseverance and gumption shown from Sheffield businesses, and the incredible success they have had. It was an honour to be a part of the judging panel for this award – all worthy winners in my eyes.”
Sophie Heaton,
BIPC South Yorkshire
The Above and Beyonder – Best Professional Services Company
Sponsored by Hallam FM
Entrants must outline how they have shown excellence in their specific sector and show how they have planned for future growth. This is an award all about delighting customers.
ActionCOACH Sheffield
Highlander Computing Solutions
Resolve IT Solutions Ltd
Shakespeare Martineau
The Automator – Best Technology Company
Sponsored by The University of Sheffield
This award recognises a public or private sector entrant for the most outstanding digital technology company.
Airship
Apex Mobiletech (UK) Ltd
Sport:80
Tutorful
“Working with partners, the University of Sheffield has created the Made Together programme, a landmark collaboration with four ambitions: to make the region healthier, more vibrant, more sustainable and more innovative.
Digital technology plays a vital role across multiple strands of this activity; that’s why the University is proud to sponsor ‘The Automator – Best Technology Company’ at this year’s Sheffield Business Awards.
We’re a region of pioneers and together we can nurture the conditions for more breakthroughs and support innovation-led industries to flourish across the region.
Digital transformation opens up incredible opportunities. Here at the University of Sheffield collaborations with industry partners, such as Siemens, are driving cutting edge digital innovations and providing links to the local supply chain and skills base.
Facilities such as the Faculty of Engineering’s recently announced Materials Made Smarter Centre provide a pipeline of future digital technologies in order to boost UK manufacturing productivity.
The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) is leading the way in digital manufacturing, working alongside companies to develop new products and services.”
Jim Litster, Interim Vice-President and Head of Engineering at the University of Sheffield
The Brand Builder – Marketing Campaign of the Year Award
Sponsored by City Taxis
This award recognises an organisation which has delivered a marketing campaign that has made a true impact and breakthrough. Businesses and organisations must showcase how their creative work has led directly to improved business performance and recognition for their product or client.
Airship
Carmats.co.uk
Hydra Creative Ltd
Vivid Creative
“Having undergone a comprehensive rebrand two years ago, the “Brand Builder” Award was close to the heart of many at Team City Taxis who were involved in the process. We understand the hard work and dedication it takes for a business to build their brand, particular over the past 18 months where many businesses suffered at the hands of Covid-19.
It’s amazing to see so many fantastic local businesses apply for this award, from various backgrounds and industries, different campaign delivery methods and budgets, with a vast range of innovative ideas that have had a real impact on both their business and the local community.
We’re very excited to be supporting the Sheffield Business Awards again this year and to see how this year’s event has evolved with a fresh new format. We wish all the shortlisted business the best of luck and cannot wait to see who successfully scoops up The Brand Builder – Marketing Campaign of the Year Award.”
Arnie Singh, Managing Director of City Taxis
The Global Player – Best Exporter
Sponsored by Gripple
This award recognises the strength and expertise of the region’s importers and exporters.
Entrants for this award must stand out from the crowd on the international stage and demonstrate that they have generated significant and/or sustained growth in their international activity and/or presence.
Corrosion Resistant
Materials Ltd
Iceotope Technologies Ltd
Loadhog Ltd
NOCN Group
The Planet Saver Sponsored by Stoneacre
This award recognises a company or product which is leading the way in creating a sustainable environment for all and really putting Sheffield on the map.
The product or company will not only address a need but also seize an opportunity to create a new market or industry.
BIDBI
Intelligent Facility
Solutions Ltd
Regather
Sustainable Kitchens
The Innovator
Sponsored by Barnsley College
This award identifies and rewards the company which has launched the most innovative new product/service or who may have built or embraced new technology to drive their company forward over the last 12 months. Judges considered all aspects of an innovative new product/service, its USP, the potential for growth/competition and profitability.
Champion Health
City Grab Ltd
Environmental Monitoring Solutions Ltd
Zen Green Stage Ltd
“Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Barnsley College. We transform lives, and transforming lives is the bedrock of the best innovation, which is why we are proudly sponsoring the Innovator award.
Over the past two years, invention has been at the forefront of so many new and existing businesses as we all grappled with dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and the numerous challenges we were collectively faced with every day.
Many of the entries for the Innovator award were born out of the pandemic and the impact it had on all of our lives. Whether it’s a new lifeline for businesses to reach customers; clever ways of remote working; or ways of keeping us safer and healthier, all the entries highlight determination to overcome problems, and keep going in the face of the biggest challenges.”
Dave Akeroyd,
Deputy principal development & productivity at Barnsley College
The Joymaker – Best Hospitality, Retail and Leisure Business
Sponsored by Business Sheffield
This award recognises an independent business that has contributed to hospitality, retail or leisure during the most difficult time for these sectors.
Jessica Flinn Designs Ltd
National Videogame Museum
Tramlines Events Ltd
Two Thirds Beer Co
The Sheffield Maker – Manufacturing Company of the Year
Sponsored by Wake Smith Solicitors
This award recognises a company that demonstrates an efficient and innovative approach to manufacturing. Exhibiting growth, improved commercial performance, increased market share and operational effectiveness.
Baldwin & Francis
Goral & Son Ltd
Robert Sorby Ltd
Up North Cabinet
Makers Ltd.
“Sheffield has a long established manufacturing heritage and is still widely regarded as the gold standard in the sector, from new start-ups and SMEs to large, world-class companies leading the way in advanced manufacturing.
The Sheffield Maker - Manufacturing Company of the Year Award exists to encourage, benchmark and celebrate manufacturing excellence, whatever a company’s maturity, with all sizes and sectors being recognised.
Working with manufacturers across the region, Wake Smith Solicitors is proud to sponsor this award for the 14th year and support and champion the sector over the past 12 months.
The award acknowledges the incredible agility, adaptability and resilience that has been shown, while highlighting there is no shortage of manufacturing quality and achievements.
The winner of this award will, of course, show excellence in manufacturing. They will demonstrate they are meeting, and exceeding their clients’ briefs and expectations, and those of end-users, through efficient and innovative approaches to manufacturing, growth, improved commercial performance, increased market share and operational effectiveness.”
John Baddeley, chairman, Wake Smith Solicitors
The Visionary – Creative Impact Award
Sponsored by Mattress Online
This award recognises a business specialising in creative services such as design, marketing, publishing, film, architecture and the arts, that can showcase how their creative work has led directly to improved business performance. Entries were welcome from all firms, whether in-house or agency.
Fab Events &
Marketing Strategies
Hydra Creative Ltd
LensGo Visual Media
Open House Pictures
“As CEO of a business that constantly strives to be creative in working practices, I wanted to sponsor the award to see the wider contribution that’s happening in and around the region. As an entrepreneur I was keen to judge this field and to give credit to the many creative firms that are working hard and may have faced challenges over the last 18 months. During the judging process I was impressed by the submissions.
In a winner I’d expect to see vision, adaptability and impact – the numbers and profits are important – as is sheer determination and hard work with a creative flair that stands apart.”
Steve Adams, Mattress Online, CEO
For more information about the awards visit sheffieldbusinessawards.org.uk
