Don't miss the 2023 awards

19th May 2023

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When will the next North West Family Business Awards take place?

May 2024 – date TBC

When do applications open?

Applications opening date TBC. You can express interest for the awards here.

Who can enter?

As long as you are located in the North West of England (Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and/or Merseyside) and you have either two or more family members playing an active role in a family owned business or you have been through a generational transition, then you can apply. Family businesses must have been trading for at least a year, with the exception of Best Social Impact and People’s Choice which specifies trading of 6 months by the time of the awards.

The North West Family Business Awards are free to enter.

When do applications close?

The date for applications for the North West Family Business Awards to close is Friday 3rd February at midnight.

How do I enter?

Simply:

  1. Fill out the online form (be sure to save your progress as you go) and submit
  2. Download the form and fill it in, attach to an email to us at [email protected] or;
  3. Print it out and send it to North West Family Business Awards Team c/o The Family Business Community, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL

The judges can only judge from what is included in the application forms, so if there’s anything else you want them to know let ’em have it! (We’re thinking links to videos, pictures, you know, the fun stuff. You can share links,attach supporting info via email, or send via Wetransfer).

 

Can I nominate another business?

Yes! How kind of you!

Nominations for the North West Family Business Awards are also open!

We just need to know the reason you are nominating the business and of course their contact details.

We will then contact your nominated family business in order to let them know they’ve been nominated, and to invite them to fill in an application form. You can make your nomination anonymously if you wish!

Please not your nomination is not an application on their behalf and they do still need to apply formally, but your nomination could make all the difference as it will be presented to the judges alongside their application.

What is the process after applications close?

The judges are sent the applications which they spend time reading and assessing. They then meet to discuss (argue over!) creating the shortlist, which is then announced to the public on 14th February.

All shortlisted businesses are finalists and as part of the judging process you will be visited by representation from our judging panel. The exception to this is employee of the year, who will be asked to attend a judging day which includes a celebratory lunch. Details will be sent to you once the finalists are announced.

How will I know if I’ve been successful?

We try to contact all businesses whether successful or not shortly after judging day.

Finalists will be provided with a finalist logo for use in their own marketing and of course invited to the Awards Dinner and Ceremony where the winners will be announced.

What are the judges looking for?

That would be telling! Safe to say, however, that the judges all have their own specialist areas and we are looking to celebrate and recognise family businesses in all their shapes and sizes.

Read the questions and remember you are a family business and the way you run your business is unique to you – so tell us about it! We aren’t here to catch you out: we want to hear about your story, what makes your business tick, how you get involved in the community and how you celebrate being a family business.

If you get really stuck you can still call one of the team; and we will be sharing a guidance document to help you once applications open.

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Contact Us

For general enquiries regarding the North West Awards, contact: 

Sue Howorth on 07866 536050

Dave Clarkson on 07908 783305