The East Anglian Daily Times Business Awards 2023 are now open for entries. The Rising Star of the Year category is new for this year and aims to recognise the contribution made by entrepreneurs and their new ventures as well as the impact they are having on the local and regional economy, society and communities.
“In the current challenging economic environment, it is essential that we celebrate the resilience, ambition and achievements of entrepreneurs and new businesses who are contributing to the growth and prosperity of the Suffolk economy and providing employment opportunities for local people,” said Alexandra Nelson, category judge and partner at Birketts.
Launching a new business is not without its challenges, and one of the biggest challenges that businesses face in the first three years, according to Mrs Nelson, is securing high-quality legal advice on all aspects of their business.
Securing this and being able to be resilient, innovative and agile is “essential”, and Mrs Nelson added that “clarity of purpose and a sense of direction is also key” for new businesses looking to excel.
“In practice, this means having a clearly articulated vision, mission and values underpinning a robust business plan with clearly articulated objectives.”
Entering awards can be beneficial for young businesses that are looking to stand out, and also offers a chance to reflect on their achievements to date and gather advice for the future.
Mrs Nelson explained: “This award will provide businesses with the opportunity to gain valuable exposure to the Suffolk market and the Suffolk business community. The judging process will also enable entrepreneurs and businesses to receive feedback on their submissions from highly experienced legal advisers.”
And for the winner of this new award, Mrs Nelson said that she hopes the accolade will boost their reputation “locally, regionally and nationally, supporting both their customer and recruitment strategies.
The deadline for entries to the EADT Business Awards is April 30. To enter the Rising Star of the Year category, please visit the website.
The find out more about all of the categories, please click here.
Meet the sponsor
Birketts is a full service UK top 50 law firm. With more than 500 lawyers and legal professionals based in East Anglia, Kent and London, the firm advises businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally.
With a strong sector focus, Birketts’ business is divided into four disciplines: corporate services (banking and finance, corporate and commercial, data protection, employment, immigration, and tax); litigation and dispute resolution (including IP); private client advisory; and property.
Birketts has a leading reputation for providing high quality legal and client services with a personal touch and works with its colleagues and clients to help them achieve their next level.
Award criteria
The winner of this award will be a business that has shown clear financial activity which translates into inward investment and increased turnover, and has accelerated to the profit stage.
The business will be able to show that it has utilised innovation, and that its firm is based on a clear business model which is scalable in the long term.
The business must be less than five years old at the point of application closing and able demonstrate a clear development plan for the next three years.
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