This category challenges the top apprentices and trainees within the area to come forward and show how apprenticeships and trainee programmes have made a real difference to their organisation and careers. The award will recognise apprentices or trainees who have made a significant contribution to their workplaces.

This award celebrates bold ideas, fresh thinking, and businesses with the ambition to make a real impact. We’re looking for exciting startup businesses that have been trading for fewer than three complete financial years and are already showing strong potential for growth, innovation, and success. Judges will be looking for businesses with a genuine “X Factor” — whether that’s a unique concept, disruptive approach, inspiring founder story, rapid growth, or a clear vision for the future.

This Business Award was created to recognise the business personality who best represents achievement and longevity. Synonymous with his or her business sector in the area, the award acknowledges the winner’s sustained achievements within the business community during a distinguished career.

We're looking for an outstanding business whose growth, ambition and quality of management has enabled it to outperform its peers in a variety of areas including (but not limited to) high level financial performance metrics, strategic planning, diversity and inclusion, people development including training and wellbeing and community engagement including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) initiatives. This category is open to entries from businesses with more than 10 employees.

Please note all finalists in this category will be contacted by the Judges to arrange a visit.

We're looking for an outstanding business whose growth, ambition and quality of management have enabled it to outperform its peers in a variety of areas, including (but not limited to) financial wellbeing, company strategy, diversity and inclusion, people development and community engagement. This category is open to entries from businesses with fewer than 10 employees.

Please note all finalists in this category will be contacted by the Judges  to arrange a visit.  

This award recognises a business or business person who has made a positive contribution to the local community, making an extra effort to bring the community together or those who go out of their way to help others or a charity. The award is for those who make an outstanding contribution to the community or improving the locality for the benefit of everyone.

This award recognises individuals and teams who have demonstrated exceptional customer service and follow through by delivering ‘above and beyond’ customer expectations.

Nominees for this award will have gone the extra mile in their job to achieve something amazing in work, or have overcome adversity in their life and continued to be an asset and role model to others within their organisation.

This category celebrates individuals who have chosen West Suffolk as their base to extend their services regionally, nationally or internationally and will shine a light on the home office and the hot desk. Freelancers are often the hidden gems that make a significant contribution to our economy and demonstrate a way of working with little or no carbon footprint and agility to push the traditional boundaries of the 9-5. The winner of this award will have made a lasting impact, whether in their sector or on a specific client project, and will demonstrate their contribution to the success of others as well as their own success as a freelancer.

The judges are looking to celebrate those organisations and individuals undertaking genuinely unique work that can be emulated by the wider business community and serve to drive green growth. As such, each entry will be judged against three overarching criteria: innovation, applicability and overall improvement in environmental performance.

Businesses entering the West Suffolk award MUST be based within the geography of the West Suffolk Council area. 

This award recognises a business or individual within a business that has made/continues to make investment into West Suffolk. 

The award winner may be a small family business that continues to grow in the area; a larger business that has flourished and grown from its West Suffolk base; an individual who continues to be an ambassador for the area; a commitment to staff and skills development; a wider contribution to the West Suffolk community through the creation of a Social Enterprise or the delivery of a programme of Corporate Social Responsibility, or indeed, a number of the above.

This award recognises businesses and manufacturers which demonstrate innovative and exceptional operational performance, high-quality production and manufacturing processes, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Judges are looking for firms that effectively use advanced and industry-leading processes, technology or innovation to enhance productivity, competitiveness and the overall quality of their products. Prospective winners will be pushing the boundaries of their industries and fields and setting the tone for years to come.

Entrants should show strong evidence of efficient operations, innovative processes, robust supply chain management and an ability to consistently deliver value to customers. They should highlight their investment in people, sustainability, and long-term growth. This may include workforce development, apprenticeships, environmental responsibility, waste reduction, or adopting more sustainable materials and practices. Judges will be looking for businesses and manufacturers that not only excel and lead the way today, but are actively shaping the future of the sector and contributing positively to the regional economy.