High Sheriff’s Awards for Enterprise
In partnership with the University of Chester
The Awards are open to businesses and charities of any size that are based in Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, Halton and Warrington.
I’m delighted to welcome you to the High Sheriff’s Enterprise Awards 2023/24 which have now become an established part of Cheshire’s commercial calendar.
The date for our presentation evening has now been set for 4th April 2024, the venue being the prestigious Churchill House, home of University of Chester’s Business School.
As a former Dean of one of the UKs largest Business Schools much of my career has directly involved working commercially with businesses here and internationally, including as Chairman of Business Information Technology World hosting events in India, Mexico, South Africa Egypt and Ecuador. Different cultures and customs play their part in business entrepreneurship and success of course and yet the central tenants of success transcend them all i.e., innovate and deliver great product/service with a passion that outperforms the competition.
I have spent my professional life leading and delivering organisational success in Health, Academe, Law and the Humanitarian sectors and the common denominator for successful leadership is to find talented people to join you, build great teams and together inspire your client base to join that journey. So much of the High Sheriff Awards for Enterprise for 2023/24 is about recognising Cheshire based organisations on that journey.
So, whether you are a pan-global business or charity, an entrepreneurial startup or anywhere in between, share your story with the experienced judges of these awards. As High Sheriff I want to celebrate your achievements and profile the success that you are achieving that embodies all that is progressive in Cheshire and the UK.
This year includes some categories that profile more overtly than previously issues around environmental sustainability and also social media, both of which reflect early 21st century imperatives. The range of award categories are designed in part to include at least one within which any business or charity can participate. I do hope that you wish to do so.
Dennis Dunn MBE JP DL
High Sheriff of Cheshire 2023/24
About the High Sheriff
The Office of High Sheriff is more than 1,000 years old, though in modern times it is dictated by the Sheriffs Act 1887. It is a royal appointment that involves upholding the values of the country’s justice system.
Originally the High Sheriff held many of the powers now vested in high court judges, magistrates, local authorities and coroners.
Today’s duties include attendance at royal visits to the county, support for His Majesty’s High Court Judges when on circuit and taking an active part in supporting and promoting voluntary organisations within the County.
The Office of Sheriff is an independent non-political Royal appointment for a single year. The High Sheriff’s Awards for Enterprise ceremony takes place at the end of each Cheshire High Sheriff’s term in office. A more contemporary role involves supporting and encouraging voluntary and statutory organisations and highlighting all aspects of success in the community.
You can find out more about the role of the High Sheriff on the Official website for the High Sheriff of Cheshire.
Award Categories
This prize will be awarded to an organisation that can demonstrate through action that they make a difference to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). This difference may be within the workplace itself (e.g. through recruitment practices, through development and training for career progression and advancement); and/ or externally with stakeholders (e.g. product design to meet particularly hard to reach market segments or developing services to meet the needs of disadvantaged or under-represented societal groups within a customer/client base).
The submission should describe the activities undertaken and their impact to date.
This prize will be awarded to the charity or business that has made a significant difference to the community they serve. This could relate to the development or utilisation of new products or technology in order to reach the most vulnerable in our communities. It could also relate to new and innovative ways of developing strong relationships and a sense of community with stakeholders.
The submission should describe the community(ies) impacted and the ways in which the charity or business has engaged with them. There should be least one strong example of how the engagement has made a real tangible difference to said community.
This prize will be awarded to an organisation whose purpose is to deliver a lasting environmental benefit, demonstrating a measurable impact that has the potential to be grown at scale. This can be in any service, manufacturing or product enterprise and includes both novel initiatives as well as those which are established and are now delivering environmental gains.
Your submission should demonstrate clearly how innovation has been achieved and how it will be sustained.
This award seeks to recognise and champion the incredible steps taken by those businesses or charities that are creating an environment for their employees to succeed. These businesses or charities will be able to demonstrate their commitment to the health and wellbeing of their workforce.
Judges will be looking for those organisations that have developed and implemented an effective, holistic strategy which has had a proven and significant positive impact on the health and wellbeing of its workforce.
Please summarise and provide examples of how current workplace culture and practices support employee health and wellbeing and have led to employee satisfaction, retention, and increased productivity, creating a healthier and happier workforce (see examples below). Plus, any additional practices and initiatives developed to support the health and wellbeing of others across the system e.g., consumers. Case studies welcome where possible.
Your application could focus on the following examples:
- Health and wellbeing as an organisation priority e.g. through relevant policies/strategies, employee health champions
- Health and wellbeing within management processes e.g. being included in skills/knowledge requirements of managers
- Promoting and supporting both physical health and mental health
- Enabling all employees to participate in decisions around practices that impact upon them e.g. contribute to plans/policies
- Providing initiatives to reduce waste and carbon emissions e.g. active travel schemes, reusable drinking cups/bottles
- Promoting health and wellbeing to both staff and consumers
This prize will be awarded for the most innovative use of technology in business transformation.
The submission should outline the specific technology, how it has been used and the business improvements that have been observed as a result. Please provide at least one strong example that illustrates the improvements observed.
This prize will be awarded to an exceptional business or charity that has been operational for less than two years. The submission should provide an overview of why and how the business or charity was established. Please identify performance to date and describe any challenges faced in setting up the business or charity. Please provide a clear description of the aspirations for the business moving forwards.
This prize recognises outstanding entrepreneurial families and / or the achievements of specific family organisations.
The submission should describe what is particularly innovative or distinctive about the entrepreneurial family or business. Please include at least one clear example of how the concept of ‘family’ is important to the organisation.
This prize will recognise the development, improvement, contribution, and commitment of the selected apprentice. Your submission should explain what contribution and commitment the apprentice (who may be the entrant themselves) has made, using at least one example of the types of projects they have been involved in. You should also describe the development and improvement the apprentice has made over the time they have been with an organisation. Nominations for the Apprentice Award are welcomed from businesses of any size.
This prize will recognise a young person under 30 who has shown entrepreneurial spirit and endeavour within their role. This ‘business sense’ may be connected to a workplace or to the development of a business. Entrants may also consider any challenges that the young person (who may be the entrant themselves) has had to overcome to be successful.
Your submission will provide detail about how the young person has shown their business potential. You should provide at least one strong example of the way in which the young person has shown resilience or commitment to their employment pathway.
This prize will be awarded to the business that has achieved outstanding commercial success and sustainable growth over the past two years.
Submissions should describe innovative practice or a specific initiative and should also demonstrate a willingness to undertake bold new ventures.
The submission should demonstrate evidence of sustainable growth and commercial success across the business, to levels that are outstanding for the size of the operation.