The Company of the Year Award celebrates businesses that have performed outstandingly throughout the year.

Recognising a firm that has stood out from the crowd, the winner of this category will have developed a strong business presence with proof of achievements including strong market share, economic turn-around and innovative approach.

Judges will be looking for a business that can be universally admired for their commercial practice and dedication to success.

Businesses from all sectors are eligible to apply.

The award is open to companies in the region which normally employ no more than 250 full-time staff members, and have a proven record of success.

Recognising a business that has shown marked success over the year, this award celebrates companies that are integral to the economy. For all finalists, judges will consider the prospective growth and development opportunities for the future of each business.

Businesses from all sectors are eligible to apply.

This award honours the region’s top employers. These companies will have demonstrated strong investment in their employees as well having a reward scheme and other key employee benefits. It’s time to reward them, as they do their staff. They will be recognised as one of the best places to work in the area!

Businesses from all sectors are eligible to apply.

This award is open to companies in the region that have been in operation for a maximum of three years as of January 1st 2020.

This coveted award recognises one of the region’s brightest new businesses and the contribution it will make to the county in the future. Judges will be tasked with analysing business plans, achievements to date and potential for growth within the next few years.

Businesses from all sectors are eligible to apply.

This award celebrates the individuals behind some of the most innovative and successful businesses in Derbyshire.

Looking at the individual achievements of the director, the results returned by their business and their unique approach to the marketplace they operate in, the judges will select finalists that best represent the Directors and business spirit of the region.

This award recognises the businesses that are providing valuable opportunities for young jobseekers in the area. Over recent years, the younger generation have struggled in the job market, and this category celebrates the employers who are supporting the youth of today.

The finalists in this category will have gone above and beyond to take on a number of apprentices and provide them with the support and training needed to kick-start their careers.

The companies nominated for this award will have demonstrable strengths in service excellence, business growth, innovation, technology, training and personal development. This category covers a wide range of professional services, including legal, financial, retail, hospitality and general services, to name but a few.

Judges will be looking for a service company that has achieved and succeeded measurable business goals.

The finalists for this award will have demonstrated considerable dedication to corporate, social and ethical responsibility, providing the community with the many positive outcomes of their commercial activity.

Judges will focus on businesses that have contributed substantially to the community through various means including society-led projects, aiding economic regeneration and supporting local suppliers.

The award celebrates the best of the county’s many not-for-profit organisations that make a contribution to the community around them.

Recognising the excellent performance of the public sector, not-for-profit and charitable organisations in the Derbyshire area, the award will be judged on the organisations’ ability to maintain financial performance, as well as looking at the cultural influence of the business and the potential benefits it brings.

This award recognises those companies that make customer service a priority in their day to day operations. The judges will be looking for a company that can demonstrate how they deliver excellent customer service and can showcase this with testimonials and through their methods.

Businesses from all sectors are eligible to apply.

The Excellence in Manufacturing Award celebrates the company that has upheld the manufacturing traditions of the local area, while continuing to strengthen the regional economy.

All finalists will demonstrate a dedication to manufacturing excellence with emphasis placed on quality, sales performance, sustainability and investment.

An award open to all primary and secondary schools across Derbyshire who actively collaborate externally with businesses (directly and/or through a provider) in a way which gives their young students early access to the world of work, employability skills and careers support.

These schools encourage their pupils to dream big and work to achieve those dreams no matter who they are or what challenges they face. Talent is evenly distributed but opportunity is not and we are looking to celebrate schools that are outward facing and looking to change this through collaboration.

The Excellence in Innovation Award celebrates a company that has made strides in their field, be it creating or introducing something new within the industry, while continuing to strengthen the regional economy. 

The finalists will be selected and judged on the quality of their products and services, their dedication to sales performance, their commitment to innovation and the sustainability of their business.

This category is aimed at companies who have made a transformation of business processes through digital advancements. Judges will look at how a business has transformed the way it works through the adoption of digital processes or technologies.

This concerns the originality of the project or digital advancement in terms of subject and/or approach. Judges will consider how digital technologies and processes have helped deliver any specific projects with demonstrable benefits. This could include one or more out of design, health and safety, construction and communication benefits.

The judges are looking for established businesses who can demonstrate clear growth. You will need to show how your business has achieved growth through innovation, product development, market development or through clear sales and marketing strategies/ initiatives.

This award is for established family businesses across all industry sectors that can demonstrate sustained success across a broad range of measures, whilst ensuring all family values are followed. The judges will also be looking at the aspirations of your business to demonstrate how both current and future family generations will be involved in the growth of the business.