5 Great Reasons Why You Should Enter The 2022 Business & Young Entrepreneurs Awards

Concierge Medical, headline sponsor of the leading Cotswolds awards, shares the key reasons why we have continued to support and sponsor the awards and all the great reasons why you should enter the 2022 Business & Young Entrepreneurs awards!

Concierge Medical, which was founded in 2013, is a private, home visiting general practice providing continuity of care for its members across the Cotswolds and surrounding areas. Providing an assured, reliable, and discreet service to its members in a rural landscape where access to healthcare can often be a challenge.

Chipping Campden in The Cotswolds is at the heart of our serviced region and is where our business first began. As a small fast-growing business, we understand the value and impact on business growth that entering and winning awards can have.

The first awards took place in the Chipping Campden, Grade II listed town hall in 2014 and has continued to grow and thrive. The small event inspired us with its unique long-standing commitment to young entrepreneurs offering a platform for Chipping Campden School’s business enterprise scheme for secondary and Sixth form students to encourage, inspire and motivate students to participate in the scheme and then acknowledge and reward their successes.

The ‘Business Forum’ itself provided a supportive network to help our business develop in the area and we are committed to help the awards succeed to support local businesses to survive and thrive, because a thriving business community is essential to the local economy.

Concierge Medical has been involved in the annual events ever since, becoming the headline sponsor in 2017 and we continue to support the event, now into year two of a post covid, three-year sponsorship commitment.

The awards are organised by the Campden Business Forum and an awards steering committee of award sponsors. There have been several changes made to the awards over the years to continuously improve and further engage the local community. The award’s ambitions are to provide participating businesses with enhanced credibility, recognition and reward, a fresh perspective to inspire, motivate and educate, give exposure, lift community spirits and employee morale, establish a business network to engage and collaborate with, give a feeling of pride and provide a legacy.

The 2022 Concierge Medical Business & Young Entrepreneurs Awards are to launch this month and the finalists will be revealed at the awards ceremony on the 22nd November 2022. The event will be hosted by Loyd Grossman CBE, author, journalist, and TV presenter with the welcome addition of a guest speaker, Mark Hart, Professor of Small Business and Entrepreneurship at Aston Business School and Academic Lead of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses programme amongst his many accolades at the brand new event venue, the Cidermill Theatre, due to open its doors for the first time this summer.

2022 for many of us, is a year of recovery, whether financial, emotional, environmental and physical. Entering awards is a great way of reviewing your business, team and objectives and recognising areas of success. A great opportunity for a business ‘health check’.

Thinking of entering?

There are several categories available, at least one should be applicable whatever the size of your business/enterprise. Consider your key business objectives when applying, how you have adapted or focussed to achieve in these areas?

For example:
As COP26 took place last year, many business owners will have pledges to transform their impact on the planet. From reducing carbon footprint to recycling and environmental, social, and corporate governance. Do you have successful environment and sustainability policies and achievements to inspire?

Since January 2021, businesses have faced new rules and regulations in light of the Brexit transition, affecting trade, importing produce and employment. Do you have a post Brexit business success story to share?

Following the devastating impact of Covid-19, many organisations are rebuilding their consumer base and profits. Perhaps your business was a pandemic start-up that has continued to grow from strength to strength. Share your business successes with your peers to inspire others to kickstart their company’s recovery.

Since the renewed civil rights movement of 2020, diversity and inclusion have been at the forefront of business agendas. How and what do you do to ensure your culture and teams are diverse and inclusive?

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, there is an increased interest in emotional wellbeing, the ability to endure hardship or workplace burnout, reflecting the need for better mental health support. Has your business successfully addressed this need?

The economic climate and escalating cost of living and energy price increases will see an increase in hardship and adversity. Do you provide solutions or assistance in these areas, or have you had to change the way you operate to address the challenge of rate increases?

Covid-19 forced British businesses to embrace home working. As teams reunite, teamwork and team building will be essential to overcome isolation and loneliness, for effective collaboration and to ensure essential skills and knowledge are learnt for career progression and leadership succession planning. How do you overcome these challenges? Workplace culture is of utmost importance and with 2022 continuing the shift in the status quo, has your business adapted to ensure workplace culture supports employee engagement and performance?

Why enter?

Apart from the opportunity to visit and support the brand new Cidermill Theatre, be amazed by the Chipping Campden School Young Entrepreneur’s innovations, meet local celebrity Loyd Grossman CBE, benefit from the wisdom of guest speaker, business and entrepreneur professional Professor Mark Hart, mingle with the local community and network with local business entrepreneurs and sponsors, enjoy complimentary nibbles and drinks, you should enter because it’s a great opportunity to:

1. Take time to reflect
Running your own business is hard work – we are constantly beating ourselves up about what we can do better, how we can go faster. Entering the awards, forces you to reflect on how far you have come and what you have achieved and that is really important. Whether you win, are a finalist or not placed… just entering gives you that moment to stop and pause to give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back.

2. Reward your staff
Just entering your business, team or individuals is recognition that you see and value the work that your team/s do, instantly boosting morale. Recognition at an awards ceremony gives a morale boost to your company’s employees and gives them a focus for their purpose at work. Knowing they have contributed to the recognition is a great motivator to continue to perform for their company regardless of the outcome. If your nomination sees you becoming a finalist, invest in inviting the team to attend, the event itself can be a great team building event and opportunity to treat and reward your team members.

3. Identify opportunities
Reflecting on your business performance, where you are now and how far you have come, may also stimulate new business and strategy ideas. Some of our best ideas have been while entering awards, the process can spark new initiatives and highlight opportunities.

4. A boost to your sales and marketing
A simple way to position your business over your competitors. Your prospects are more likely to choose you over competitors if you’re THE award-winning business in your sector.

If your business is nominated or becomes a finalist, you can participate and maximise on highly valuable publicity before, throughout and after the event, through print, email and social media. As a winner, you can expect this awareness to be multiplied even further.

You will be given the opportunity to use the awards branding on your website and in your marketing materials, all of which help build trust and awareness with your target audience.

Use the awards opportunity to maximise exposure, not only through planned marketing campaigns and advertising but also through the network connections provided. Connect with the awards organisers, judges, nominees, and audience for valuable exposure.

Winning or being nominated for awards serves as a strong indicator of worthiness among prospective customers. Businesses who regularly enter and win awards report increased sales and income against businesses who don’t enter awards. Successful businesses like to work with other successful businesses.

5. Gain customer loyalty and retention
Entering and winning business awards demonstrates to your customers that your business is at the top of its game, reinforcing their reasons for using you in the first place. It also helps build brand loyalty as customers are always keen to stick with businesses who are perceived to be doing well.

Our Top Tip

Consider entering multiple categories where appropriate to best suit your business and its achievements.

We are passionate about encouraging business and entrepreneurial talent in the Cotswolds and this starts by showcasing the great work you do. To champion this idea further, this year we have also sponsored the new Pride of Cotswolds Award for the best overall winner. Could it be you?

Follow your good doctor’s orders and enter here:

Nominate now!

To find out more about Concierge Medical, contact:
info@conciergemedical.co.uk
01451 600900