Entries for Lincolnshire Media Business Awards 2013 are now open

Applications for the Lincolnshire Media Business Awards 2013 are now being accepted.

Firms have the chance to win in 11 categories – covering every size and type of enterprise in the county.

Application forms will be printed in the paper from Thursday, February 14 and are available for download at the bottom of this story.

Entries to the county's premiere business awards event must be submitted before Saturday, August 31.

Bosses were invited to a launch of the awards at lead sponsor Siemens' new Teal Park base on Tuesday, February 5.

Duncan Clark, head of business excellence at the firm, said: "We're very proud to be continuing our sponsorship of this event.

"I think it's really important for businesses here in the region to celebrate their successes and to really sustain the work that's being done.

"I want to encourage people to put in applications and not shy away from shouting about all the hard work they have put in.

"Last year, it was amazing to see how many entries were submitted and to see the successes in the region.

"It shows it's really worth celebrating."

A shortlist of finalists will be announced in September. And the winners will be crowned at an awards ceremony – held at the EPIC Centre, at Lincolnshire Showground – on Wednesday, October 16. Awards will include honours for small, medium and large businesses, new enterprises and environmental firms.

Readers will also vote for a Customer Services Award and Lincolnshire Media will pick the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Richard Duxbury, publisher of Lincolnshire Media, said: "We're delighted that Siemens are supporting the awards again this year and I think it says a lot about their commitment to Lincoln.

"This is a positive, confidence-building exercise for the businesses and we want as many people to enter as possible. These are the biggest and best business awards in Lincolnshire and they are the ones to win."

The awards are now in their 17th year.

And judging panel chairman Simon Beardsley, of the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, believes the event is an opportunity to embrace achievements in a context of economic challenges.

He said: "The awards really are a chance to show the other side – to show a balance of how business is doing.

"It's a chance to showcase the fact that we have a number of enterprises working on a national and an international level, and we should be very proud of that."

Last year's winners included Stow-based Freewatt, which won the Renewables Award and was named the county's top large business.

Marketing manager Dirk Terjung said: "On the one hand the awards are a personal satisfaction, but it's also been good for PR and staff motivation.

"We've been able to call ourselves an award-winning company on our marketing materials.

"And when staff read about the awards, it's a motivation booster – it's nice for them to know the company is doing well."

For more information, e-mail businessawards@lincolnshire media.co.uk

Click here to download the entry form...