The 1066 Business Awards 2016 recognises outstanding success

A glittering black tie ceremony will be held at Bannatyne Spa Hotel in St Leonards on Friday, July 15 with the awards being presented to winners and highly commended categories.

The annual event will be hosted this year by Beverley Thompson and Keith Ridley.

Nominations for entries are now open by emailing [email protected]

If you are interested in sponsoring a category please contact Karen Beck on 07841 800401 or email [email protected]Once again Hastings Borough Council is sponsoring the Tourism & Leisure Business of the Year category and the Let’s do Business organisation is sponsoring the Best Start-Up Business (under two years).

1066 Country Marketing

1066 Country Marketing is the private/public sector partnership responsible for marketing our great area to visitors.

Formed over 20 years ago, active partners include Hastings Borough Council, Rother District Council, Wealden District Council, English Heritage, the National Trust, and over 70 private sector businesses, including virtually all of the visitor attractions in the area, hotels, guest houses, etc.

Tourism is vitally important to 1066 Country, contributing over £550m to the local economy, and supporting over 12 500 jobs.

We are very proud of our area, and keen to promote it to domestic and overseas visitors. With the ROOT1066 Festival later this year, and of course the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings in October, we are already getting some great publicity. We aim to build on that, and make this a really bumper year for the area’s visitor economy.

If you want to be part of what we do and join our partnership, please contact Kevin Boorman at [email protected]Award Categories

Retailer of the Year: Award for the retail business that can best demonstrate strong growth, an innovative approach to customer and employee relations together with creativity to enhance sales.

This category is open to local independent retailers and to local units of national chains providing they can show how they have impacted on the local community and economy.

Outstanding Contribution to the Community: This award is open to all businesses, who can demonstrate an outstanding contribution to the local community through the support of local community organisations, schools or partnerships.

Best Start-Up Business (under 2 years) - Sponsored by: Lets Do Business Group: This award is open to all businesses within the Hastings and Rother area who at the closing date for applications have been trading for less than 24 months.

Small Business of the Year (1-10 employees): This award is open to all businesses within the Hastings/St Leonards/Bexhill/Rye/Battle area with less than 10 employees that can demonstrate exceptional performance, growth and market leadership.

Medium Business of the Year (10-50 employees): This award is open to all businesses within the Hastings/St Leonards/Bexhill/Rye/Battle area with between 10-50 employees that can demonstrate exceptional performance, growth and market leadership.

Large Business of the Year (50+ employees): This award is open to all businesses within the Hastings/St Leonards/Bexhill/Rye/Battle area with 50+ employees that can demonstrate exceptional performance, growth and market leadership.

Eatery (Restaurant / Pub / Cafe) of the Year: Award for a local restaurant, café, pub that can demonstrate outstanding creativity, customer service and top quality dining / food in the Hastings and Rother area.

Tourism & Leisure Business of the Year - Sponsored by: Hastings Borough Council: Award to a Hastings/St Leonards/Bexhill/Rye/Battle area based business that has best demonstrated exceptional financial returns, innovation, strong growth and market leadership in the field of tourism, leisure or hospitality activities.

Young Achiever of the Year: Award for an exceptional individual aged under 30 has set up or developed a new business, product or service.

Investor in Training Business of the Year: Award for companies demonstrating outstanding commitment to training in within the Hastings/St Leonards/Bexhill/Rye/Battle area.

Customer Service Award: Award for a company who exceeds customer expectations in its service.

Innovation Award - Sponsored by: Identity Signage & Printingn: ability to navigate market conditions is crucial for a business to survive today’s difficult economic conditions. How has your business adapted to change, or utilized an innovative idea in order to be a successful business?

Jobseeker Award: This award is open to all newly employed jobseekers within the Hastings and Rother area who, at the closing date for applications, have been employed less than three months.

Business Person of the Year : We are seeing nominations for an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the business community. This might be a significant one-off contribution, or a lifetime contribution.

Overall Business of the Year: All short listed applications will be entered into this category. The award to any business within the Hastings/St Leonards/Bexhill/Rye/Battle area that has demonstrated innovative strategies to bring about exceptional financial returns, strong growth and market leadership in its sector.