THERE are 12 awards available to win and now is the time to put your nomination in.

On these pages you will find a description of each award category.

Businesses are encouraged to enter themselves into the awards.

1. Business Services Provider of the Year

This award will go to the HBID member business in the professional services sector which has significantly increased its performance or potential in the latest financial year. The size and age of the business are relevant in consideration against its performance.

The judges are interested in new products or services, innovations and changes in processes, as well as expansion into new markets or different areas of business activity.

Your entry should include:

• Why should your business win Professional Services Provider of the Year 2017?

• A brief history of your business and its products

• Details of the business growth

• Particular achievements over the last 12 months

• Any other matters of significance that will assist the judges

2. Hotel, Restaurant, Pub or Café of the Year

This award will go to the HBID member hotel, restaurant, pub or café which has significantly increased its performance or potential in the latest financial year. The size and age of the business are relevant and will be considered against its performance.

The judges are interested in new products or services, innovations and changes in processes, as well as expansion into new markets or different areas of business activity.

Your entry should include:

• Why should your business win Hotel, Restaurant, Pub or Café of the Year 2017?

• A brief history of your business

• Details of the business growth

• What do you do to ensure you deliver a high standard of customer service and how do you measure this?

• Particular achievements over the last 12 months

• Any other matters of significance that will assist the judges

3. Independent Business of the Year

This award will go to the HBID member independent business which has significantly increased its performance or potential in the latest financial year. The size and age of the business are relevant and will be considered against its performance.

The judges are interested in new products or services, innovations and changes in processes, as well as expansion into new markets or different areas of business activity.

Your entry should include:

• Why should your business win Independent Business of the Year 2017?

• A brief history of your business

• Details of the business growth

• What do you do to ensure you deliver a high standard of customer service and how do you measure this?

• Particular achievements over the last 12 months

• Any other matters of significance that will assist the judges

4. Customer Service Award

The award will be presented to the HBID member business that has provided the best service to the customers/visitors to Hereford City. This business will be seen to be regularly going ‘above and beyond’ the call of duty to ensure their customers receive excellent service.

HBID Member Businesses will be required to put themselves forward for this Award for the judges to select their top three, which in turn, members of the public will then vote for their preferred winner.

Your entry should include:

• Why should your business win the Customer Service Award 2017?

• Give a brief outline of your business

• Give examples of excellent customer service

• Submit two customer testimonials

• Particular achievements over the last 12 months

• Any other matters of significance that will assist the judges

5. National Retailer of the year

This award will go to the HBID member multiple national business that best demonstrates that they are at the heart of and an essential part of Hereford life.

They will need to provide the judges with evidence of how they contribute to the business community in Hereford, providing employment to local people, as well as offering consumers’ choice, quality and service.

Your entry should include:

• Why should your business be the winner of National Retailer of the Year Award 2017?

• Give a brief outline of your business

• How do you ensure you deliver quality and service to shoppers?

• Particular achievements over the last 12 months

• Any other matters of significance that will assist the judges

6. Best Presented Award

This award goes to the HBID member business in Hereford that is trying to improve the shopping environment by presenting their shop front at its best. This could be through eye catching window displays that helps to draw customers in. It could be by keeping their building looking at its best through regular cleaning and decorative touch ups.

Your entry should include:

• Why should your business be the winner of the Best Presented Award 2017?

• Give a brief outline of your business

• How have you improved the local environment?

• What impact have these improvements or changes had?

• Particular achievements over the last 12 months

• Any other matters of significance that will assist the judges

7. Outstanding Contribution to the City

We want to celebrate and reward those businesses, clubs or groups, in Herefordshire, who by using their initiative, improve the visitor experience to our city.

This category is open to those who through their projects or events have Increased the footfall into the city and added value to the community.

• Why should your business be the winner of the Outstanding Contribution to the City Award 2017?

• Give a brief outline of your business/club/group

• How have you improved the footfall into the city?

• What impact have these improvements or changes had on the local community?

• Particular achievements over the last 12 months

• Any other matters of significance that will assist the judges

8. Putting Hereford City on the Map Award

This award goes to the HBID member business or person that has helped to put Hereford on the map. This could be a business exporting its products or services outside the county, a business that has drawn national coverage or a person within the business doing exceptional things.

Your entry should include:

• Why should you/they be the winner of Putting Hereford on the Map Award 2017?

• Give a brief outline of your/their business, group or person

• What have you/they done to put Hereford on the map?

• What impact have they had?

• Any other matters of significance that will assist the judges

9. Night Time Economy Business of the Year

This award will go to the HBID member business, in the night time economy, which has significantly increased its performance or potential in the last financial year. The size and age of the business are relevant and will be considered against its performance.

The judges are interested in new products or services, innovations and changes in processes, as well as expansion into new markets or different areas of business activity.

Your entry should include:

• Why should your business be the winner of the Night Time Economy Business of the Year 2017

• A brief history of your business

• Details of the business growth

• What do you do to ensure you deliver a high standard of customer service and how do you measure this?

• Particular achievements over the last 12 months

• Any other matters of significance that will assist the judges

10. Employee of the Year

This award will go to the HBID member employee who has made an outstanding contribution to the success of the business.

The judges are interested in new products or services, innovations and changes in processes, as well as expansion into new markets or different areas of business activity.

Your entry should include:

• Why should this member of staff be Employee of the Year 2017?

• A brief history of your business

• What makes this person outstanding?

• Particular achievements over the last 12 months

• Any other matters of significance that will assist the judges

11. Employer of the Year

This award recognises the HBID member business that has created a stimulating and supportive work environment and a real commitment to the welfare of its employees, resulting in high staff satisfaction levels and a well-motivated, ambitious and integrated workforce.

Your entry should include:

? Positive leadership and management

? An integrated ethical culture across the company

? A clear human resources policy that creates a stimulating and supportive workplace

? How employees are engaged with company values and strategic goals

? Excellence in staff retention and development

? Schemes and training initiatives that have contributed towards the development of staff

12. Special Recognition Award

This award will go to the businessperson who, in the opinion of the judges, has made a considerable, profitable and lasting contribution to the business community in Hereford.

This may be awarded to a member of a company or a member of a business organisation. The judges will be looking for evidence of this individual’s long term contribution to the development of the business community in Hereford.

The winner of this category is selected by the judges.

To enter, visit herefordtimes.com/hbidbusinessawards. Click on the appropriate category and fill in the online form.