A new awards ceremony is being launched to honour and inspire businesses across the county of Conwy.
The aim of the inaugural Conwy Business Awards is to show the world that the county is the perfect place for companies to thrive and prosper.
The glittering celebration will be held at the Eirias Events Centre, in Colwyn Bay, on Friday, May 9.
It’s hoped to build on the success of the awards event that’s been held to highlight the successes of firms in the rural parts of Conwy.
The competition has now being opened up to include large, medium and small scale enterprises across the whole of the county.
Organiser Anna Openshaw, Conwy Rural Business Support Project Manager, said: “The Conwy Business Awards scheme has grown and I’m delighted that all businesses, large or small, from right across Conwy are now eligible to enter. And this year awards will be even bigger with no fewer than nine categories to be decided.
“We really want to celebrate the success of local Conwy enterprises. We launched the awards at a recent Be a Winner conference and businesses can now enter the awards through the Conwy County Borough Website.”
West End star Craig Ryder, principal of The Academy Yr Academi, won Business of the Year 2013 when the awards were only open to rural enterprises.
Craig, whose business – based at Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy, Llanrwst – is a performing arts Saturday school teaching acting, singing and dance, says winning the last year’s award was “mind-blowing”.
He said: “Having the support that’s available to Conwy businesses, of any size, is important and I’ve found I can just pick up a phone and get any advice I need.
“I’d certainly encourage any Conwy business, no matter what size, to enter these awards. And I’m really delighted that this year the awards will encompass the whole of Conwy not just the rural areas as in previous years.”
Craig, who has just finished filming a feature film in and around Snowdonia, Dragons of Camelot, in which he plays Sir Percival, couldn’t be more pleased the way his own business has developed since winning last year‘s award.
He said: “The Academy Yr Academi is going from strength to strength and winning the award last year was a definite boost.”
The event is also being supported by the Federation of Small Businesses.
Michael Learmond, their Development Manager for North Wales and Chester, we will be encouraging all his eligible members to enter.
He said: “The Federation has been involved from the outset when the awards only celebrated rural businesses.
“Conwy County Borough Council has done exactly the right thing, organically growing the awards so they are now stable, better recognised and better valued.”
He added: “I will definitely be encouraging our members to enter one of the nine categories. The awards are a great boost and confirmation, if conformation is needed, that businesses are doing the right thing.
“Becoming a winner also increases a business’s profile in an ever competitive market place. What is important is that we get the message across that Conwy is a wonderful place to do business and that business, supported by Conwy County Borough Council, is thriving.”
According to Conwy County Borough Council Business Services Manager Caroline Jones, her team mentors businesses and will be on hand to help entrants with the applications to enter the awards.
She said: “Our role doesn’t end when the awards are over of course as we are always on hand to help businesses continue to prosper and grow.
“The awards are a wonderful way to celebrate good practice and innovation and I’m delighted they have grown from being solely for rural enterprises to cover the whole of the county borough.
“We know we have excellent businesses in Conwy and we need to celebrate their success and tell the world the borough is a thriving, welcoming and wonderful place to do business.
“We really do want business owners and proprietors to check out our website and download an application form. Winning a Conwy Business Award could be just the boost and recognition your business needs to step up to the next level.”
To learn more about the Conwy Business Awards visit www.conwy.gov.uk
