Large firms urged to mark difficult year at awards

Portsmouth City Council said it is once again delighted and excited to be sponsoring the Large Business of the Year award.

The awards, set to take place on Thursday, July 8, will see 15 awards handed out across a range of categories, all created with the purpose of helping Portsmouth shine.

Deputy leader of the council Steve Pitt encouraged people to enter in order to mark the successes of a difficult year.

He said: ‘It has been a very difficult year for all our businesses but I am so proud of everything we have done across the council, working in partnership with so many organisations and people to help our businesses survive.

‘For example our crowdfunding platform in partnership with Shaping Portsmouth has helped 31 businesses achieve £286,000 in funding. We have paid out more than £56m in grants and provided £46m in rate relief so far with more grants and rate relief on the way.

‘We have provided grants to 44 per cent of all of our 8,000 businesses in the city. The helpline has helped 5,400 business callers.

‘The city is proud of achieving the award as Most Entrepreneurial City in 2020 and winning the FSB award for the Most Business Friendly Council in the Wessex area in 2019.

‘Our economic growth team provides many services for businesses including the amazing Covid business support helpline, our weekly e-business bulletin, grants, the inward investment service, research and intelligence on the economy, and much more.’

SEE ALSO: The News Business Excellence Awards 2020 - full list of winners

Pat Smith, from lead sponsor the University of Portsmouth, said: ‘We greatly admire the huge passion it has in championing businesses of all sizes.

‘It offers great support to businesses and it has done a fantastic job throughout the pandemic to ensure every business was given help and that essential grant funding was out quickly. I am sure they will have many entries from businesses who employ more than 25 employees and I am excited to see who wins.’

The News is proud to be hosting the 2021 Business Excellence Awards.These long-running awards recognise a cross section of businesses and the vital role they play in the success of the region.The awards ceremony will take place on July 8 at the Portsmouth Guildhall and will be attended by more than 300 guests, as well as being live streamed.For more information go to portsmouthbusinessexcellence.co.uk or e-mail Richard Thompson, group events director, on [email protected] or call 07385 348816.

This year's categories:

Small Business of the Year

Medium Business of the Year (Sponsored by Citrus IT Support)

Large Business of the Year (Sponsored by Portsmouth City Council)

Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Sponsored by the University of Portsmouth)

Start up Business of the Year

International Business of the Year

Employer of the Year

Leisure, Retail & Tourism Business of the Year

Training Programme of the Year

Company CSR Initiative of the Year (Sponsored by BAE Systems)

Apprentice/Trainee of the Year (Sponsored by Portsmouth College)

Entrepreneur of the Year

Sustainable Business Award (Sponsored by Portsmouth Water)

Lifetime Achievement Award

Overall Business of the Year (Sponsored by Verisona Law)