Ten years of Business Boost success is to be celebrated as past winners are invited to the 2019 launch at Newcastle-under-Lyme’s historic Guildhall.

Business Boost rewards growing businesses across the borough, giving business development advice and cash prizes to support future success.

Every former winner is invited to attend the 2019 launch at the Guildhall on 10 July.

Sarah Da Silva, chair of the Business Boost steering committee, said: “Business Boost has helped nurture many growing businesses over the years and we want to see as many as possible at the Guildhall. It is the first time we have had a physical launch but we had record entries in 2018 and we believe it will be fantastic to get people together to celebrate success.

“The Business Boost committee is largely made up of local business owners, including some of our previous winners, and each year, we raise funds to ensure money is available to keep the awards growing. This time, we have four categories including a new award to encourage micro-businesses. The new Flying Solo award is specifically aimed at businesses less than three years old, with one to three employees.”

The other categories are Entrepreneurial Spirit, Going for Growth and the BID Future Boost Award. All awards are open to any business located in Newcastle borough, with the exception of the BID Future Boost, which is sponsored by the Newcastle Business Improvement District and open to BID members.

Headline sponsors for 2019 are My Clever Hub (Entrepreneurial Spirit), JSW Insurance (Going for Growth) and Newcastle BID and many other companies have also helped to fund the awards, including Rydale Roofing, Appointments Personnel, KMF Engineering, Best of British Beer, Advanced Packaging, the KRISP project (Keele University) and the town’s McDonald’s franchise.

The main categories offer first prizes of £1,500 each and there are a number of other prizes, awarded by the judges, such as a part funded apprenticeship prize, from the Realise Foundation, a year’s membership of Stafford Chambers of Commerce and a stand at the 2020 Let’s Do Business exhibition, and an advertising package from The HitMix radio station, based in the borough.

Finally, the judges have the discretion to award the £500 Philip Astley Award, to an innovative business that fires the imagination.

The Guildhall event takes place between 5pm and 7pm on 10 July and involves a welcome from the Business Boost Chair, a buffet and a showcase by former winners.

Entering Business Boost is easy, please go online to www.businessboostawards.org.uk/how-to-apply.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact Nigel Howle by telephone on 0776 2043436 or by email at [email protected].