Family Awards judging kicks-off

More than one-hundred family run or owned businesses from the length and breadth of the Midlands have made their entries into the region’s inaugural Family Business Awards and are now waiting to see if the panel of eminent judges shortlist them for an Award.

Representatives from the Awards' sponsors and supporters first have the unenviable task of reviewing the hundreds of entries across the Awards' ten categories, including the headline ‘Midlands Family Business of the Year' Award, to identify the very best, top five businesses in each category.

Each of the five businesses shortlisted in each category will go forward to the next stage of the judging, when they will meet representatives from the Awards' panel of eminent judges - which includes James Timpson (MD, Timpson), Tim Storer (MD, Pukka Pies), Peter Thornton (former Chairman of Thorntons plc), Peter Leach (author, Family Businesses: The Essentials), Grant Gordon (Director General, Institute for Family Business), Judy Naake (founder, St Tropez), Carrie Rubins (Director, Pentland Group) and Mark Samworth (Samworth Brothers).

The panel will conduct an informal interview with the category finalists, to identify the top three in each category, the overall individual category winner and the winner of the headline Midlands Family Business of the Year 2010.

"The calibre of entries has proved the top level of entrepreneurship and wealth of family run and owned businesses we have operating in every corner of the region," comments Awards' Project Manager Hilary Campton, Director at V Formation Limited. "From Hereford to Lincolnshire, and Rugby to Nottingham, the Awards have attracted submissions from a diversity of market sectors across professional services and advisers, manufacturers, producers, healthcare and office supplies specialists."

The Awards, which are underwritten by independent insurance broker and family-run business, The Wilson Organisation, culminate at a glittering ceremony at the family-owned Thrumpton Hall near Nottingham on the 11th November.

"The winner of each category will be unveiled at the ceremony," says Hilary, "and the organisation deemed to be the ‘Midlands Family Business of the Year' will be crowned."

The Midlands Family Business Awards' is a not-for-profit venture, with all proceeds going to charities supporting young enterprise and young people - The Children's Society, The Willow Foundation and The Venture Foundation.

Individual categories include ‘Commitment to the Community', ‘Fastest Growing Family Business' and ‘Best Development of Talent'. Category sponsors are EFG Private Bank, Connect Midlands, Aviva, Young & Pearce Solicitors, AXA Elevate, Blusource and The Mitre Group, with additional support from Regional Development Agency emda.

For more information about the Awards and the presentation Ceremony, visit: www.familybusinessawards.co.uk, or contact Wilsons' Marketing Manager Leah Bradley, tel: 0115 942 0111, email: lbradley@wilorg.com.