Midlands firms to support all-new Awards

An all-new, prestigious set of Awards which will showcase the achievements of family businesses and their leaders has launched today (18th March 2010) with the support of eight businesses from across the Midlands.

The not-for-profit 2010 Midlands Family Business Awards, underwritten by The Wilson Organisation - which is in the third generation of family ownership - has been launched to give the region's best run and most innovative family businesses the chance to shine, with the backing of its sponsors RSM Tenon, Young & Pearce Solicitors, Blusource, Connect Midlands, EFG Private Bank, Aviva, AXA Elevate, and Midlands Business Insider magazine.

Nominations for the Awards open on the 4th May, and entries to all of the ten categories are free. Businesses can nominate themselves for as many categories as they wish, and make submissions on behalf of clients' or friends' family businesses.

Speaking at the Award's launch event at Hotel Maiyango in Leicester, Project Manager Hilary Campton explained: "The Awards are open to family business of any size based across the Midlands region and from all industry sectors. There is no charge for making an entry, and submissions can be made online at the Awards website www.familybusinessawards.co.uk.

"The Awards categories cover our headline ‘Family Business of the year', sponsored by RSM Tenon, ‘Best development of talent', ‘Overcoming adversity', ‘Personal excellence', ‘Development of international markets', ‘Business innovation of the year', ‘Fastest growing family business', ‘Commitment to the community', ‘Outstanding contribution by a non-family member', ‘Leading adviser to family businesses', and ‘Best newly established family business'."

Designed as a not-for-profit venture, all proceeds from the Midlands Family Business Awards will go to charities supporting young enterprise and young people. The three charities benefiting from the Awards are The Children's Society, a leading children's charity committed to making childhood better for all children in the UK, The Willow Foundation that provides special days for seriously ill young adults, and The Venture Foundation, created by local entrepreneur Darrell West.

Speaking at the event, Darrell West, founder of The Venture Foundation which offers a educational, health and fitness programmes to young people considered ‘at risk' and who have fallen out of the education and care system, explained: "The Awards are important to the Midlands region as a whole, as they present a unique opportunity for its family businesses to showcase their achievements and contribution to the regional economy. The Awards are also of significant importance for The Venture Foundation as the funds the charity will receive from them will be used to create and support a special scholarship scheme."

Charlotte Prow, MD of Wilsons, who runs the business alongside her sister Annabel, added: "Family businesses contribute more than thirty per cent of the UK GDP and employ 9.5 million people, but the support and recognition offered to their leaders is limited.

"As a family-owned and run business, Wilsons is strongly committed to the family business sector and to helping its leaders succeed in what can often be quite lonely roles. Underlining this, we feel the time is right to turn the spotlight on the great contribution family businesses and their leaders make, by launching this new Award scheme, which we believe is unique in the region and will truly celebrate the impact family businesses make here in the Midlands."

The Family Business Awards 2010 has secured a panel of independent inspirational judges drawn from leading family businesses from across the UK, and 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), Mark Samworth (Samworth Brothers).

Award category nominations can be made between 4th May and 30th June 2010. The judges will shortlist entries for all categories, and interview the directors of the nominated businesses to identify individual Award winners, which will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony in November.

More information and to complete an online entry to the 2010 Midlands Family Business Awards, visit: www.familybusinessawards.co.uk or contact Wilsons' Marketing Manager Leah Bradley, email: lbradley@wilorg.com.