Business and tourism awards are looking for Stratford’s best and brightest stars of 2023

THE Stratford Herald’s Business and Tourism Awards 2023 are open for entries.

Businesses across the district are being invited to celebrate their accomplishments in the second such event organised by the Herald.

The first was held last year, and that followed our Covid Recovery Awards which took place in 2021 and gave a post-pandemic boost to the area’s businesses as they came out of lockdowns and restrictions stronger than ever.

The Business and Tourism Awards have been established to recognise the achievements of a wide range of enterprises – from family-run independents and restaurants to large-scale employers that make a priority of looking after their staff.

This year the ceremony, with sit-down meal, again takes place in the Crowne Plaza’s classy ballroom on Friday, 20th October at 6.30pm,

There are also categories for charities, tourist attractions, green-thinking firms and one company will walk away with the title of the district’s business of 2023.

The awards’ headline sponsor is Stratford District Council, with individual sponsors for each category.

Last year’s clear overall winner – with no fewer than four prizes under its belt – was artisan spirit-maker Shakespeare Distillery, based at Drayton just outside Stratford. The company won Best Independent Retailer, Top Attraction, Business of the Year and Best Green Business.

Announcing this year’s awards, Herald editor Andy Veale said: “We’re delighted to be launching our second Business and Tourism Awards as part of our commitment to supporting and celebrating the local economy.

“The process for applying is simple – it’s all online. However, we want to hear about your success and your stories, so please give as much detail as you can.”

The Business and Tourism Awards is sponsored by Stratford District Council and will feature 15 categories. They are easy to enter, simply log on to www.iliffemediapromotions.co.uk/stratford-herald-awards and follow the registration instructions.

The categories are:

Family Business, sponsored by First Choice Nursing

Online Business, sponsored by Daimon Barber

Team of the Year, sponsored by Shakespeare’s England

Community Award, sponsored by Stratford-upon-Avon School

Top Attraction, sponsored by Crowne Plaza, Stratford

Business Innovation, sponsored by Porterbrook

Employer of the Year, sponsored by Stratford College

New Business, sponsored by the Davenports

Charity of the Year, sponsored by Stratford Town Trust

Customer Experience, sponsored by Johnsons Coaches

Pub/Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by Hooray’s

Business of the Year, sponsored by Shakespeare Martineau

Green Business, sponsored by Orbit Housing

Employee of the Year, sponsored by Stratford District Council

Stratford BID Business Award

Expert judges will help shortlist the finalists in each category and they will be invited to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in October where the winners will be revealed at the gala dinner. It will be a night to get together with your teams and celebrate.

The awards also offer companies, organisations and groups the chance to show their support to businesses through sponsoring the overall awards or one of the categories.

The closing date for entries into the awards is Friday, 28th July.