Awards 2016 launch at Donington Hall

Full details of the sponsors and categories for the seventh annual Midlands Family Business Awards, will be unveiled at the event, but Awards’ organisers The Wilson Organisation, a third generation family business, have already confirmed that family firm Bonnington Plastics is sponsor of the 2016 headline Family Business of the Year category.

Ian Fisher, Managing Director of Bonnington Plastics, won the Director of the Year title in 2015 and the business was also a finalist in the Fastest Growing Family Business category. Ian says: “The family and business are proud to be taking a lead role in The Midlands Family Business Awards in 2016, and to helping other family business gain recognition for their achievements.”

The not-for-profit Awards got off to a flying start earlier this year with Nottingham-based specialist tax advisory firm Bedrock the first to pledge their support by signing up as sponsor of the Best Small Family Business category that is open to family firms with an annual turnover of up to £5m.

A number of established supporters of the Awards have also already confirmed their involvement again in 2016 – PwC is sponsor of the Fastest Growing Family Business, Barclays is sponsoring the Entrepreneur of the Year, Royal London the Employer of the Year, and RSA is sponsor of the coveted Director of the Year category.

New for 2016 is a ‘People’s Choice Award’ to be sponsored by Streets Accountants. All finalists shortlisted in the Awards ten judged categories will automatically be entered into the People’s Choice category, with the Winner and Highly Commended business decided purely by public vote.

The launch event at Donington Hall starts at 5.30pm with a drinks and canapes reception, but guests also have the rare opportunity to tour the Norton Factory nearby before the launch party at 4.30pm as guest of Norton’s MD Stuart Garner.

Charlotte Perkins, MD of The Wilson Organisation, and Ian Fisher of headline sponsor Bonnington Plastics, will explain the plans for the 2016 Awards at the event.

“The Awards are now very well established on the Midlands’ awards calendar,” comments Charlotte Perkins, “and last year attracted entries from an impressive range of family run and owned businesses.

“The Awards are a unique, independent, not-for-profit initiative in the region that recognise and celebrate the work and achievements of family owned businesses and their leaders. Year-on-year, the Awards grow in strength, popularity and awareness – they bring together a network of 1000 family businesses that is also an incredible community of individuals and businesses all with one common goal – to raise awareness of the contribution the family business sector makes both in the Midlands and nationally, and to reward and acknowledge their work, successes and sustainability.

“As their organisers, we continue to strive to build on the Awards’ amazing legacy and incredible support, and this year is no exception with a number of new ideas and a simplified entry process, details of which will be unveiled at our launch.

“As a not for profit, independent set of Awards we are indebted to the support of our sponsors, without whom the Awards would simply not be possible.”

Amongst the launch’s guests will be family business owners from across the Midlands, including past finalists and winners, as well as judges, sponsors and supporters.

For more information and to book a place at the Donington Hall launch party, contact Wilsons’ Ped Briggs: [email protected]