It’s that time of year again – the beginning of a process that will see the region’s brightest and best crowned at the Eastern Daily Press Business Awards.

For the best part of a decade, the economy has been bashed and battered by black swan events from Brexit to the pandemic. And just when the outlook appeared to be looking up, Russia invaded Ukraine.

All of these things were out of your hands – and yet business here in the East continues to thrive.

The reasons for this are varied and vast – innovation, invention and good, old-fashioned hard graft.

But there is one key factor that joins every successful enterprise from the second the firm is first formed to the moment the team climbs on stage to celebrate being crowned Business of the Year – the people.

Without the right people, a firm will quickly lose ground. Without the right people, a business will quickly begin to show the cracks. Find the right people, and the whole project will likely flourish.

This year the theme of the awards is those heroes; the team members that are the difference between success and failure.

We want to toast the driving force, the engine room, the turbo boosters that make our very best businesses tick.

And I am sure loads of those people will be joining us at Norfolk Showground on Thursday, November 23, when the winners of this year’s awards will be announced amid a glittering event attended by more than 600 of the region’s business leaders.

Our headline sponsor will once again be Barclays – a huge ‘thank you’ to the bank, which has been backing this event, and business generally in the East, for many years.

And each category sponsor deserves a big ‘thank you’ as well – without these backers, the event simply couldn’t go ahead.

So now it’s over to you – now is the time to celebrate your very best. Good luck.

Entries to the Eastern Daily Press Business Awards can be made at www.edpbusiness awards.co.uk and the deadline is Sunday, July 16.

Award Categories

  • Norfolk Business of the Year, sponsored by Barclays
  • Customer Excellence Award, sponsored by Greater Anglia
  • Digital Business of the Year, sponsored by Upp
  • Environmental & Sustainability Award, sponsored by Norse
  • Large Business of the Year, sponsored by FRP Advisory
  • Positive Impact in the Community Award, sponsored by Vattenfall
  • Rising Star of the Year, sponsored by Birketts
  • Growth Business of the Year, sponsored by Ashtons Legal
  • Employer of the Year 
  • Director of the Year
  • Small Business of the Year
  • Medium Business of the Year
  • Outstanding Achievement Award, sponsored by Barclays

To find out more about all of the categories, please click here.