Our Principal Accountant Robert Ellis swapped his calculator for a judge's hat to take part in this year's High Sheriff's Awards for Enterprise.
Robert joins a panel of judges making site visits this week on behalf of the University Of Chester.
The awards offer almost £30,000 worth of prizes, with the winners announced at a presentation evening at the Town Hall in Chester. Guests will include business leaders, judges and the finalists.
The benefits of entering the High Sheriff's Awards for Enterprise extend far beyond winning one of the prestigious Awards, as they provide access to a network of support across Cheshire.
"It's a huge honour to be part of this year's judging panel for the University of Chester and I have been very impressed by the pool of talent among this year's entries," said Robert.
"As a business, Ellis & Co Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers prides itself on supporting local business through financial management and business consultancy which is why we felt it was very important to both sponsor these awards and get involved as much as possible by putting ourselves forward as judges."
Thanks to significant contributions from sponsors including the University, MBNA , Mornflake, Cheshire Business Leaders, Cheshire East Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cheshire and Warrington LEP, Click Consult, Ellis & Co, Marketing Cheshire, Oliver Valves, Roberts Bakery, Trinity Mirror Cheshire and Warrington Borough Council, the Awards represent one of the highest values of any competition of its kind in the country.
The winner of the High Sheriff's Award for Enterprise 2014, supported by MBNA , will receive a free place for one of its appropriately qualified managers on the award-winning MBA programme at the University of Chester worth £10,000. Winners of the High Sheriff's Award for Corporate Social Responsibility and the Mornflake Oats Awards for Innovation will win £3,000 each.
The winner of the Cheshire Business Leaders Award for Outstanding Cheshire and Warrington Business Leader will be awarded free membership of Cheshire Business Leaders, worth £500 a year. The winner of the Cheshire Business Leaders (CBL) Award for the Cheshire and Warrington Young Entrepreneur will receive £500 worth of prize money to invest in their business plus free mentoring and business support to the value of £500 from CBL members.
This year sees the launch of the UKTI Award for Cheshire Business Exporter of the Year which will reward and celebrate the achievements of a local company that can demonstrate significant growth in its international business through a clear commitment to the development of new export market opportunities as part of their business plans. The winner will receive £5,000 of Export Vouchers on a match funded basis with UKTI reimbursing up to £5,000 towards £10,000 of expenditure on export activities.
The Awards were introduced in 2006 by the then High Sheriff of Cheshire, David Briggs MBE, to recognise outstanding achievement by enterprises in Cheshire. They are now endorsed by each High Sheriff during their 12 month term.
The Office of the High Sheriff is a Royal post, which dates back to Saxon times and is currently held by Martin Beaumont.