Now in its fifth year, GM Business Connect are once again proud to be media sponsors of the Greater Manchester Business Awards. Organised by the Rich Media Group based in Stockport, this year’s event will come to a glittering black-tie winner’s evening on Friday 3 September at the new Central Manchester-based Hotel Brooklyn.

The website is now open for all businesses across Greater Manchester to enter, with a closing date for entries of Friday 28 May. Once that date is reached initial judging will take place with a shortlist of finalists announced on Tuesday 1 June.

The judges this year are headed up by Andy Preston, International sales coach and motivational speaker. Supporting Andy is our very own Paul Mirage, Co-owner and Director of GM Business Connect, as well as Heather Baker, Founder of Baker Thompson Associates and a Prince’s Trust business mentor, Gavin Redman, Business Development Partner at Express Solicitors and Carole Fossey, founder of Leading Women in Business and The Social Media Mentor.

Last year was the first occasion Rich Media Group took over as organisers, and they had to think quickly to replace the winners’ evening black-tie event which had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. Organiser Sophie Richardson (digital marketing manager, Rich Media Group) commented: “Like GM Business Connect we’ve been involved with the awards since the first event in 2017. “When we took over as organiser last year we had to pull together a virtual awards ceremony to announce the winners, which turned out to be very well received. As we are a specialist video production company this was something we added real value to, and if by the time we get to September and restrictions are still in place, we are very well positioned to do the same again. I just hope that won’t be the case though as we’ve booked the venue already – the brand-new Hotel Brooklyn in Manchester which features amazing views over the Manchester skyline. Plus, we’ve also chosen our charity partner for 2021 – Pennine Care Charitable Foundation – who will benefit from fundraising at the live event.”

We asked Sophie for a few more details about the shortlisted businesses: “Once the finalists are announced we will be visiting every business (observing social distancing of course) to make a video showcasing their entry and giving them the opportunity to say why they deserve to be winners. Edited versions of all the videos will be featured on the night of the awards. The videos will also form part of the final submission for the judges to vote on each category winner.” How many categories are there this year? “There are 12 in total, and a number of categories are directly related to the activities of businesses under lockdown. A full list can be found on our website.”

If you wish to know more or would like to enter please visit the website: greatermanchesterawards.co.uk

Sophie is available on sophie@richmediagroup.co.uk for any further information.