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Solihull Chamber awards to take place in online extravaganza

Businesses across Solihull borough will be going for glory in Solihull Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural online awards celebration.

The event on 15 October is going digital this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nine awards will be handed out this year, including the Business of the Year which will be selected from the winners of the Large Business, Small Business and Start-Up categories.

All businesses win the Solihull borough are eligible to enter the awards.

The categories are:

Robert Elliot, president of Solihull Chamber of Commerce, said: "One of the highlights of my first year of presidency was the Annual Awards.  Over 300 people took part in what was a true celebration of Solihull, it's business, community organisations, charities and young people.  The Covid crisis, and the regulations surrounding large events, meant the 2020 awards could not take place in the traditional way. 

“I could not be more delighted that we will once again be able to recognise and admire all that is good about Solihull Borough.  The Greater Birmingham Chambers Awards were also  delivered virtually and were a huge success and very well produced online.  I urge everyone to get involved in the Solihull Chamber Awards 2020, I can't wait!”

Lillian Elekan (pictured), head of Solihull Chamber of Commerce, said: “There is no shadow of a doubt that these last few months have been turbulent and tough for businesses.

“Our upcoming awards will be a celebration of those businesses which have, despite hugely difficult trading conditions, have adapted and remained resilient.

“I would encourage all businesses which have displayed tenacity and flexibility during the pandemic to apply for an award, and have their resilience celebrated.”

Solihull College & University Centre and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council are the first organisations to confirm as headline sponsors.

The college’s principal and chief executive John Callaghan said: “Solihull College and University Centre is again proud to be a headline sponsor for the Solihull Chamber Awards.

“We recognise our responsibility to our local and regional employers to provide a skilled pool of talent for them to recruit from. 

“Given the extremely challenging operating environment we are determined to play our part to help the economy recover as fast as possible and to provide upskilling and retraining opportunities for existing employees and for those who have lost their jobs.

“We are delighted to host the Chamber HQ in the college and I look forward to many more years working together to ensure our offer aligns seamlessly into our local business needs.” 

Cllr Ian Courts, leader of Solihull Council, said:“We are incredibly lucky to have so many exceptional businesses and community organisations here in Solihull. The Chamber of Commerce Awards are a fantastic opportunity for us to recognise the best of these, as well as some of the talented and motivated individuals who make them up.

“This is obviously a hugely challenging time for businesses, large and small, the impact of Covid-19 has affected every sector of our economy. While the challenges look set to continue, these Awards are a reminder of the energy, dynamism and resilience of our local businesses. I have no doubt that this strength will be the key to unlocking our economic recovery.

“It is always a great honour for Solihull Council to sponsor the Awards and I would urge local businesses to get involved."

For more information on award applications, sponsorship opportunities and registering to view the event, click here