Town Centre Business Awards 2011

Rochdale Town Centre Business Awards 2010/2011

Vote your favourite in each category:

Local retailers have been working hard to fill in their application forms for the Rochdale Town Centre Business Awards 2010/2011. Over 50 businesses have entered this year’s awards, which take place on Friday 13th May at The Broadfield Park Hotel. The Awards, organised by Rochdale Town Centre Management, have been running for 4 years and celebrate customer service and excellence in the town.

To nominate their business, each applicant had to fulfil award-specific criteria, depending on which category they will come under. ‘National Retailers’ had to show an understanding of diversity of customers, from professionals to pensioners, students to tourists, and trading hours that reflect consumers’ needs. Entrants for ‘Best Eating Place’ had to give evidence of using locally grown, reared, or harvested produce and show that the surrounding atmosphere is welcoming and in keeping with the style of the menu.

A wide range of businesses have entered again this year, including banks, hairdressers, restaurants, clothes shops, cafes, shopping centres, jewellers, recruitment agencies and more. Each entrant will reap the benefits of being involved in the awards, such as the raised profile of their business, local publicity and networking with other businesses. Additionally the prize money for the winner of each award category is £250 to spend in the town centre. Each award entrant will also be offered tailored training to suit them after the awards have taken place.

Now that the applications are in, voting for some of the award categories has now began, and local residents have their chance to tell us why they think their chosen business deserves to win in each of the categories. The public has the opportunity to vote for the following awards - Employee of the Year, Best National Retailer, Best Independent Retailer, Best Service Provider, Best Eating Place and Best Long Serving Business.

Mystery shoppers are also be out in force over the next few weeks to test and score retailers on various aspects of their visit, such as staff approach, customer service and staff image.

Judging will then take place in late April, which will combine the scores from the application form, public vote and mystery shopping to ensure each business is given a fair opportunity to shine.

Affordable sponsorship packages are still available from Town Centre Management, and interested parties should contact Suzy on 01706 926676 or suzy@rochdaletcm.co.uk. Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre, Rochdale Development Agency, Rochdale Borough Council, the Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre and Rochdale Observer have all come forward to sponsor and support the Awards this year.