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Belfast City Council is to celebrate the achievements of local businesses next year when it hosts the Belfast Business Awards 2010.

The Belfast Business ‘Oscars’ will take place in the newly refurbished City Hall on Thursday 29 April with 19 awards presented in recognition of the fine work of business enterprises, retail outlets and businessmen and women across the city.

Belfast-born Nicky Kinnaird -founder and creative director of Space NK.apothecary – the UK’s most luxurious beauty chain, will be guest speaker at the coveted awards ceremony. The retail guru, Nicky Kinnaird, opened her first store in London’s Covent Garden in 1993.  Today Space NK has 63 outlets across the UK, 4 stores in New York and stores in Bloomingdale’s across the US. Nicky will be joined as MC for the evening by UTV presenter, Marc Mallett.

The awards were launched today at a special ceremony in the Ulster Hall attended by representatives from Belfast City Council, Belfast City Centre Management (awards partner) and principal awards’ sponsors’ the DSD (Department for Social Development) and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

As well as sponsoring the overall awards, the DSD and the Arts Council will also be sponsoring two individual awards’ categories for Best Creative Industries (Arts Council) and Best City Regeneration Project (DSD).

The other 17 awards are for Best New Business; Best Business Expansion; Best Innovative Use of IT; Best Marketing Initiative; Best Social Economy Business; Best Young Person of the Year; Legacy to Belfast; Best Green Business; Best International Trade; Best Manufacturing Business; Customer Service Excellence – Independent Retailer; Customer Service Excellence – Multiple Retailer; Best Bar or Pub; Best Restaurant; Best Café or Coffee Shop; Best City Hotel or Guest House and Best Corporate Social Responsibility.

Councillor William Humphrey, Chairman of Belfast City Council’s Development Committee, said: “It’s an absolute honour to announce that the Belfast Business Awards 2010 are now open for entries. These awards will give local businesses a unique opportunity to gain recognition for the excellent contribution they make towards the overall development of our city.

“I would call on businesses from all sectors across the city to enter the awards. Simply getting through to the final will raise an organisation’s profile amongst its peers but just as important is the huge boost it will give to internal morale. To win an award will be a mark of quality that will bring real prestige to that individual business.”

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said: “The Department for Social Development is delighted to be co-sponsor for the 2010 Belfast Business Awards. These awards invite individual businesses to demonstrate excellence in their field and their contribution to the economic development of the city. I encourage all businesses to enter these awards to avail of the opportunity to highlight the performance of their company and employees.”

Lorraine McDowell, Director of Operations, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: “The Arts Council is delighted to be principal sponsor of the Belfast Business Awards 2010. The arts are steadily moving to the frontline of our cultural tourism and economic success therefore we are particularly excited to be supporting the Best Creative Industries Business category. This award is a valuable acknowledgement of how Northern Ireland businesses have embraced the arts to help them deliver their corporate objectives.”

A number of business partners have signed up to support the Belfast Business Awards 2010 but there is still an opportunity for other partners to come on board and back what are deemed to be the ‘Belfast Business Oscars’.

If any company would like to support an award, they should contact Belfast City Council’s Economic Development Unit on 028 9027 0736 or email mccartneylisa@belfastcity.gov.uk

Entry forms and more information on the Belfast Business Awards 2010 are available on website www.belfastbusinessawards.com, Hard copies of entry forms can also be obtained from Belfast City Council’s Economic Development Unit or Belfast City Centre Management on 028 9024 2111. 

The Belfast Business Awards have been organised in previous years by Belfast City Centre Management (BCCM) and Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce (BCTC) with support from Belfast City Council. They are a highlight of the Belfast business calendar.