As a second-generation family run business, it is a great privilege for both myself and our team at Alerter Group plc to be supporting the first “Family Business of the Year” award. There are many great family run businesses in Derbyshire, who form a large and important part of the local and wider economy. As winners of the “Excellence in Science and Technology Award” last year, we are excited to be on the other side of the judging table. Hopefully meeting some inspirational companies, hearing about their stories and then recognising and celebrating their accomplishments.

Chris Haseldine, Director, Alerter Group

Derby City Council is ambitious about creating the right conditions for Derby’s economy to thrive. The Council will invest in infrastructure to create a city for the future, supporting jobs and businesses to grow and attracting inwards investment. We’ve cultivated strong links locally, regionally, nationally and internationally and are seeking to maximise these to help businesses access funding, skills and development; be that through the Derby and Nottingham Metro Strategy, the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, Midlands Engine or further afield. We are very proud to recognise and reward the excellent contribution made by Derby businesses and wish all applicants the very best of luck.

Councillor Ranjit Banwait, Leader of Derby City Council.

Derby College works in partnership with employers to co-design and co-deliver an innovative curriculum that meets the needs not only of our students but also of the business community. This provides businesses with the future workforce that has the right skills, knowledge and attitudes to make a positive impact on the growth of our economy and individual prosperity.

We are delighted to be supporting the awards again this year and to celebrating the contribution that the Company of the Year makes to the economic health of the city, county and beyond.

April Hayhurst, Deputy Principal – Derby College

We are a young company, proudly Derby born and based. We are delighted to be given the opportunity of joining the sponsors to celebrate business in our great city. Creativity for us is paramount, every product, every advertisement and every design come through a process of research and science, delivering data and inputs to put into a creative and desirable product. We don't do all of our creative work alone; we rely on others for support and especially those in Derby. We believe we have some of the worlds most creative minds in the city and we relish the opportunity to meet them and review their business’s in finding our category winner.

Dean Jackson, Owner, HUUB

We are proud to be a part of the Derby Telegraph Business Awards and to sponsor the Contribution to the Community Award, for the fifth consecutive year.  At intu Derby, we are committed to working with the community, from supporting local charities and community groups to working with local schools and education partners as members of the Derby Business in the Community cluster.  We are looking forward to celebrating and recognising businesses that have made contributions to the Derbyshire community this year.

Adam Tamsett, General Manager, intu Derby

It is an enormous privilege for both myself and my colleagues at Janine Edwards Wealth Management Ltd, Principal Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management to be intimately involved in such a high-profile event as the Derby Telegraph Business Awards, and to support the Excellence in Manufacturing category in particular.I strongly believe that our best companies deserve real recognition and these Awards are the perfect way to go about it. There is much to be learnt from successful businesses and, by celebrating their accomplishments, we will incentivise others to follow in their footsteps.My philosophy centres on establishing trust and building valuable, long term relationships and so I see these Awards as a wonderful opportunity to encourage a strong, tightly knit Derbyshire business community that works in the interests of everybody.

The Partner Practice represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group's website at www.sjp.co.uk/products. The title 'Partner Practice' is the marketing term used to describe St. James's Place representatives.

Janine Edwards Wealth Management Ltd
Principal Partner Practice, St. James’s Place Wealth Management

Lubrizol is honoured to support the Derby Telegraph Business Awards and are delighted to sponsor the Excellence in Science and Technology Award for the second year running. Lubrizol Hazelwood is proud to support the local community, local businesses and education sectors and has done so for over 70 years. By sponsoring The Science and Technology Award we are committing our support to the future of Excellence in this area, an area that we are passionate about and is essential to our business in Hazelwood, Derbyshire and throughout the globe.

Simon Griffiths, General Manager, Lubrizol Hazelwood

Marketing Derby attracts inward investment into Derby and Derbyshire. Funded by our Bondholders, over 300 of the city’s businesses, Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council, we have won recognition for our work and are the global winners of the Financial Times fDi Magazine Award, for our Soft Landing Schemes.

Marketing Derby is extremely proud to be sponsoring the Champagne Reception at the Derby Telegraph Business awards, a chance to recognise the hard work and great achievements of businesses across the region.

John Forkin, Managing Director, Marketing Derby

Project Solar UK are a Burton based company with over 350 operatives and 20 percent market share. Turn over in 2018 should be 50 million for the Project Better Energy group. We deliver domestic solar solutions working with the worlds' trusted supply partners. We are Which approved with 2000 positive reviews for excellence in delivering energy savings products, creating complete solutions for solar power, smart heating devices, voltage optimisation and battery storage devices. Project Solar is the 1st pilot for Duracell home energy storage which has grid trading capabilities, enabling consumers to harvest hundreds of pounds for grid balancing. Project Better Energy are proud to sponsor the Apprentice Employer of the Year category at this years Derby Telegraph Business Awards.

Simon Peat, CEO – Project Better Energy

Sellick Partnership is a Midlands-based leading recruitment specialist with offices in Derby and Stoke. Our mission is to ensure that we always put people first to create the brightest future, and we are committed to working in partnership with our clients and candidates to ensure we add value at every opportunity. However, our focus is to provide more than just a recruitment service – we are passionate about how our business can make a real positive difference to the wider community.

Our business values – passionate, respected and engaging – lie at the heart of our company philosophy and, although the business has seen vast growth over the years, we continue to hold these values and aspire to achieve them at every level.

We have sponsored the not-for-profit category for the last six years because we firmly believe that their achievements and contributions to our region need to be recognised and rewarded. We would like to wish all of the 2018 nominees the very best of luck.

Nikki Kinsey, Associate Director, Sellick Partnership

In this, our 90th year in business, Sibbalds are delighted to be sponsoring the services award at the 2018 Derby Telegraph Business Awards. As a leading adviser to owner managed businesses in the East Midlands, we specialise in helping those business increase their profits, reduce their tax bills, and develop into something that is enjoyable to own and run. We’re committed to utilising the latest technology and systems in the work we do, to help the environment, improve efficiency, and keep our clients ahead of their competition. Wishing the best of luck to all the entrants at this year’s awards.

David Bowler, Director, Sibbalds Chartered Accountants

Smith Partnership works with many businesses within Derby and Derbyshire and it is clear that in our area there are extraordinarily talented people who are contributing hugely to the local, and indeed national economy. It is fantastic that we are able to recognise these market leading companies in the Derby Telegraph Business Awards. By highlighting excellence in these Awards, we recognise and reward those who have set such high standards, but we also hope to inspire others to match and perhaps exceed those standards in the years to come.

Russell Davies, Partner and Head of Dispute Resolutio, Smith Partnership

Once again Smooth Radio East Midlands will proudly be in attendance at the annual Derby Telegraph  Business Awards. We are delighted to be sponsoring the prestigious event alongside a fantastic line-up of other sponsors. Derby is the home of so many thriving and successful businesses, so when we were approached about this year’s event of course we jumped at the opportunity to celebrate our local businesses. These awards are always a great way for businesses to unite and form new connections, so we always look forward to attending.

Ross Wilson, Station Director, Smooth Radio

We are very grateful to the Specsavers stores in Derbyshire, who have collectively sponsored Champions UK as hosts of the Derby Telegraph Business Awards 2018.

The Derbyshire stores, including Derby, Belper, Ripley, Oakwood, Ashbourne, Ilkeston, Beeston and Long Eaton, are committed to providing a friendly, local eye care service, with a focus on transforming eye health in the community. With highly-qualified staff and the latest optical equipment, the teams are ready to welcome customers into store for their important health check.

As local businesses themselves, each Specsavers store is very proud to be sponsoring the awards which celebrate and recognise local entrepreneurs and businesses.

Uan Gohil, Store Director, Specsavers Derby

The cornerstone of every successful business is a strong leadership team, where innovation, transparency, empowerment and expertise are ever-present. As a global company that has kept its roots in supporting local economies, an important component of Thomas International’s work is with leadership teams, providing them with the right tools and solutions to make confident decisions to develop and engage their people, teams and culture.

We are delighted to be sponsoring ‘Leadership Team of the Year’ at the 2018 Derby Telegraph Business Awards and look forward to celebrating and recognising the leaders of Derby and their unique achievements.

Amir Qureshi, CEO, Thomas International

The University of Derby is committed to supporting a thriving modern economy with the valuable links we offer to research, knowledge, expertise and talent. We provide a hands-on approach to innovation and skills development that is delivering benefits to businesses across Derbyshire and the wider Midlands Engine for Growth. We are delighted to once again play our part in this celebration of local business achievement and wish all award applicants the very best of luck.

Hari Punchihewa, Deputy Chief Executive & Finance Director, University of Derby

It was in 1867 that the Wheeldon Brothers, set up their joiners shop in Belper and began building new homes in and around Derbyshire. Today, Wheeldon Brothers remains an independent family company proud of its 150 year heritage. We understand what people want and expect when looking for a new home and our ability to satisfy these requirements has seen us grow into one of the East Midlands best known and well respected property developers.

Understandably, we are proud of the homes our craftsmen build and our achievements as a team. We are firm believers that growth is based on well-placed foundations and we are delighted to be able to celebrate that same strength and passion, for the fifth Derby Telegraph Business Awards in 2018.

Theo Till, Land Manager, Wheeldon Brothers