The deadline is looming for Swindon firms to enter one of the region’s top award schemes showcasing excellence and enterprise in business.
Entries for the prestigious Institute of Directors’ South West Director of the Year Awards 2015 must be in by March 31. Nominations are open to anyone working at director level in any type of business or organisation – they do not have to be a member of Institute of Directors (IoD).
The awards seek to recognise outstanding business people and focus UK-wide attention on success in the region.
Categories include: Family Business, Public Sector, Not for Profit/Third Sector, International, Non-Executive, Corporate Responsibility and Director. This final award category is open to any size of company, small, medium or large.
A panel of experts will judge the entries and the winners will be announced at a dinner later in the year. Swindon Business News and its sister titles Bath Business News and Bristol Business News are again media partners for these coveted awards. 
Last year Chris Smith, managing director of Marshfield Bakery near Bath, was named overall regional Director of the Year. He is pictured receiving his award from IoD regional chair Richard Ayre.
Other winners last year included Nick Sturge, who runs Bristol’s Engine Shed tech incubator, Henry Williams of Chipping Sodbury-based Morgan and Lotus car dealer Williams Automobiles, Steve Clarke of Bristol-based sustainable business consultantcy ecosurety (formerly Budget Pack Environmental), and Helen Lacey, founder of Red Berry Recruitment, which has offices across Somerset.
Simon Barbato of Mr B and Friends Creative and James Eades, Systemagic, both Bath, were highly commended.
South West winners automatically qualify to go forward to the UK Director Awards in London in the autumn. The entry form and more details are available by calling 0117 370 7785, emailing, iod.southwest@iod.com or online at www.iod.com/connecting/local-network/south-west.
The awards ceremony takes place in Bristol on June 17.
