Inverness City Centre Business Awards aim to recognise the best of the best
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Customers and clients are being invited to have their say on which city centre businesses go that bit further to provide outstanding service.
The fourth Inverness City Centre Business Awards – organised by Inverness Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with Inverness Courier publisher Highland News and Media – launch with the chance to nominate businesses in 13 categories covering retail, hospitality, hair and beauty and service providers.
To nominate your favourites forms can be collected at BID member businesses or online at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/nominate20
Nominations close in just over a week, on March 13, and finalists will be announced on March 20 in the Courier.
Inverness BID chairman Peter Strachan is keen for another big response to the call for nominations and then votes.
“The awards are very successful and seem to grow every year,” he said.
“I was astonished last year when we had 39,000 votes across the 13 categories so I’m very much looking forward to the awards ceremony again this year.
“It’s really good to celebrate what happens in the city centre. We know the city centre is of vital importance for the prosperity of Inverness and there is a real buzz on the evening when everyone comes together to celebrate that success.”
But optimism about the city centre was not just confined to the awards night.
Mr Strachan said he had talked to businesses and found a positivity which would not always be the case in a Scottish city at this time of year.
He acknowledged the awards might have a part to play in cultivating that attitude.
“We know our members work tirelessly, whether in the retail, hospitality or office sectors, but something like the awards does make a big difference and helps people understand the part they play in the economy,” he said.
Boxes for completed nomination forms are available at New Century House in Stadium Road as well as the Victorian Market and Eastgate Shopping Centre.
Forms can also be posted to Inverness City Centre Business Awards, Inverness Courier, New Century House, Stadium Road, Inverness IV1 1FG.
The shortlist will be unveiled on March 20 when final voting opens, with a deadline of April 5.
Winners will be revealed at the Mercure Hotel in Inverness on April 20.
