‘Government, businesses and organisations on the island must continue to strive to be the very best in order to compete in today’s fast-moving, competitive global environment
‘We have just launched Vision 2020, an important initiative in our strategy for growing the island’s economy. It is vital that we have a clear vision of where our future economic growth will come from and how this is going to be achieved.
‘We will be working together with the business community to identify opportunities and what steps need to be taken for the island to succeed in the future. The role of the Awards for Excellence in promoting the Isle of Man in such a positive way is in complete accord with this initiative.
‘It is important to add, of course, that the Awards for Excellence are not just about the business community but also encompass charitable organisations and the public sector.
‘Last year, I was especially pleased to see that so many public sector employees entered – and won – awards.
‘The people of the Isle of Man rightly expect the highest standards from public sector employees and whilst they would normally demonstrate this through their interaction with the public and the services they provide, the Awards also give a chance to showcase achievements that the public might not otherwise have been aware of.
‘An example of this was the Award for Customer Service, won last year by the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry, which consistently demonstrates the Isle of Man’s “can do” approach to our international customers.
‘The Aircraft Registry is probably not too well known to many members of the Isle of Man public but it continues to expand, bringing business to the island, and it was voted the best aircraft registry in the world in a survey of leading aviation lawyers from around the world.
‘I hope that this year we will again see a significant number of entries from the public sector, some of them again highlighting work that normally goes on behind the scenes but is nonetheless vital.
‘As well, I want to urge as many island businesses and community groups as possible to participate, showing how they contribute to the success of the island and our quality of life.
‘The Isle of Man Government is once again sponsoring the Freedom to Flourish Award which was won last year by the Chamber of Commerce Engineering Sector Skills Group, an initiative that encourages young people to consider a career in engineering and helps them to access the training they need.
‘The Awards for Excellence Night, now in its eighth year, has become firmly fixed in the Manx calendar. It is a wonderful occasion and an ideal showcase for all that is best on this island of ours.’
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Have you entered the Awards for Excellence yet?
Entries are now being invited for this year’s Awards for Excellence.
The sixteen categories include awards for businesses, public sector and charitable organisations. Then there are the individual categories, for Business Person of the Year, Young Achiever of the Year and Volunteer of the Year – maybe you know someone whose contribution to the local community deserves to be recognised?
Every year, the standard of entries is consistently high and the prestige of winning even higher. To say nothing of the glamour of being part of such a glittering occasion, with comprehensive newspaper coverage both in the lead-up to the prize presentation and on the night itself.
This year’s Awards night takes place on November 21. The event will be compered by Hugh Dennis, star of the hit TV comedy ‘Outnumbered’, and screened live via the web to a worldwide audience.
For further details on how to enter the awards, please contact Trudi Williamson at Isle of Man Newspapers on 695695 or visit iomtoday.co.im/afe