High Sheriff’s Awards for Enterprise

To be considered for this award, your organisation must evidence how it is a family-led business that has delivered meaningful economic and community impact across Cheshire. Please provide evidence of how you demonstrate strong environmental, social and governance practices and provide proof of at least one of the following:

• How the family’s leadership and values have driven sustainable commercial success, benefiting the local economy.
• How the business has created employment, skills development, or supply chain opportunities within Cheshire.
• How intergenerational leadership or succession planning has enabled long-term resilience and regional growth.
• How the business has supported the community through philanthropy, volunteering, or civic leadership is linked to economic well-being. 

To be considered for this award, your organisation must evidence how it has delivered significant and measurable community benefit that also contributes to the economic success of Cheshire. Please provide evidence of how you demonstrate strong environmental, social and governance practices and provide proof of at least one of the following:

• How your engagement has created jobs, improved access to skills, or enhanced local economic participation.
• How programmes or partnerships have supported inclusion, reduced inequalities, or increased opportunities in underserved areas.
• How your work has strengthened the resilience, well-being or social fabric of communities, with knock-on benefits for the local economy.
• How your organisation has mobilised innovation, resources or networks to solve local challenges and create positive economic impact.

To be considered for this award, your organisation must evidence how you have created, developed and/ or sustained an innovation. Please evidence how you demonstrate strong environmental, social and governance practices and provide evidence of at least one of the following: 

• An innovation that has not been sold before or an innovative improvement to an existing product/process, or service. 
• That the innovation has or will generate a profitable return.  
• An innovative product, service or process that has environmental benefits. 
• An innovative product that has increased productivity. 

To be considered for this award, your organisation must evidence how it has delivered outstanding sustainable development that creates both measurable community benefit and supports the wider economic success of Cheshire. Please evidence how you demonstrate strong environmental, social and governance practices and provide evidence of at least one of the following:

• How do your sustainability initiatives support local job creation, skills development or supply chain opportunities.
• How your organisation’s approach to environmental stewardship has delivered economic and social returns within the Cheshire region.
• How have you developed or adopted sustainable practices, products or technologies that address local challenges and strengthen community resilience.
• How your leadership in sustainability influenced others in your sector or locality to raise standards and increase impact. 

You may wish to consider how your work contributes to one or more of the  United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how these translate to practical outcomes for people, place, and prosperity in Cheshire.

To be considered for this award, you must be a young person under 30 years old who has established a new business successfully trading for a minimum of 12 months. This may be as a sole trader or as an employer. You must be able to evidence entrepreneurial spirit and endeavour. 
Please provide evidence of:

• Fresh ideas and creative thinking
• Business growth and wider influence
• Leadership and long-term vision
• Resilience and adaptability
• Customer or beneficiary value

To be considered for this award, the nominee must be under 30 years old and currently engaged in a recognised apprenticeship. An organisation may nominate you, or you may nominate yourself.

This award recognises an apprentice’s dedication and skill, as well as their contribution and commitment to their organisation.  

Please provide evidence of how the young person has: 

• Made a difference to the organisation or the community  
• Excelled within the related apprenticeship course 
• Applied the skills learnt through the course in various work environments 
• Improved or developed the business  

This award is open to any Cheshire-based organisation whose primary purpose is to create social or environmental benefit through enterprise. For example, a community interest company or not-for-profit organisation operating in the Third Sector.

To be considered for this award, your social enterprise must demonstrate outstanding vision, strong strategic direction and excellent leadership. You need to give evidence of clear society benefits, evidenced in effective social, environmental or community impacts.

You will need to provide evidence of:

• how your organisation operates
• positive outcomes and success stories
• long term organisational resilience and clear plans for the future

To be considered for this award, your organisation must be a supportive and responsible employer,  able to evidence exceptional investment in your workforce.  

Please evidence your commitment to your workforce by providing examples of how your organisation has: 

• created a successful and supportive working environment  
• supported professional development 
• invested in training 
• promoted wellbeing and flexible working practices 
• fostered a positive culture  
• empowered people to achieve their best 
• gone the extra mile for your team 

To nominate your business for the High Sheriff’s Awards for Enterprise 2026/27, complete the entry form and submit it with a supporting statement explaining why you are entering the award(s). Supporting statements should be a maximum of 500 words.

Please view our award categories and select the category or categories you wish to enter. You can enter a maximum of two categories. Please complete separate forms and supporting statements for each category (if applying for two).

The Awards highlight outstanding achievement by local companies of any size that are based within Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, Halton and Warrington.

There are seven different categories, with entrants being judged by a panel of senior members of the business community. 

If you are considering an entry, you should read the criteria identified for each Award carefully before submitting. All relate to performance from March 2025 up to the time of application, although you should also refer to plans, if formulated during this period.

1. About

• 1.1 The organiser of the High Sheriff’s Awards for Enterprise 2026 (Awards) is the University of Chester and the High Sheriff of Cheshire, Lynn Pegler DL (Organisers). The Awards are your opportunity to shine and demonstrate you are an outstanding Cheshire business.
• 1.2 There are 8 award categories:
  • High Sheriff's Award for Innovation  
  • High Sheriff’s Award for Sustainable Development
  • High Sheriff’s Award for Outstanding Employer
  • High Sheriff's Award for Outstanding Family Business
  • High Sheriff’s Award for Outstanding Community Engagement
  • High Sheriff’s Award for Outstanding Young Founder
  • High Sheriff’s Award for Outstanding Apprentice
  • High Sheriff's Award for Outstanding Social Enterprise
• 1.3 The specific criteria for each category is as stated on our website. The Organiser reserves the right to reject any entry that, in its opinion, fails to comply fully with the entry criteria, entry instructions or these Terms and Conditions.
• 1.4 Nominations open from 1st October, 2026 and close at 23:59 on 13th January, 2027. Any entries received after the Closing Date will not be considered

2. How to enter

• 2.1 Entry is free and is exclusive to businesses based in Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, Halton and Warrington (Geographical Area) and is open to businesses of any size (Qualifying Business). For the Apprentice Award the Apprentice must be employed at a Qualifying Business and must be employed to work primarily in the Geographical Area.
• 2.2 Businesses can nominate themselves, or third parties can nominate a business or individuals, so long as the business or person nominated is aware of the entry and has verified the contents of the entry. For the Apprentice/Young Founder awards, an individual can nominate themselves or they can be nominated by their employer, provided their employer is a Qualifying Business.
• 2.3 For the Outstanding Apprentice and the Outstanding Young Founder, the individual nominated must be under 30 years of age on 13th January 2027.
• 2.4 To enter the Awards, all applicants must complete the online-entry form on the Website for their chosen category(ies) All submissions must be submitted in English and completed in full and lodged through the online entry form available on the Website. Entries submitted via post, email or telephone will not be considered. Entrants must follow the entry instructions on the Website.
• 2.5 Late, ineligible, incomplete or corrupt entries will not be accepted. The Organiser will not accept responsibility for any technical failure or malfunction or any other problem which may result in an entry being lost, not received or not properly registered. The Organiser will not accept proof of transmission as proof of receipt of entry.
• 2.6 Nominators may only submit one entry per category up to a maximum of two categories (Maximum Permitted). Where a nominator exceeds the Maximum Permitted, then only the first entry to each category up to the Maximum Permitted will be considered, and in the order received by the Organiser. Any other entries will be deemed invalid and will be disregarded.
• 2.7 The entry must be entirely the nominator’s own work. By submitting an entry, you confirm to the Organiser that the contents of your entry are true and accurate and not misleading and that your entry does not infringe the rights of any third party, such as but not limited to: copyright, trade mark, trade secret, privacy, publicity, personal or proprietary rights. The Organiser reserves the right to disqualify any entry or withdraw an award where false, inaccurate or misleading information was supplied as part of the entry. The Organiser reserves the right to audit any information supplied.
• 2.8 Entries will not be accepted from members of the judging panel or from any person directly or indirectly involved in the running of the Awards, its administration or direct members of their family or households. Sponsors are not permitted to enter the category they are sponsoring.
• 2.9 Entries are limited to 500 words, and the Organisers reserve the right to reject any entry that exceeds the stated word limit.
• 2.10 By completing and submitting an entry for the Awards, you will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. These Terms and Conditions include any instructions and eligibility criteria contained on the Website and entry form.
• 2.11 Entries cannot be returned.

3. Judging

• 3.1 Entries will be judged by a panel of judges selected by the Organiser. A different judging panel will judge each category.
• 3.2 The judging panel reserves the right to audit any information supplied by a nominator and/or to contact them to discuss their entry. Judges reserve the right to request further information and/or visit an organisation/person before deciding on winners.
• 3.3 The judges will select finalists. Unless otherwise agreed with the Organiser, finalists must make themselves available to shoot a short film at the Organiser’s premises before the Awards Evening for use during the Awards Ceremony.
• 3.4 There will be one award winner selected from the finalists in each category. Winners will be announced at the Awards Evening on 18th March, 2027 (Awards Evening). A full list of all winners and finalists will be posted on the Website and the Organiser’s website and social media accounts. Further details about the Awards Evening will be published on the Website in due course and entrants will receive further information about the Awards Evening by email. Each finalist will receive two complimentary tickets to the Awards Evening.
• 3.5 The Judge’s decision is final and no further correspondence or discussion will be entered into.
• 3.6 The Organisers and judges reserve the right to extend the Closing Date, amend categories or not make any award in any category should they receive an insufficient number of entries or where the standard of entries received does not reach the required standard.

4. Prize

• 4.1 A High Sheriff’s Award will be awarded to each winner in each category. Winners may publicise their award provided that the year in which it was won is stated.
• 4.2 The Organiser’s use of any particular brands or sponsored awards as prizes does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement of such brands or sponsors.

5. Limitation of Liability

• To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Organiser excludes all liability to the entrants and participants of the Awards and to any finalists and winners for any loss or damage howsoever caused (whether in contract, tort, including without limitation, negligence, statutory duty or otherwise) arising out of or in connection with the Awards or its administration. The Organiser will not in any circumstances be responsible or liable to compensate any winner or accept any liability for any loss, damage, personal injury or death occurring as a result of taking up a prize.

6. Publicity

• By submitting an entry, you acknowledge that any winners and finalists will be required to take part in pre- and post-Awards publicity and will need to consent to their name and photograph being used for such purposes. Their participation in such activities will be a condition of any award/accepting a prize.

7. General

• 7.1 The Organiser reserves the right to refuse entry, or refuse to award a prize, where there has been a breach of these terms and conditions or where an entrant or nominee is unable to provide the Organiser with satisfactory evidence of their eligibility or compliance with these terms when reasonably requested.
• 7.2 The Organiser reserves the right to hold void, suspend, cancel, re-schedule or amend the Awards (including the Awards Evening) where it deems it necessary to do so or if circumstances arise outside its control. Any changes will be published on the Website.
• 7.3 These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by English law, and the parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
• 7.4 Enquiries about the Awards should be directed to: Jenni Davies, The High Sheriff’s Awards for Enterprise. Tel: 01244 51 1344; Email: highsheriffawards@chester.ac.uk 
• 7.5 Any personal data received by the Organisers for the Awards will be processed in accordance with the Organiser’s privacy policy.