THE hunt is on for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight’s top employer.

The Employer of the Year title at the South Coast Business Awards will go to an organisation that has created an outstanding workplace.

The awards, organised by LOCALiQ, the digital marketing arm of Daily Echo publisher Newsquest, celebrate excellence across all the sectors that make up the local economy.

They reward business both big and small, operating in fields from food to fashion, tourism to technology, employing thousands of people, exporting around the world or helping to attract visitors to our county.

The sponsors Starling Bank, Hampshire Chamber Of Commerce, Utilita, the University Of Southampton and GetSet Solent invite any company whose head office is based in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to enter or to be nominated.

Nominations will be considered by our judging panel and maybe subject to a “mystery shopper” visit by the category sponsor.

The judges will be looking to announce the three finalists in each category on Thursday, September 29, in the Daily Echo and at dailyecho.co.uk.

An awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, November 3, at Southampton FC.

The winners of each category will receive £250 of advertising in the Daily Echo on dailyecho.co.uk and will also be featured in the category winners’ coverage in the Daily Echo and on dailyecho.co.uk

The Business of the Year Award will be awarded to the overall winner that will be chosen by the judging panel from all the category winners.

Our Employer of the Year award recognises employers who have created an outstanding workplace based on a set of values that has led to a committed, effective and motivated workforce.

Do you know someone like this? If so, you can nominate them.

The judges are looking for a clear human resources policy that creates a stimulating and supportive workplace. Businesses should be able to demonstrate evidence of positive change in the last 12 months or, have identified a strategy for change in the next 12 months.

Or, you may know someone who you could nominate for one of our other awards categories:

  • Innovation Excellence Award
  • Service Excellence Award
  • Entrepreneur Award
  • Business Leader Award
  • Small Business Award
  • New Business Award (opened in the past two years)
  • Mid-Large Business Award
  • Business and the Community Award
  • Use of Technology Award.

You can enter online here.

The closing date for nominations is Thursday, September 8.