The venue for the city’s first annual Wolverhampton Independent Retail Excellence (WIRE) Awards has been announced amidst a flurry of entries. Molineux Stadium’s WV1 Suite will play host to the event, with Corporate Wolves and Venue Catering Partner the venue sponsors.
Details of how to get tickets for the event on Tuesday, July 18, will be made available soon at www.wirewards.co.uk. The awards will also be supporting charity, Promise Dreams, on the night.
Nominations continue to fly in for the WIRE Awards and more than 50 businesses have made 150 entries across 11 categories. The closing date for entries, which can be made at www.wireawards.co.uk is midnight on Sunday, April 30.
More than 700 public votes have been received for Wolverhampton’s ‘Favourite Retailer of the Year’ and you can nominate via the website or by texting WIRE plus the name of your favourite independent retailer to 60777 (standard network charges may apply). The public vote closes at midnight on Wednesday, June 28.
The awards, commissioned by the Leader of City of Wolverhampton Council, Councillor Roger Lawrence, are being led by Wolverhampton Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with the city council.
The aim is to celebrate and praise the entrepreneurial spirit, dedication and hard work of those involved in running and managing a successful independent business, as well as to recognise the loyalty and dedication of the staff that work in this sector.
The other categories are Independent Retailer of the Year, Retail Personality of the Year, Excellence in Customer Service, Best Dressed Shop or Outlet, Employee of the Year, Apprentice or Trainee of the Year, Excellence in Staff Development, Hospitality & Leisure Business of the Year, Community Retailer of the Year, Most Improved Business of the Year, and New Business of the Year.
The awards are open to independent retailers from across the city, provided they have a Wolverhampton postcode.
Councillor Lawrence, said: “To receive this amount of interest in the inaugural awards is amazing and shows the appetite to collectively support these independent businesses.
“It is vital that we listen to the voice of businesses and that we support and nurture growth here in the city.
“We very much value the presence of the small businesses in the city and the creative local people behind them.
“These are the businesses that help give Wolverhampton its own identity and character, and it is only right their efforts should be recognised by these awards.”
John Henn, Chair of Wolverhampton BID, added: “We have so many professional, independent retailers uniquely skilled in the city offering fantastic customer service to customers and people visiting our city, it will be a real thrill for all of us to recognise those individuals and companies by celebrating them with these awards.”
Other sponsors include Signal 107, Meercat Associates Ltd, Yarrington, Mander Centre, Express & Star, City of Wolverhampton College, Wolverhampton Racecourse, Ramada Park Hall Hotel & Spa, NCP, and Black Country Reinvestment Society, and Wolverhampton Partners in Progress.
