Submissions are now open!

1. Most Promising Young Person in Manchester (Rising Star Award) 

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This award recognises someone who is excelling in their chosen career, making a valuable contribution to their employer or the economy and is achieving above and beyond expectations at a young age. 

  

The judges are looking for someone who has demonstrated exemplary performance and who stands out from their peers. This can be demonstrated through their technical, commercial, or practical abilities, client/customer care or focus, recognition of their work for clients, customers or their employer and engaging and responding to demands faced by their clients or customers and the profession/sector they work in. 

 

Please note there are a number of specific professional categories (including Legal and Finance) as well as the rising star when making an application. 

  
2. Legal Professional of the Year

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This award recognises a truly exceptional individual’s contribution to the legal profession in the last 18 months. Nominees can be paralegals, trainee solicitors, legal executives, or qualified solicitors. 

  

The judges are looking for someone who has demonstrated exemplary performance in their field of expertise, standing out from their peers. This can be demonstrated through their technical legal ability, client care/focus, pro bono work, recognition of their work on major cases, projects or investigations and engaging and responding to demands faced by clients and the legal profession.

 

3. Finance Professional of the Year

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This award recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the financial services industry. Nominations are welcome from finance professionals working in practice, industry, or third/public sector. 

 

The individual nominated will have to demonstrate to the judges how they are the best finance professional within the Greater Manchester region. This can be demonstrated through their technical, commercial and/or practical ability, client care/focus, recognition of their work on major deals or projects and engaging and responding to demands faced by their clients and their profession/sector. 

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4. outstanding apprentice of the year

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Breaking into a sector is never easy and this award will recognise an incredible apprentice who has gone above and beyond, setting the standard in their industry. Through inspirational qualities and a commitment to personal development, they will have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to their workplace.

 

The judges are looking for an exemplary apprentice who has achieved a high level of progression, successfully applied their learning in the workplace and can demonstrate management or leadership capabilities. The nominee must either be currently undertaking an apprenticeship or have completed one within the last 12 months.

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5. Entrepreneurial Initiative of the year - Individual or team

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This award recognises a recent (< 3 years) initiative that has capitalised on an opportunity to develop a new venture, process, or service. The judges are looking for an individual or team that has achieved the above through hard work, dedication, and determination. 

  

The winner of this award will have made an outstanding contribution to the Greater Manchester region. This can be demonstrated through technical, commercial or practical accomplishments, client/customer care and/or focus and engaging and responding to demands faced by their clients/customers and their profession/sector.  

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6. Sales & Business Development Professional of the Year 

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This award recognises an individual who has driven their organisation forward, through new business acquired and/or developing relationships with key clients.

 

The individual nominated should demonstrate to the judges how their personal attributes influence and develop client relationships. This can include, but is not limited to, bringing clients from outside of the North West into Greater Manchester. Examples include technical, commercial or practical abilities, recognition of work on major sales, engaging and responding to demands faced by clients.

7. Marketing & communications Professional of the Year

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This award recognises an individual who has excelled in marketing and comms, this could be through promoting a campaign, designing and executing a marketing strategy or transforming/enhancing a brand. 

 

The individual nominated will have to demonstrate to the judges how their technical, commercial or practical abilities have supported a step change in this process, how they have incorporated their clients' perspectives into their work and, where possible, demonstrated impact.

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*For this category a 30-second video (e.g. a reel) or portfolio to support your application can be emailed​ after submission, detailing your impact or referencing this in the application text

8. Creative Professional of the Year*

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This award recognises an individual who through creative, technical and/or commercial ability has excelled this year as a creative/design professional. Entrants are invited from across the creative sectors. 

 

The individual should demonstrate their work on major creative projects, highlighting their identity and individualism through their portfolio. Examples can include understanding and responding to client briefs, impacting a sector and/or making a mark in Greater Manchester. 

 

*For this category a 30-second video (e.g. a reel) or portfolio to support your application can be emailed​ after submission, detailing your impact or referencing this in the application text

9. agent of change

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Hope and unity are what this award embodies. This award recognises individuals/teams who have worked to tackle challenges which will have a lasting impact in their community and/or sector. This could be through an innovative project or initiative that has driven positive change.

 

The judges will look to hear how efforts have helped to address the subject through empowerment, education, reflection and celebration. Topics can include but are not limited to sustainability, climate change, disaster responses, human rights, championing inclusionary practices and wellbeing.

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10.Team of the Year

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This award recognises a team that has raised their organisation’s profile, had a positive impact on their community and/or made an outstanding contribution to their industry/sector. 

 

The judges are looking for evidence of an outstanding performance this year in the face of various challenges over and above regular daily work. This can be demonstrated through creative teamwork, developing innovative solutions to problems, work on major deals, projects, or programs etc.

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