The Midlands Leadership Awards 2018
Curium Solutions has joined forces with TheBusinessDesk.com to create The Midlands Leadership Awards, which celebrate the best leaders and organisations across the region.
Held on 15 November at Edgbaston Stadium, these new awards showcase the people who are role models within their organisations and raise the bar for their competitors. The winners will show the qualities of extraordinary leadership and be able to demonstrate its positive impact.
James Farrow, Curium Solutions co-founder and director, said: “Leadership is a critical capability for success and never has it been more in the spotlight. Organisations are facing a time of massive change, dealing with issues like Brexit, constantly emerging tech and workplace diversity, on top of their many day-to-day demands.
“In this fast-paced and confusing environment, having brilliant leaders to inspire and empower their teams and push their organisation forward will be the ultimate differentiator.”
Leadership happens throughout an organisation, so applicants can come from anywhere in the organisation. To celebrate leadership in all its forms, award categories include Young Leader, Transformational Leader, Diversity and Inclusion Leader, as well as leaders from large and small companies, professional services, public and third sectors.
“At its core, leadership is about mindset and behaviour. Great leaders change their organisations and they can also change their sectors and regions,” said Alex Turner, joint managing director of TheBusinessDesk.com.
“There is now much greater demand on leaders to be accessible and visible, and there is a much broader range of leadership styles. The Midlands Leadership Awards will showcase those individuals whose leadership is having a significant impact and delivering fantastic outcomes.”
Impact includes improving financial performance, organisational culture or external reputation, overcoming adversity and challenges or by enabling other people succeed. The shortlisted individuals and organisations will be those who have made a difference through a real desire to make things better.
Great leadership can also be demonstrated through roles with other bodies where the individual is championing the region, sector or under-represented groups.
Entrants should complete the entry form and send it to leadership@thebusinessdesk.com. The deadline for entries is Friday, 14 September 2018. Entries will be judged by an independent panel of judges, which will be announced shortly.
The awards are also being supported by Aston University, MHA MacIntyre Hudson, Pertemps and Future Faces Chamber of Commerce.
The award categories
The Leadership Awards offer a great opportunity to recognise and showcase the achievements and success of businesses in the region. The 2018 categories are:
Young Leader – sponsored by Aston University
This award recognises the best leader aged under 35 (on December 1, 2018) for their ability to make a real difference in their organisation by bringing about positive change and inspiring others around them.
Best Leadership Programme
Successful companies know that leaders can be developed internally, not just hired externally. This award will go to the company or organisation that has delivered significant improvements through its successful leadership programme.
Empowering Potential – Future Faces Chamber of Commerce
This award is for the leader who has inspired and developed people, unlocking potential they may never have known they had. The winning candidate will have helped their team or people in their team to beat their own expectations of themselves and / or the expectations of others.
Diversity and Inclusion Leader
Increasingly, organisations are embracing the benefits of having a diverse workforce at every level and in creating an environment where everyone has a voice. The Diversity and Inclusion Leader of the Year will have championed diversity and inclusion, whether inside their organisation or as part of an outside group or initiative, and worked to improve the opportunities for any under-represented group.
Public and Third Sector
The public and third sectors have been under pressure in recent years, requiring their leaders to be innovative and achieve more with less. We’re looking for leader who can overcome challenges, often under close scrutiny, and drive cultural change in their organisation.
Professional Services
The Professional Services Leader of the Year will be the individual who is showing strong leadership and having an impact in their firm or further afield.
Transformational Leader
Delivering change requires a well-executed plan, but to deliver transformational change requires the added magic ingredient of exceptional leadership. This award will recognise the individual who has achieved that, delivering measurable success in their organisation.
Company Leader (up to 100 employees) – sponsored by Pertemps
Leading small companies presents its own challenges, often requiring flexibility and a personal touch. This award will go to the best leader in a Midlands company which employs up to 100 people.
Company Leader (100+ employees) – sponsored by MHA MacIntrye Hudson
Leadership in a larger company requires effort to ensure the company direction and vision is managed and communicated, often across shifts, sites and even countries. This award will go to the best leader in an organisation which employs more than 100 people.
Leader of the Year – sponsored by Curium Solutions
This person will be selected from the other award winners and will be the person or organisation that embodies outstanding leadership and is an exemplar for the Midlands.
