Mansfield and Ashfield 2020 is inviting people to attend its annual awards ceremony – all from the comfort of their own homes or offices.

The awards take place between 2pm and 4pm on September 25, via Zoom, and will be hosted by the joint chairs of 2020, Jane Box and Gary Jordan.

Free to “attend”, people should register an interest by visiting http://bit.ly/MA2020Awards.

Sponsors include Mansfield Building Society, i-sourcer, Enchanted Garden Day Nursery, R.E.A.L Education, Ashfield Effluent, B Jephson (Mansfield) Ltd, Discover Ashfield, Ashfield District Council, Mansfield District Council, Calluna Associates, and Premier Security 24/7.

Jane Box said: “A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to enable us to host this year’s awards, albeit in a very different format to previous years. I actually think it’s a good opportunity for members and non-members to get involved and be inspired by the business success stories we have in our area.”

Gary Jordan added: “For obvious reasons, this year will be very different due to the social distancing guidelines. All of the finalists submitted entries in January and were interviewed in February, before all of the COVID situation had arisen.

“We felt it was most important to make sure that those that had made the effort to enter were recognised for the fantastic achievements of the previous business year even if it meant that it had to be done a little differently to our usual glamorous ball.”

To keep the event as glamorous as possible, attendees are being encouraged to hold their own office ball and dress up for the occasion – with the opportunity to enter the “best dressed competition” to win a bottle of bubbly.

Mansfield and Ashfield 2020 hosts the annual awards, now in their 14th year, to acknowledge and reward the success and achievements of local businesses, organisations and staff. It also recognises their contribution to the economic development of the north Nottinghamshire area, celebrating the excellence, hard work and determination of local people.

There are nine categories of Awards, ranging from Entrepreneurial Spirit to Business of the Year and also the 2020 Outstanding Contribution to Mansfield and Ashfield Award.

2020’s Operations Manager, Ella McManus, who has been organising the event, said: “There were a high number of entries and some very serious competition in all the categories. It was hard to whittle it down to just one or two so there are 37 finalists in total with a surprise announcement for our 2020 Outstanding Contribution to Mansfield and Ashfield award to be revealed at the end.”

The categories and finalists are:

Commitment to the Community
Mansfield Building Society
I-Sourcer
Ransom Wood
Decisionz Notts

Charity of the Year
NIDAS
Ashfield CAB
Rainbows Hospice
Portland College

New Business of the Year
Project Lighting Solutions
SolaAir Sequin Walls
Roundworks IT

Young Apprentice of the year
Sam Greasley – Midlands Asset Finance
Wengel Latham – Noyantis
Emily Clegg – The Coal Authority
Maggie Taylor – Fidler and Pepper

Business of the year
Midlands Asset Finance
Mansfield Building Society
Asbestos Compliance Solutions
Mansfield Sand
Jackson Design Associates

Excellence in Innovation & Design
Southwell Racecourse and Golf Club
Packed Pixels
Portland College
Severn Trent Water

Customer Focus Initiative
Roundworks IT
Project Lighting Solutions
i-Sourcer
CCM Livepay

Sustainability & the Environment
Severn Trent Water
Project Lighting Solutions
Ransom Wood Estates
Mayborn Group

Entrepreneurial Spirit
SolaAir Sequin Walls
Magenta Trends
Concept 360!
Noyantis
Fresh Start Recruitment

Outstanding Contribution to Mansfield and Ashfield
To be announced on the day

To find out more about 2020, visit www.mansfieldandashfield2020.com