Reception to highlight award sponsorship opportunities

FLASHBACK to this year's Oldham Business Awards 16 and the winner of the Employer of the Year Award Gemini uPVC. Presenting the award to Paul Griffiths, centre, of Gemini uPVC is Laura Smart of KPMG and celebrity guest John Thomson

SPONSORSHIP opportunities linked to the 2017 Oldham Business Awards will be highlighted at an evening reception later this month.

The voluntary steering group which organises the annual business awards is holding a supporters' reception at Oldham Events Centre on Thursday, September 22.

The reception will run from 6pm to 8pm with complementary drinks and a buffet, courtesy of the Oldham Evening Chronicle and Oldham Events Centre.

The event centre is located on the first floor of the new stand at Oldham Athletic FC, accessed from Hilbre Avenue, off Broadway in Royton. There is free car parking outside the new stand.

Anniversary

Invitations to the reception have so far been sent to previous sponsors, winners and finalists from last year's business awards, along with others in the business community who may be interested in sponsorship opportunities.

Organisers are keen to increase sponsorship for the 2017 awards and are also planning ahead for 2018, which will be the Oldham Business Awards' tenth anniversary.

Last year's sponsors included local firms such as Joseph Parr (Alco), Innovative Technology, MID Communications, Seftons Accountants, Unity Partnership, Web Applications and Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers, alongside others including NatWest, KPMG and the Business Growth Hub.

Pictured at last year's awards ceremony is Laura Smart, left, of KPMG, presenting the Employer of the Year award to Paul Griffiths, of Gemini uPVC, with ceremony host John Thomson.

Dawn Torrington, of Doing Biz For Yourself, is one of the steering group volunteers who is working with new sponsors this year. A calendar of events through the autumn, winter and spring has also been developed to raise awareness of the awards, encourage entries and enhance the networking and promotional opportunities for sponsors.

New sponsors for 2017 will be unveiled at an event due later this autumn when the nominations process will officially begin. More details will be announced following the September 22 reception. Other events will include the annual corporate quiz, hosted by Martyn Torr, in the winter and a reception for shortlisted businesses and sponsors in the spring. The final awards ceremony itself will be held at Oldham's Queen Elizabeth Hall on May 12, 2017.

If you would like to attend the September 22 reception, please contact Chronicle business editor Robbie MacDonald by emailing: robbiemacdonald@oldham-chronicle.co.uk.

For more details on sponsorship opportunities, contact Dawn Torrington on 0161-410 0485. Alternatively email: info@doingbizforyourself.co.uk or see her Twitter account @bizforyourself

For further details about the awards, visit: oldhambusinessawards.co.uk