Champions of Business 2023: Titans,Trailblazers

Champions of Business is an annual awards programme presented by the TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce (TT Chamber) which recognises excellence in business.

The awards are hinged on both business acumen and corporate responsibility.

The seven award categories are tailored to either individuals or companies and are open to local entities, whether or not they are members of the Chamber.

This year’s Champions of Business awards gala ceremony, themed Titans and Trailblazers will be held on November 2, at the National Academy for the Performing Arts, Port of Spain.

Nominations for the awards are open until July 31.

Full nomination criteria and forms for all categories are available on the Chamber’s website https://chamber.org.tt/2023nominations

The seven award categories are:

·
Business Hall of Fame (sponsored by The National Gas Co of TT Ltd)

Open to individuals: A maximum of two business leaders are selected each year to receive this lifetime achievement recognition. Being inducted to the Chamber’s business hall of fame is reserved for only the most exceptional individuals to dominate the national business landscape.

Posthumous inductions – not more than one per year – may also be awarded.

A nominee must, among other criteria, have made a significant impact as a business leader over the duration and span of their career and be recognised as an exemplary role model for future and emerging business leaders.

·
Green Agenda (sponsored by The National Gas Co of TT Ltd)

Open to companies and other organisations: This category recognises the contribution and commitment that companies must now make towards growing a greener future and delivering a new blueprint for business in the 21st century. The company would have demonstrated leadership in implementing energy efficiency strategies. It should be working to positively contribute to the promotion of a greener TT.

Criteria for nomination includes, among other things, having a written policy on sustainability and being able to demonstrate how its measures are implemented.

·
Breakthrough exporter of the year sponsored by Eximbank of TT

Open to companies: The nominee must show significant growth over the prior year. It is targeted to operations that are newly beginning to establish themselves in the export sector. As such, it is attractive to MSMEs.

The company should have at least 50 percent local shareholding ownership and be reporting annual turnover of between $500,000 to$20 million.

It must be able to document its evolution towards becoming an exporter, among other requirements.

· Entrepreneurship (sponsored by Republic Bank)

Open to individuals or companies: This award will be presented to an individual or business that has been founded within the last eight years and which has been experiencing strong growth.

The nominee must be an owner or leader of a private or public company with primary responsibility for the recent performance of the company, as well as be an active member of management. Non-founding entrepreneurs are also eligible if the individual manages the business and assumes the associated risks.

The nominee must be an exceptional visionary displaying inspirational leadership skills.

· SME (sponsored by Term Finance)

Open to individuals or companies: Celebrating the contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises to the TT economy, this category presents two awards with a winner in each category.

Small businesses: employing six-25 workers, and generating revenues of $500,000-$2.99 million and operational for least three years.

Medium-sized business: employing 26-50 people, and revenues of $3 million-$50 million, and operational for at least five years.

· Innovation (sponsored by bmobile business)

Open to individuals or companies: This award recognises the significant role innovation plays in transforming our economy. It focuses on the pioneering use of technology, such as social media, virtual reality, blockchain or artificial intelligence to increase productivity and measurable improvement for customers, clients and businesses.

Among other things, nominees must be able to demonstrate how their business concept has met and overcome challenges, adopted a clear understanding of their market and show how innovation has laid the foundations for continued success and potential expansion.

· The Internationally Known...TT Owned Company of the Year (sponsored by the Ministry of Trade and Industry)

Open to companies: The award recipient is recognised for excellence in performance locally and regionally or internationally.

The criteria for eligibility includes, among other things, having engaged in significant business development expansion overseas with an established footprint either regionally or internationally, whether through manufacturing or distribution in other markets or via exports of their services; show the potential and plans for sustained growth in international markets and describe the company’s international engagement and knowledge of different jurisdictions.

The Champions of Business awards is the only award in TT reserved for business excellence.

The categories reflect every stage of operation and growth.

Join us in putting the national spotlight on how business has helped to shape our national identity.