Antarctic skier to be guest speaker at Shropshire Chamber Business Awards

Army reservist Major Sandy Hennis, one of the six-woman Ice Maidens skiing team, will speak at the event which will celebrate the best of the county’s commerce and industry.

The Ice Maidens made the headlines when they became the first all-female team in the world to ski unaided coast-to-coast across Antarctica.

Organised by Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, the ceremony on June 15 will bring together hundreds of members of the Shropshire business community at Telford’s International Centre.

There are more categories to enter than ever before. In response to feedback from the business community, the new and small business awards have both been split into two, in recognition of the differing size of workforces.

There is also an environmental innovation category for the first time this year, for businesses which have introduced or developed innovative environmental practices, processes or technology either for use within their own business or the wider marketplace.

A new stand-alone manufacturing award is also on offer this year, splitting it away from the transport and logistics prize.

The John Clayton Award, in honour of the former chamber chief, will again be awarded this year to someone who has given outstanding service to the Shropshire business community.

Shropshire Chamber chief executive Richard Sheehan said the awards are open to all businesses in Shropshire – any size, any type of business, start-ups and of course, previous winners.

"We are really getting excited as we get towards this year's awards ceremony. It is appreciation and celebration of the Shropshire business community and we are inviting people to join in with the celebrations," he said.

"We are very pleased with the quality of entries so far but would obviously like more.

"We are always proud of the event itself and the positive affect it has on businesses."

Shropshire Business editor Carl Jones, who has been involved in the organisation of the awards since day one, will once again be master of ceremonies at the glittering prizegiving night.

Entries are now open for the competition by contacting shropshirebusinessawards.co.uk, and are free.

The closing date is April 20, and shortlisted finalists will be announced in early May.

Each shortlisted business will then receive a visit from a panel of judges, before the winners will be announced at the Oscars-style ceremony on June 15.

Sponsorship is also available, including for the Outstanding Customer Service Awards.

New sponsors this year include University Centre Shrewsbury, Bespoke Computing, West Midland Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association and Marches Centre of Manufacturing and Technology.