MERSEYSIDE’S most responsible small business is to be rewarded for looking after its staff and the wider community. This year’s ECHO Enterprise Champions Awards, the sixth annual competition for small firms in Merseyside, includes a new category toreward our region’s responsible bus-inesses. Liverpool Chamber of Commerce will support the category for its inaugural year. A chamber spokesman said: “We are proud to sponsor the Responsible Business Award at the Liverpool ECHO Enterprise Champions Awards. “The chamber is leading on developing the responsible business agenda which enables companies to manage a wide range of social, environmental and economic impacts, and also to realise a wide range of commercial opportunities. “Liverpool Chamber exists to help the region’s businesses to become more responsible and competitive. It is keen to support an internationally recognised region for sustainable development on Merseyside. “When a company develops an understanding of the impacts that it has on its employees, neighbours, customers and suppliers, it is able to understand the risks and opportunities that arise from them. “The award is as much about businesses that have grasped an opportunity as well as avoided risk. “Companies that actively manage their social, environmental and economic risks have the potential to reap a range of benefits such as increased efficiency, profitability and presence in the marketplace.” Once again we are also recognising the contributions to the local economy made by aspiring bus-iness leaders in the Best Young Business Achiever award. Last year’s winner was Ben Hatton, founder of website design specialists Rippleffect. He said: “Winning the compet-ition was a fantastic profile boost. More people get to know about you and what you do, and that leads to more knock-on effects.” The business, which also has offices in Manchester and London, recently moved from its former Campbell Square headquarters to Liverpool Science Park, next to the Metropolitan Cathedral. Mr Hatton said: “That has more than doubled our office space and I would think that the award has probably played a part in that expansion.” The categories BEST RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS, SPONSORED BY LIVERPOOL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Does your business have a history of applying ethical values to business behaviour and embracing that in all areas of your business? Be rewarded for your commitment and enter this award by telling us about your company values and how these are practised through business management and in the workplace. Tell us how your business behaviour has had an impact on staff morale, your local community or the environment and how it has led to real business benefits. BEST YOUNG BUSINESS ACHIEVER: Are you, or one of your colleagues or employees, able to demonstrate outstanding achievements in your field? From innovative and fresh approaches to traditional ways of thinking, excellent career progression, to excellent leadership and management, tell us about these achievements. Our rules of entry . . . ENTRIES must come from within the Liverpool ECHO circulation area. To enter, applicants must submit a written summary to demonstrate how they or their business meet the category requirements as well as demonstrate how they stand out from others. Entrants must also complete the financial chart. The closing date for entries is July 6. For further information please contact: 0151-472 2570. For the latest information/apply on line please visit www.icliverpool.co.uk/enterprise Champions or email: enterprisechampions@icliverpool.net neilhodgson@liverpoolecho.co.uk | 
