Inspire Wales Awards

Are you inspired by others? Award closing dates are drawing nearer, don’t miss out on your chance to nominate.

ON a daily basis people throughout Wales make significant contributions to our society and act as role models for others. They juggle countless roles without giving it a second thought and this year The Western Mail has teamed up with The Institute of Welsh Affairs, Wales’s leading think tank, to congratulate those people who play such an active role promoting their communities on a local, regional, national and global scale. The Inspire Wales Awards are looking for the those who have made a difference to Wales and who have put their talents to good use to inspire others around them.
The chances are that these inspirational people will always put themselves last and others first. Perhaps they do not fully see just how incredible they are and what they do for Wales. So if you know of someone who deserves respect and praise for their efforts, then get in touch.

The awards will reward those in the fields of Education, Arts, Science, Business, the Environment, Sport and the promotion of the Welsh Language. As the closing date for the first three categories is fast approaching we are looking for the public to name nominations for the following categories.

Business Leader – Sponsored by Leadership & Management Wales.
Closing date: Friday, April 16.
This category has been created to recognise the achievements of an individual at the forefront of business activity in Wales, who has demonstrated conspicuous leadership within their business and/or in the wider business community.
Gary Walpole, director of Leadership & Management Wales, said: “We are pleased to sponsor this award as we believe in highlighting the great work that Business leaders are doing in Wales. We think that successful leaders develop their businesses with the help of their people and invest time and resources to develop their people in order to develop their business.”

Educator – Sponsorship for this category is still available.
This category has been created to recognise an individual, teacher, lecturer or work-based trainer, for example those employed in schools, colleges, universities, work-based training or community education, who has pioneered an initiative which has been hailed as an example of good practice in their locality, region or throughout Wales.

Science and Technology – Sponsored by ISG Pearce Limited.
Closing date: Friday, April 16.
This category is to recognise the contribution of science, technology, mathematics and engineering related activities in manufacturing and industry, academia or the public sector. This category provides entrants with an opportunity to demonstrate how their activities have benefited their respective fields or provided more general benefit for Wales.

Andrew Staniforth, director of customer experience and supply chain excellence for category sponsor ISG Peace Limited, said: “We are delighted to be associated with this category to help promote awareness of science, technology and engineering in Wales.

“We believe that is the area of our economy that will help the country to move out of recession and promote ourselves in the global economy. “We are shortly opening an office in the Cardiff Area and have appointed a regional director who is taking up his post in May to specifically develop our business interest in Wales. We are very excited about the quality of nominations we have received for this category and we look forward to receiving more nominations from the excellent calibre of people working within industry in Wales.”

A panel of judges will choose three finalists for each category, who will all be required to attend a meeting with the panel, and the winners will announced at an award ceremony and dinner hosted by S4C presenter Angharad Mair at Cardiff City Hall on Tuesday, June 15.

Tickets cost £55 plus VAT each or £500 for a table of 10, which includes a four-course meal and entertainment. The awards are open to every man and woman living and working in Wales regardless of age, profession, or ethnic group.
To nominate yourself, a friend or a colleague, you can enter via the IWA’s website, www.iwa.org.uk/inspire or by contacting Emma Brennan on 029 2066 0820.

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