THE Retail, Leisure & Hospitality Awards are returning this year after what has been an incredibly difficult time for the sector. 

In partnership with The Broadway and Bradford BID, the awards will celebrate all the district has to offer and put a spotlight on those who have worked tirelessly to make a difference through the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Categories in this year’s events will showcase the best of the Bradford district - from those who went the extra mile to help key workers to the essential retailers who kept things going in the country’s time of need.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

Steve Lowe, sales director at LocaliQ Bradford, said: “After such a challenging 18 months for the retail, leisure and hospitality sector, we are pleased to be bringing back these awards to celebrate success, recognise achievement and highlight the innovative people and venues and destinations throughout Bradford district who have made a difference during the Covid-19 pandemic year.

“We believe that those that go the extra mile, whether a big or a small business, should be recognised for helping improve the Bradford district as a retail destination. 

“We are looking for businesses with passion, determination, tireless energy and skill that is helping put Bradford on the map. Our 10 award categories are designed to celebrate retail, leisure and hospitality venues from across all BD postcodes.

“Organised in partnership with The Broadway shopping and leisure complex and the Bradford BID, these awards offer an unrivalled opportunity to associate your brand and your people with recognition of the sector and the rebuilding that is happening as we come out of the 18-month lockdown.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Sponsors of the awards Sponsors of the awards

The gala dinner will be held on Sunday, November 14, under the Christmas lights in The Broadway’s main concourse, and will be attended by hundreds of people from the sector.

Steve added: “It will be a celebration of the region’s best companies and a reminder that Bradford is a great place to visit. The whole event will provide you with fantastic opportunity to thank your most valued asset, your people, showcase your business and gain unrivalled free marketing publicity in the Telegraph & Argus online and in print, Living lifestyle magazine and Bradford Means Business, uniting the retail, leisure and hospitality community in a positive way.” 

Ian Ward, general manager at The Broadway added: “We’re proud to be sponsoring and hosting this year’s Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Awards in Bradford following the great success of the first ever awards in 2019. 

“The awards aim to celebrate success, recognise achievement, and highlight the innovative people, venues and destinations throughout the Bradford district which make the area a great place to shop, dine and spend leisure time.

“After an extremely challenging 18 months for the sector, we’re particularly looking forward to hosting the winners at the awards ceremony in November and celebrating their tireless efforts throughout the pandemic.”

The categories are:

Frontline Team of the Year: This award recognises a retail store, and its entire team, who went above and beyond during the pandemic. It is open to any store, no matter the size of the business. Judges will be looking for how the store adapted to the crisis, and how the entire team worked collaboratively to serve their customers and their business during the pandemic. 

Frontline Manager of the Year: This award recognises a manager who went above and beyond during the pandemic. It is open to all store managers regardless of store or business size. The judges will be looking for how the store manager led their team and store during the pandemic; excellent retail skills; inspirational leadership and the ability to deliver the brand’s customer values in unprecedented times. 

Frontline Colleague of the Year: This award recognises an exceptional store colleague who went above and beyond during the pandemic and is open to all store colleagues regardless of store size or business. Judges will be looking for how the colleague served customers and their business during the pandemic; their passion for retail and their customers and going above and beyond their role.

Home Delivery/Collection award: This recognises a local business that had to transform its traditional method of service into either home delivery and/or a click-and-collect type service. Judges will be looking for what the norm was, what the business did differently and how that impacted the business in a positive way.

Outstanding Arts and Cultural award: This award recognises an arts or cultural activity, event or series of activities that have taken place during the pandemic.It is open to any arts or cultural group or body no matter what size which can demonstrate how arts and/or culture has come to the fore during such difficult times and the impact on the district/city or community.

Key Worker Supportive Business of the Year: This award recognises a local retail, leisure or hospitality business that set out to support NHS and other key workers during the Covid-19 pandemic whether it be through special opening hours, priority service, special offers or added value. Judges are looking for evidence of a local business that has put the NHS and other key workers first.

Customer Service award: This award will recognise a company - or a member of staff or a team within an organisation - that has gone above and beyond the call of duty for their customers. The judges will be looking for clear evidence of customer service excellence, especially around looking after customers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Essential Retailer of the Year: This award recognises those retailers that had to stay open, had to find a way to operate in a way to keep staff and customers safe and had to ensure the lights were on when we needed them. Judges are looking for evidence of how the staff and customers were put first, the ways in which you were considered essential and an important part of us getting through the pandemic.

Retail/Leisure Community Hero award: This award will recognise anyone who works in the retail, leisure and hospitality sector who has done something, whether as part of their job or as a volunteer outside of work hours, that really supported a person or group in the local community. Judges are looking for someone who really made a difference to a person or group in the local community who needed support during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Restaurant/Bar of the Year: This award will recognise a local bar or restaurant that excelled in delivering great food, drinks and service during the last 12 months; not letting the Covid compliance rules stop them providing a great experience or maybe using them to adapt and change the operation in a way that makes them stand out from the competition.

The judges will be looking for a business which adapted and delivered to create a great experience for customers.