A BRAND new award has been launched for a prestigious T&A event this year.

The Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Awards return in 2021, for only the second time.

The coronavirus pandemic meant there was no ceremony last year, putting a halt to the exciting traction that was building after the awards' inaugural event in 2019.

But the glitzy affair - which was officially launched at the start of this month - makes its long-awaited comeback on Sunday, November 14, and there's a brand new category.

The Healthy Workplace of the Year Award is apt in the current climate, after "extremely challenging times" in business and people's personal lives over the past year-and-a-half.

It replaces the Frontline Team of the Year category and is sponsored by Bradford Council's Public Health team and Living Well - an initiative which aims to help people in the Bradford district make the healthy choice the easy choice, through various projects and partnerships.

The award will recognise a local retail, leisure or hospitality business that has gone beyond expectations to support the health and wellbeing of its staff.

The judges will be looking for a business that has worked hard to create a great environment for employees which improved their health and wellbeing.

A spokesperson for Bradford Council's Public Health team said: "For many workplaces, maintaining a healthy and happy workforce is crucial to success, and putting in extra measures to support staff can be key.

"There is a lot of evidence to show that good quality work can improve people's physical and mental health, and that improving employee health reduces absence from work and improves productivity.

"Over the last year-and-a-half workplaces have faced extremely challenging times.

"Throughout the pandemic businesses have worked even harder than usual in supporting staff through increased stresses on mental and physical health, tailoring working conditions to staff needs and supporting staff to work from home where possible.

"Living Well and Bradford Council's Public Health team are sponsoring this award to recognise and celebrate businesses which have gone the extra mile for their employees.

"Living Well aims to help people in Bradford District, Keighley & Craven improve their health & wellbeing, including the communities where they live, work and play."

The awards took place in The Broadway Bradford in 2019, with part of the shopping centre transformed into a glamorous ceremony venue.

This year's iteration will also take place in the The Broadway's main concourse, under the Christmas lights.

Nominations for all 10 categories are already flying in, but there is still time to submit your own.

The closing date is September 23 - nominations can be made by clicking here