THE MICROSOFT AWARD FOR THE HAPPIEST PLACE TO WORK IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE RETAIL TRUST

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This award recognises the retailer that sets industry-leading standards for wellbeing and workplace happiness. With our partner and employee experience platform WorkL, which collates data through its Happy at Work test, we have created a list of the brands with the happiest employees from the largest 200 UK retailers by sales performance. All brands eligible are those achieving above-industry standards for workplace happiness.

To qualify, retailers must have a Workplace Happiness score of 60% or more and you can find out your retailer's score here: https://app.workl.co/happiest-companies

For any queries, please contact Megan Dunsby on megan.dunsby@retail-week.com.

THE STORE HERO/HEROES AWARD

This award recognises the UK’s standout store manager or team. It is open to personnel from all stores, no matter the size of the shop or the business. The judges will be looking for a store manager or team that has had a demonstrable impact on their customers, community or the broader company. Judges will be looking for details on excellent retail execution, inspirational leadership and/or teamwork, and evidence of customer and commercial gain. Managers and teams should be nominated by their company, but individual managers being put forward must have given their consent beforehand.

THE DISTRIBUTION/DELIVERY HERO/HEROES AWARD

This award recognises an exceptional distribution colleague or team who went above and beyond over the last 12 months. It is open to all DC colleagues, no matter the size of their business. The judges will be looking for an individual or team that has had a demonstrable impact on their customers, community or the broader business. Entrants can be from retailers or third-party distribution companies. Entrants should be put forward by their company, but individuals entered must have given their consent to be nominated. The judges will be looking for how the DC colleague(s) served customers and their business throughout the last year, their passion for retail and their customers, the ability to deliver the brand’s customer values, and why they stand out among their colleagues and peers. Entrants must demonstrate how they made a tangible difference to their team, business or community, which may be reflected in customer and colleague stories and feedback.

THE SAP HEAD OFFICE HERO/HEROES AWARD

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This award recognises an exceptional head office individual or team who has delivered tangible value to their business over the last 12 months. It is open to all head office individuals or teams, no matter their roles or the size of the business. The winning entry can come from any central function, from marketing to operations, buying to ecommerce, but must demonstrate how they have made a tangible difference to their business or customers. The judges will be looking for how the individual or team has served their shoppers and their business, their passion for retail, the ability to deliver the brand’s customer values, and standout achievements over the past year.

THE AMERICAN EXPRESS INCLUSION & DIVERSITY HERO/HEROES AWARD

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This award recognises a standout team or exceptional colleague who has demonstrated dedication to inclusivity and diversity within the business. It recognises the initiatives, ideas, projects and new ways of working devised by any individual or team in any part of the business. These initiatives will be making a tangible difference to I&D, either internally in the business in ways that benefit colleagues, or externally in customer service or brand experience. This person may be a designated diversity Champion or I&D lead in their organisation, but it can be anyone or any team in the business that has driven positive change in I&D and taken a proactive approach to helping improve the culture of their business. The judges will be looking for evidence of a tangible impact that their actions to improve inclusivity have had, as well as how they have inspired others to come on board with their ideas.

THE COMMUNITY HERO/HEROES AWARD

This is an award that celebrates the vital and unique role that retail plays in local communities. On the back of the pandemic, and at a time when shoppers and their communities are affected more than ever by the cost-of-living crisis, this award applauds individuals or teams who have gone above and beyond their day job to help others. It is open to all personnel from all functions of the business. The judges will be looking for nominations that demonstrate the positive impact retailers can have on people’s lives on a local level and that shine a light on the true brand ambassadors in their business. It’s not about business-led strategies or projects that have been initiated for commercial gain or to meet CSR targets. Instead it’s about the simple, local ideas or projects or perhaps just acts of kindness that have genuinely made a difference. This could be new ways to ensure more unwanted food goes to people who need it, people who have gone out of their way to help people in need, or innovative fundraising projects on a local level. Judges will be looking for evidence of ideas and initiatives implemented in the last 12 months. Managers and teams should be nominated by their company, but individual managers being put forward must have given their consent beforehand.

THE BEST NEW STORE AWARD

This category is open to all retail sectors and all sizes of store. It includes all stores that have been newly opened or refurbished during the last 12 months. The judges will be looking for innovation and creativity in the design of the store, which should be in the UK. They will also consider a format that can demonstrably show a sales uplift following the implementation of the store redesign and an indication that it will help deliver profitable growth to the retailer in the longer term.

THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE GAMECHANGER AWARD

This award recognises the retailer that is leading the way in delivering outstanding customer experience. It may be enabled by technology, or another type of solution such as a service, but it should meet a particular customer need or delight and excite the customer. The winning initiative will have demonstrably played a pivotal part in improving business performance and delivering success.

THE RELEX SOLUTIONS RESPONSIBLE RETAILER AWARD

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This award recognises a retailer for making an outstanding contribution to the communities in which it operates. It will have made significant strides towards the increasing prioritisation of CSR, and be able to demonstrate that ongoing commitment to making a positive impact in the wider world. The winner represents retail ‘good citizenship’ and shows that corporate social responsibility also delivers business benefits. This award celebrates retail’s sense of social responsibility and willingness to engage with the big issues affecting the world, such as sustainability, slavery, health and diversity. The winner will have set the agenda on this issue, inspiring/challenging others to follow their lead, and be able to demonstrate practical and/or measurable changes that have resulted.

THE GREEN INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

The overall journey to net zero can seem overwhelming and abstract, and for many retailers that journey is still in its relative infancy. This award recognises those retailers that are making strides towards improving their green credentials, and will celebrate a specific sustainability initiative in the last 12 months, which is making a big impact in its own right or as part of an overall programme. This may be anything from plastic reduction through to more environmentally friendly logistics or waste avoidance, such as in grocery or fashion.

THE INTERNATIONAL RETAILER OF THE YEAR

This award recognises the overseas success of UK-based retailers and retail groups. (Overseas companies’ UK divisions can be entered in all the other awards categories.) Entries may include expansion internationally, such as through launching in new countries, or delivering outstanding performance over the period at an existing overseas business. All sorts of business models can be entered – for instance, franchising deals, transformational acquisitions, store or online expansion or improvement programmes. The winner will be determined by evidence of success, a compelling business model, and a transformational impact on that particular international retail market, supported by relevant data.

THE FASHION RETAILER OF THE YEAR

This award celebrates an outstanding fashion retailer that has demonstrated great commercial success and catered consummately for its customers over the last 12 months. It is open to all retailers that count fashion as their main operation. The winner will demonstrate outstanding retail skills, deep customer understanding, excellent execution of strategy and business sustainability.

THE SOFTSERVE GROCER OF THE YEAR

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This award celebrates an outstanding grocery retailer that has demonstrated great commercial success and catered consummately for its customers over the last 12 months. It is open to all retailers that count grocery as their main operation. The winner will demonstrate outstanding retail skills, deep customer understanding, excellent execution of strategy and business sustainability.

THE SPECIALTY RETAILER OF THE YEAR

This award is aimed at giving recognition to the specialist retailers that focus predominantly on one major product category or one specialist sector, which contribute to a USP for that retailer. The winning retailer will be able to demonstrate how this specialist position in the market and its specialist knowledge around its offering have given it a unique market position and delivered outstanding business performance. Specialty retailers of all turnovers and operating through any combination of channels are eligible to enter.

THE SALESFORCE BEST RETAILER UNDER £250m

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This award celebrates an outstanding retailer that has demonstrated great commercial success and catered consummately for its customers over the last 12 months. It is open to all retailers with annual sales of less than £250m. The winner will demonstrate outstanding retail skills, deep customer understanding, excellent execution of strategy and business sustainability.

THE BEST RETAILER OVER £250m

This award celebrates an outstanding retailer that has demonstrated great commercial success and catered consummately for its customers over the last 12 months. It is open to all retailers with annual sales of more than £250m. The winner will demonstrate outstanding retail skills, deep customer understanding, excellent execution of strategy and business sustainability.

THE SALESFORCE RETAIL LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD

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THE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO RETAIL AWARD

THE CONSUMER CHOICE AWARD