The East Lindsey Business Awards are back for a third year, as we once again look to celebrate the success of local businesses.

The 2018 Awards showcased some of East Lindsey's finest businesses and the Award winners have been sharing what winning meant to them:

Richard Smith, CEO of Lincolnshire Aqua Park in Mablethorpe, and winner of the Best New Business Idea/ Innovation was delighted with the accolade: "I started Lincolnshire Aqua Park because there was nothing like it in the area and I thought the East Lindsey Business Awards would help put us on the map. I put a lot of time and effort into making our application and I was so pleased to be presented with the Award for Best New Business Idea."

That sentiment was echoed by Charlotte Collins, Manager at the Louth branch of Crofts Estate Agents, who took home the Excellence in Customer Care award: "We've entered the Awards and won two years in a row. Winning the awards has been amazing for us. In a competitive market, it feels good to know that you are getting it right and people appreciate your hard work."

As the Awards return for 2019, there are a number of new award categories including the District's Favourite Market Trader Award which launches in May and will be decided by public vote - giving the local community a chance to show recognition and appreciation to their favourite traders; more information on how to get involved will be announced soon.

Nominations across all other categories are now open and businesses have until June 30, 2019 to enter, with the winners being crowned at the Awards evening at Woodhall Spa's Petwood Hotel on Friday, September 27.

Awards categories for the 2019 East Lindsey Business Awards are:

•    Excellence in Customer Service
•    Accommodation Provider of the Year 
•    Best New Business 
•    Independent Retailer of the Year 
•    Visitor Attraction of the Year
•    Lifetime Achievement in Business
•    Employer of the Year 
•    Food and Drink Business of the Year  
•    Apprentice/Young Entrepreneur of the Year 
•    Best New Product or Innovation
•    People's Choice Award – District's Favourite Market Trader 

Businesses wishing to enter the Awards should go to www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/ELBA and complete a nomination form or call 01507 613119 for more information. 

Following the nomination deadline, three finalists will be shortlisted for each category. Finalists will then be invited to a judging day at Louth's Fairfield Enterprise Centre, where they will meet with a judging panel, who will select winners in each category (except the District's Favourite Market Trader). All winners will then be announced at the award ceremony on September 27, 2019.

We are delighted to once again be working with our delivery partner, the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce and media partner, JPI Media.

The Business Awards wouldn't be possible without the sponsorship of local businesses and there are a range of sponsorship opportunities available for the 2019 Awards. Head to our website to find out more.

There are also a number of other key dates to remember ahead of the elections:

•    Those registered to vote will receive a Poll Card from March 26 to inform them of their polling station.

•    If you're not yet registered to vote you must do so by midnight on April 12.  You can register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

•    If you wish to vote by post at the election your completed postal vote application must be received by 5pm on April 15.  You can find out how to apply for a postal vote application at https://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/article/5887/How-to-Register  

•    If you wish to alter or cancel an existing postal vote or existing proxy vote you must do so by 5pm on April 15 by contacting the Elections Team on 01507 601111 or elections@e-lindsey.gov.uk  

•    Postal vote packs will be delivered after April 15. If you are likely to be away from your home after April 15 please contact the Elections Team immediately to discuss alternative voting arrangements. 

•    New proxy vote applications, where you authorise someone else to vote on your behalf, must be received by 5pm on April 24.  You can find out how to apply for a proxy vote at https://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/article/5887/How-to-Register

•    The elections take place on May 2 with Polling Stations open from 7am until 10pm.  

For more information visit www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/elections

Here are a few ways to keep you and your family, friends and neighbours safe:

•    Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and make sure you can hear them throughout your home
•    Test your smoke alarms monthly – they could save your life, but only if they are working
•    Offer to test the smoke alarms of an older family member, neighbour or friend who needs help
•    Plan and practise how you'd escape in a fire and have a plan B
•    Most accidental fires start in the kitchen, so take care and never leave cooking unattended
•    Don't overload plug sockets and adapters – watch out for loose wiring, scorch marks, and hot plugs and sockets
•    Keep heaters clear from curtains and furniture and never use them to dry clothes
•    Stub cigarettes out properly and dispose of them carefully – put it out, right out

By following these quick and simple steps, we can reduce the number of fatalities and injuries caused by accidental fires. For more info head to: https://firekills.campaign.gov.uk/

It reflected on a shared vision and commitment to bid for – and ultimately win – the contract to operate a countywide service.

We illustrated how Wellbeing Lincs plays to the strengths of district authorities to achieve beneficial connections across statutory, voluntary, community and health agencies and organisations to secure better outcomes.

Prior to working in Building Control, I worked in architectural practices both in this country, plus in Australia and New Zealand.

What does your day involve?
I normally arrive in the office around 7:50am to enable me to get a lot of work done prior to phone calls coming in, this would be typing up previous day's site inspection notes, answering emails, getting plans checked and answering queries from agents.

We are a reactive service, which means we inspect work, which has been requested by builders, home owners or agents. Inspections could include foundations which have been excavated, floor slab construction, roof construction, drains and completions, as well as calling to give advice and guidance on relevant Building Control queries. We often get queries related to Planning which we have to pass over to that department.

Our job is varied and interesting and no day is the same which is why I like what I do. Personally, I liken us to GP's, who have a good all round knowledge, but if specialised expertise are required, such as an engineer, then we would advise the client to call them in. I am out on site from about 11:30am until 3pm most days and return to my home, as this is closer than returning to the office, where I can get onto the system to put records in and get some plan checking done without being disturbed. I normally finish around 4:15pm depending on work that needs to be done.