Clayhill Arts

This award aims to celebrate businesses that have their origin in creativity, skill and individual talent. Winning businesses will have demonstrated commercial success from a rural base, or developed products that embrace a rural theme or tradition. Entrants might create works of art, design or make products, or re-imagine traditional rural crafts for the modern business world. Whatever entrants create, it will be of exceptional quality, and the winner will combine their creativity with a keen sense of business acumen. The winning business will be able to demonstrate the following: • A clear strategy for business growth and sustainability • Achievement of their aims and objectives. • A clear understanding of the market and customers to whom the business is selling. • Customer satisfaction. • Strong business ethics and financial competency . • How being rural shapes the way that the business operates. • Customer and/or staff engagement. • Effective leadership, operation and management. • Uniqueness in offering - what sets the business apart from the competition.

This award recognises new businesses and innovative developments by existing tourism businesses designed to increase productivity and profitability, setting themselves apart from competitors. It may be a unique customer experience that embraces new technology, a different approach to attracting customers or a new product or service. Tourism businesses of any size may apply. Smaller tourism businesses have the potential to be recognised and judges will consider the scale of the innovation relative to the business size. The business must have completed its innovation or become open to visitors in the last two years (ie since March 2016).