The title of Medium Business of the Year at the EADT Business Awards 2024 will go to a company with a turnover of £1-5 million that has achieved inspiring things in the past 12 months. Josh Yasar, finance and commercial director at award sponsor Pound Gates, tells us why he is excited to be a returning judge for 2024.

Why were you keen to get involved in the EADT Business Awards? 

At Pound Gates, we want to champion local businesses in Suffolk and connect with like-minded individuals and businesses.  

We want to help businesses celebrate their success and recognise their achievements while also increasing our own brand awareness and recognition as a great supporter of the Suffolk business community.

East Anglian Daily Times: Josh Yasar, finance and commercial director at award sponsor Pound GatesJosh Yasar, finance and commercial director at award sponsor Pound Gates (Image: Christine Bond)

What do you bring to the judging process?

I ran my own business at a young age and have experience in dealing with various SMEs in the county, so I can relate to those businesses and the challenges they face each day.   

I will take time to understand and get to know each business, and will have constructive discussions with all stakeholders. I always provide honest, open and unbiased feedback.

What have your previous experiences of judging been like? 

I was a judge for the Medium Business of the Year category in 2022 and 2023. This was such a great experience and I was fully committed to the task – analysing each entry, doing my own research and then interviewing each finalist business face-to-face at their premises.

I took the time to get to know each business and spoke to key stakeholders and some junior staff members to get a real feel about the business and its people. I take the role of the judge very seriously!

What will you be looking for in the winner?

I will be looking for a business that can clearly define its vision and how it goes about achieving this, as well as a business that has managed to ride through the recent economic uncertainty and support its staff with the cost of living crisis and other financial pressures that people are facing.

What advice would you give to a business that’s considering entering? 

The EADT Business Awards are the business event of the year in our beautiful county. If you are a business that is proud of your achievements and would like to draw the attention of other local firms to your fantastic work, then enter these prestigious awards and let Suffolk know about your achievements.

If you win, you’ll also have the chance to celebrate your success with your staff and enjoy the publicity for many years to come.

The deadline for entries to the EADT Business Awards 2024 is March 17. To enter the Medium Business of the Year category and find out about all other categories, please visit eadtbusinessawards.co.uk

Award criteria

The Medium Business of the Year (£1-5 million turnover) award will be given to a company that demonstrates all-round excellence in business.

The judging will focus on entrants’ trading performance and future objectives, as well as the competitive advantage of the businesses, and will look at examples of specific strategies that have driven business growth.

If your business achievements are impressive, then this award is for you!

To find out more about all of this year's categories, please click here.