THE countdown is on for the people and companies who make Glasgow flourish to be recognised in a prestigious awards ceremony.

Nominations for the Inspiring City Awards, held in association with PEOPLE MAKE GLASGOW, close next Wednesday.

Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The Inspiring City Awards provide an opportunity to celebrate and shine a light on those individuals and organisations who go above and beyond to make Glasgow such a fantastic city to live, work, study in and visit.

“There have been some thoroughly deserving winners of the PEOPLE MAKE GLASGOW award over the past four years and I’m certain that we’ll receive a final flurry of great entries which reflect the truly outstanding work being delivered every day to enhance our communities and the city’s reputation at home and abroad.”

Other partners supporting the event include AHR Architects, City Building, Developing the Young Workforce, European Championships 2018, Glasgow Airport, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow Employer Board, Glasgow Taxis, Glasgow Welcomes, Hacking & Paterson Management, Scottish Water, Scullion LAW, Simon Driscoll Consultancy and the Watson Foundation.

There are 15 categories to enter including educations, arts and culture, sports and industry and business.

Speaking on behalf of the Glasgow Taxis Ltd executive committee, Chairman Stephen Flynn said: “We are backing one big, final push for entrants to the education category, and indeed all categories, of this year’s Inspiring City Awards.

“Entering or nominating for the Inspiring City Awards is very simple and relatively quick and it can have a positive and longstanding impact not only on the eventual winners but all those shortlisted as well. So let’s see as many new entrants as possible ahead of the deadline and make this year’s awards the biggest and best celebration of Glasgow.”

David Doran, director of Hacking and Paterson Management said “It’s not too late to submit nominations for this year’s Legacy Award.

“Anyone wishing to put forward an individual or organisation should be encouraged to do so before the 19th July deadline to ensure that those who have contributed the most to the legacy of our great city can be considered.”

Alan Thomson, head of corporate relations at Scottish Water, said: “This is your chance to showcase all the great environmental work and initiatives being delivered by your business – don’t miss out and enter now.”

AHR Architects, sponsors of the Arts and Culture Award, said: “Glasgow has an ever growing profile in arts and culture and we are proud to be supporting those involved in creating this reputation through the awards.”

City Building, which is supporting the Industry and Business Award, said: “As one of Glasgow’s biggest employers, we’re proud to support this year’s Inspiring City awards and celebrate the contribution that Glasgow’s businesses are making to the economic development of the city and its growth.

“Entering the awards is a great way to share not just your achievements but also your knowledge with the city’s business community. Highlighting your successes could additionally encourage other companies to consider how they can innovate and improve. “We’d urge anyone who is considering these awards to enter.

“Glasgow has an array of impressive and innovative businesses and these awards aim to recognise their success, as well as the important role that they play in encouraging other organisations to achieve the best results.

“We’re supporting this year’s Industry and Business Award because we want to inspire the city’s business community to aim for the next level and achieve even greater success.”

Alison McRae, senior director, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “Developing the Young Workforce know of lots of companies engaged with the agenda, and the ones we know about are only the tip of the iceberg so I look forward to learning more about what companies across Glasgow are doing.”

Glasgow 2018 Championships Director Colin Hartley said: “As we look ahead to the inaugural European Championships – the biggest sporting event to be staged in Scotland since the Commonwealth Games – the Inspiring City Awards will once again shine the spotlight on all that is good about sport in our city at a grassroots level.

Sport changes lives – we know that from experience in Glasgow and that will be reflected in this year’s Inspiring City Awards.

“There is still time to enter and we are looking forward to hearing about the many fantastic clubs, organisations and volunteers who are making such a valuable contribution to our sporting community.”

Craig Martin, chairman of Glasgow Employer Board, said: “This is a unique category for the awards but I know first-hand that the companies participating have been hard at work so it is going to be hard to pick a winner.”

Craig Martin, head of HR at Glasgow Airport and chairman of Glasgow Welcomes, said: “Glasgow Welcomes inspires and develops our people to deliver outstanding levels of customer service to provide a truly memorable visitor experience.

“We’re keen to recognise individuals or businesses working in Glasgow’s tourism, leisure, retail and hospitality sectors who have made a stand-out contribution to the city’s reputation for customer service excellence.”

Nicholas Scullion, Managing Partner, Scullion LAW said: “We at Scullion LAW strongly encourage you to enter the Carer in the Community Award category. Not only to get the recognition and reward you deserve but to inspire others with your kindness and care towards others.

“Love, generosity and compassion go a long way. Going above and beyond for others is what we pride ourselves on as a law firm.”

Simon Driscoll, of Simon Driscoll Consultancy, said: “Leadership isn’t just about being at the front and centre it’s about listening to your team that help you and your company successful.

John M Watson, OBE of The Watson Foundation, said: “This is a golden opportunity to triumph in the Outstanding Contribution by a Young Business Leader category.

“Now is the time to tell us why you stand out from the crowd and why you have a brilliant business that shows the others how it should be done.”

The deadline for nominations is July 19.

Entry is free and all categories are open to individuals, businesses and third sector organisations.

Visit https://newsquestscotlandevents.com/events/icas/ or contact Heather Steven on 0141 302 6018.