Small businesses in British Columbia that are stars in their local communities now have the opportunity to be rewarded for the work they do every day.
“Small business makes up 98 per cent of all businesses in the province and employs more than one million British Columbians,” said Premier Christy Clark.
“The new Premier’s People’s Choice Award will acknowledge a community-minded B.C. small business because small businesses do more than create jobs – they build and strengthen communities.”
The first-ever Premier’s People’s Choice Award – part of a series of nine Small Business BC Awards – will go to a B.C. small business that demonstrates that their community thinks they go above and beyond.
After being nominated, small businesses must use imaginative, creative or traditional approaches to engage customers, clients and neighbours to vote online between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30, 2013. The B.C. business with the most votes from their community will not only win the award, but it will also receive formal recognition from the premier at an award ceremony in February 2014.
Nominees must employ fewer than 50 people and currently own a business in British Columbia. As Small Business BC Award nominees, businesses will have access to exclusive business tools, education, support, and exposure to valuable new marketing opportunities. Small Business BC Award winners, including the first winner of the Premier’s People’s Choice Award, will each receive the Premier’s Prize of $1,500 cash, a one-year all-access pass to Small Business BC education and experts, as well as business mentorship opportunities. The province is contributing a total of $13,500 to provide a Premier’s Prize to each of the nine winning businesses this year.
In B.C., small business is defined as a business with fewer than 50 employees, or self-employed without paid help. Small business provides nearly 55 per cent of private-sector jobs, employing over one million people in B.C. In addition, the province’s small business community contributes 26 per cent of the province’s Gross Domestic Product.
For more information, link to the Premier’s People’s Choice Award application at www.sbbcawards.ca.
