Erewash Sound announced as Best Local Commercial Radio Station - East Midlands

Erewash Sound has been revealed as the 'Best Local Commercial Radio Station' in the East Midlands in the Midlands Enterprise Awards 2019.

This latest announcement comes just twelve months after the radio station JUST for Erewash was given the accolade of 'Best Local Radio Service for Derbyshire' in the 2018 awards.

The Midlands Enterprise Awards allows organiser, SME News, to reward hardworking individuals and firms hailing from the Midlands region for their innovation and excellence in their business practice as well as their outstanding overall performance.

SME News prides itself on the validity of its awards and winners.  The awards are given solely on merit and are awarded to commend those most deserving for their ingenuity and hard work, distinguishing them from their competitors and proving them worthy of recognition.

Erewash Sound is a non-profit making community interest company based at the Media Centre, in Cotmanhay, Ilkeston.  It has been broadcasting on FM since March 2010 on 96.8FM and on-line.  The radio station has recently been granted permission by the broadcast regulator, OFCOM, to install a second transmitter on a second frequency in order to better serve the borough, particularly Long Eaton and the south and south-west of the area.

Speaking on the latest Enterprise Award honour, David Allen, chair of Erewash Sound CIC said: “I am delighted that, once again, Erewash Sound and its superb team of dedicated volunteers has been recognised in this way.  Their professionalism and hard work on a daily basis provides the people of Erewash with news and entertainment of a consistently high standard.  I am more than proud of everything they do.”

Ian Perry is the Media Spokesperson for Erewash Sound.  He said: "We were absolutely thrilled to receive the 2018 honour of being declared the 'Best Local Radio Service' for Derbyshire, so to go one step further in 2019 is, as David also suggested, testament to the dedication of our mostly voluntary team who help run a 24 hour genuinely local radio station with the support of local businesses, grant funding and members of the public.

Having just received the excellent news about being granted permission for a second transmitter, we're now awaiting news on an application to continue broadcasting to 2025, and prior to that, whether we have been successful with any nominations in the 2019 Community Radio Awards.  Naturally, we'll be telling as many people as possible about our ''Best Local Radio Service' award throughout whilst we hope for more good news!"

The Midlands, home to over ten million people and hosts eight hundred thousand businesses, both large and small, is the heart of England.  Many of these smaller, yet influential businesses to the region, often go overlooked, despite their achievements, missing out on the recognition they so richly deserve.

Natalie Farrell, Award Coordinator spoke of the success of this year’s Midlands Enterprise Awards programme.  She said: “In a region which has become the most popular location, outside of London, for the emergence of new businesses to start-ups in recent years and attracting regional high record levels of foreign direct investment over the last decade, there is truly much to celebrate across the various trades and industries operating across the East and West Midlands.  I am immeasurably proud of my winners and wish them the best of luck for the future.”

To learn more about the award winners and to gain insight into the working practices of the “best of the best”, visit the SME News website, where you can access the winners supplement.