The judging panel for the retailer categories of the 2015 DIY Week Awards has been announced, with well-known industry figures and past winners.
This year's judging panel for the retailer categories comprises BIRA Direct director of buying Steve Akers, industry consultant and former DIY Week publisher Colin Petty, Garden Centre Association chief executive Iain Wylie, Stax operations director Nigel Wright, and Thorns DIY's Emily Motts and Miriam Devlin.

As well as industry figures and trade association representatives who know what makes for an excellent retail business, the judging panel also boasts, for the first time this year, past DIY Week Award winners, in the form of Emily and Miriam from Thorns DIY in Norwich, which has made frequent appearances on the awards shortlist in a number of categories over the years.

The panel will convene in November to judge seven retail categories: Décor Retailer of Year, Hardware Retailer of the Year, Garden Retailer of the Year, Retail Communicator of the Year, Security Retailer of the Year, Store Manager of the Year and Tool Retailer of the Year.

A shortlist of Silver winners will be announced after judging has taken place, with the Gold winners in each category revealed at the black-tie awards event on Monday, February 16.

Retailers don't miss the opportunity to get your business and outstanding store managers in front of the judging panel and be in with a chance to win Gold on the night. Download an entry form from www.diyweek.net/awards. Entry is open to all retailers operating within the UK DIY and garden industry.

To enter or to read more about our judges visit www.diyweek.net/awards