Commercial director Jon Graham believes that winning one major award and being nominated for five others at the ECB Business of Cricket Awards (BOCA) demonstrates that Worcestershire are "going in the right direction" with their off the field strategies.
The county carried off the major prize at the BOCA event staged at Edgbaston – the County Recognition Award which is voted for by all first class counties and a panel of senior figures at the ECB.
It was a reward for all the hard-work which has gone on during the past 18 months in helping to produce a thriving and effective plan and turning New Road into a business open 365 days a year and not just for 50 days cricket.
The winner had to demonstrate a real transformation throughout their business through increasing revenues including new streams, creating new facilities built around the customer, restructuring their staff and putting themselves at the heart of their community.
Worcestershire were also nominated for the The County Marketing Award, The County Match Customer Experience Award, The Business Change Award, The Facilities Award and The Innovation Award.
Graham said: "We've come a long, long way in 18 months. Even to be short-listed on the evening was an achievement. We'd gone from none to five short-listed.
"The majority of the counties you are up against are those with Test playing venues with a lot more resources whether that be financial or manpower which makes a massive difference.
"But to get the main award, which every county gets a vote on, who they have felt has been the best county on and off the field, was absolutely amazing really.
"People can see where we've come from. In 2007 the lights nearly went off (after the summer floods) so to go from that to get the facilities we've got and get that independent recognition is fantastic.
"On a positive note, it's good to see people agree with what we are doing and we are going in the right direction.
"We've definitely got more things right than we got wrong and it was great to back up the lads on the pitch who obviously had a good season last season.
"It's good all areas of the business are thriving and not just on the pitch. You've always got to have the back-up."
