SUSSEX BUSINESS AWARDS CEREMONY GRAND HOTEL BRIGHTON 2014

SUSSEX BUSINESS AWARDS 2014

The Sussex Business Awards, Grand Hotel, Brighton, December 2014

The SBAs celebrate business excellence across Sussex in England. The SBAs is the longest established scheme of its kind in the United Kingdom. 2014 marks the twenty-sixth anniversary of this popular competition. There are fifteen trophies up for grabs this year as detailed below.

Deadline for entries is 29 August and winners will be announced at The Grand Brighton on 10 December.

ABOUT SUSSEX BUSINESS AWARDS

Companies, organisations and individuals from all over Sussex are invited to enter the 26th Sussex Business Awards. Winning an award really can make a difference and lead to increased awareness of your company and its activities.

THE BENEFITS OF ENTERING

* A great networking opportunity with the county’s elite business community.

* Chance to put your business in the media spotlight with valuable publicity in print, online and on radio.

* Add value to your marketing by including the winner/finalist logo across your literature and website to promote your success.

* Gain free, independent assessment from expert judges with feedback available to unsuccessful, as well as successful, candidates.

* Be part of a three thousand strong (and growing!) Twitter community to share news about your business activities.

* If shortlisted, be showcased in a special business edition of The Argus which will be given away to attendees at the awards ceremony and featured in the Business Supplement the following week.

COSTS

Entry costs £50 (plus vat) for one entry or £100 (plus vat) for up to three. In addition, businesses can enter Social Enterprise of the Year, Healthiest Workplace Award, Boss of the Year and the Greatest Contribution to Sussex Charity for FREE.

The Awards will be presented Wednesday 10 December at The Grand Brighton.

AWARD CATEGORIES

1. Sussex Company of the Year Sponsored by Morgan Sindall

For the most outstanding business in the region.

This award is open to businesses with more than £2 million turnover which are based in, or conducting most of their business from, Sussex.

2. The Small Business of the Year Sponsored by Sussex Enterprise

This award is open to any business that has a turnover of less than £2 million and has been trading for at least two years. The business must be based in, or conduct most of its business from, Sussex.

3. The International Business of the Year Sponsored by HSBC

The award is open to any business based in, or conducting the majority of its business from, the county of Sussex.

4. Sussex Businessperson of the Year Sponsored by Mazars

5. The Award for the Best Customer Service Sponsored by Domestic & General

6. The Award for the Most Promising New Business Sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter

The award is open to any company based in Sussex that has been trading for at least six months and for no longer than three years.

7. The Entrepreneur of the Year Sponsored by Sussex Business Times

8. The Award for Innovation in Business Sponsored by Sussex Innovation Centre - For the business best demonstrating outstanding innovation.

The award is open to any business based in, or conducting the majority of its business from, East or West Sussex.

9. The Award for the Most Sustainable Business in Wealden Sponsored by Wealden District Council

For outstanding achievement in those businesses for whom the protection or enhancement of the environment is placed at the core of their activities, or whose products or practices have resulted in significant beneficial environmental impact.

10. The Responsible Business Award Sponsored by Checkaprofessional.com

For the business which best demonstrates how Corporate Social Responsibility can be the beating heart of an organisation of any size.

11. Best Place To Entertain Your Clients Sponsored by Absolute Brighton

12. The Healthiest Workplace Award Sponsored by Domestic & General

NOMINATE FOR FREE

1. Social Enterprise of the Year Sponsored by Legal and General

A non-profit social enterprise is an organisation that trades for a social and/or environmental purpose. It has a clear mission and understands the impact it wishes to have on the community, who it aims to help, and how it plans to do it. Most of its income will be derived through the selling of goods or services. If this describes your business, you should enter for this Award.

Entry criteria:

* Must be a non-profit social enterprise, with a charitable purpose, as defined above.

* Turnover of less than £500,000 pa (over the last three years).

* The applicant must have, or be working towards, a sustainable business model.

* The applicant must address a local social or environmental need.

2. Young Businessperson of the Year (16-25) Sponsored by Sussex Downs College

3. The Boss of the Year Sponsored by The Argus

4. The Greatest Contribution to Sussex Charity

2013 WINNERS

The Award for Best Customer Service

Sponsored by Domestic & General
WINNER: The Grand, Brighton
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Checkatrade.com
RUNNER-UP: Classic Consulting
The Award for Innovation in Business

Sponsored by Sussex Innovation Centre
WINNER: Cash Bases Limited
RUNNERS-UP: Madgex, Vent-Axia
The Award for Most Promising New Business

Sponsored by Morrisons Solicitors
WINNER: DevAssist Ltd
RUNNERS-UP: Brighton Film School, Sussex Funeral Services
The Award for Leisure and Tourism

Sponsored by Midnight Communications
WINNER: Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival
RUNNERS-UP: Fishers Adventure Farm Park, Swan House, The Eventa Group
The Boss of the Year

Sponsored by The Argus
WINNER: Terry Nitman and Steve Hayman, Cheesmur Building Contractors
RUNNERS-UP: Kevin Byrne (Checkatrade.com), Nikki Gatenby (Propellernet)
The Award for the Most Sustainable Business

Sponsored by Sussex Enterprise
WINNER: The Grand, Brighton
RUNNERS-UP: Jurys Inn Brighton, Pureprint Group Limited
The Healthiest Workplace Award

Sponsored by The Montefiore Hospital
WINNER: Domestic & General
RUNNERS-UP: European Recruitment, Madgex
The International Business of the Year

Sponsored by HSBC
WINNER: Scientifica WINNER
RUNNERS-UP: Ambiental, Rainbo Supplies & Services Ltd
The Responsible Business Award

Sponsored by Checkaprofessional.com
WINNER: Jurys Inn Brighton
RUNNERS-UP: Basepoint, Clear Computing Ltd
The Small Business of the Year

Sponsored by Heart FM
WINNER: ARCH-angels Architects
RUNNERS-UP: PSM Instrumentation Ltd, Sciensus Ltd
The Social Enterprise of the Year

Sponsored by Legal and General
WINNER: The Big Lemon
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival
RUNNERS-UP: hiSbe Food CIC, Young Start-up Talent
The Sussex Businessperson of the Year

Sponsored by Mazars
WINNER: Andrew Hookway, extech
RUNNERS-UP: Andrew Stenning (Searches UK), Terry Nitman and Steve Hayman (Cheesmur Building Contractors)
Sussex Company of the Year

Sponsored by Morgan Sindall
WINNER: Checkatrade.com
RUNNERS-UP: Propellernet, The Eventa Group
The Entrepreneur of the Year

Sponsored by Sussex Business Times
WINNER: Alan Margetts (The Kitchen Store)
RUNNERS-UP: Mark Bailey (Sciensus Ltd), Matt Turner (Creative Pod Ltd), Nicola Thomas and Richard Zinzan (ARCH-angels Architects)
The Greatest Contribution to Sussex Charity

Sponsored by Absolute Brighton
WINNER: John Peel OBE

HOW TO ENTER IN 2014

Companies, organisations and individuals from all over Sussex are invited to enter up to three categories.

Entry costs £50 (plus vat) for one entry or £100 (plus vat) for up to three. In addition, businesses can enter Social Enterprise of the Year, Healthiest Workplace Award, Boss of the Year and the Greatest Contribution to Sussex Charity for FREE.

Firstly review all of the categories available below and determine which are appropriate for your business. Choose categories based on your strengths as a company or individual.

Make a note of the description and criteria. This is what the judges are looking for in your answers.

Your entry should be around one thousand words and no more than two pages of A4.

Write in plain English and keep it simple. The judges are unlikely to be experts in your particular field so avoid jargon.

Be honest about what you are good at and how you can best demonstrate this to the judges.

Provide robust evaluation of your business. Competitor analysis and sales, turnover and profit figures speak for themselves and are not subjective.

Avoid vague statements or cliches.

Once you have written your entry, save it as a PDF and submit online. You will also be asked for an image to illustrate each of your entries. So have a think as these will be used in all subsequent marketing materials.

Deadline is Friday 29 August 2014.

SUSSEX BUSINESS AWARDS CONTACTS

28 Foundry Street
Brighton
East Sussex
BN1 4AT

For further information, please contact the organisers: