THE winners of the fifth Lewes District Business Awards were revealed at a glittering ceremony at the Amex Stadium.
More than 300 of the Lewes District business community were there, including 38 finalists, with 12 trophies presented by comedian Simon Evans.
The biggest award was saved until last with Tomsetts Distribution from Newhaven winning Company of the Year.
The Depot Cinema in Lewes came away with two awards, having won Tourist Destination of the Year and Businessperson of the Year for Creative Director Carmen Slijpen.
She is the first woman to win this award.
Other winners included Richard Soan Roofing Services for Best Customer Service.
Tiny Box Company was named Best Green Business, Barcombe based So Sussex took the Business in the Community award ans Fundraising Auctions was named Best Employer,
Sarah Williams from The Patchwork Cat won the LEAP Entrepreneur of the Year award and Front Room in Seaford was named Small Business of the Year.
The judging panel, chaired by David Sheppard, chairman of Sussex Chamber of Commerce, was tasked with choosing the winners.
Well-respected businesspeople from sponsoring companies made up the panel, including representatives from Allied Irish Bank, Cheesmur Building Contractors, Basepoint, Veolia, Whitespace, Platinum Business Magazine, Wave Leisure Trust, RSE Group, Uniglobe Preferred Travel, LEAP and Viva Lewes.
Winners 2018:
Best Customer Service - sponsored by Basepoint
Winner: Richard Soan Roofing Services
Finalist: Cleankill Pest Control
Finalist: Plants4Presents
Best Green Business - sponsored by Veolia
Winner: Tiny Box Company
Finalist: Depot
Finalist: King’s Academy Ringmer
Food and Drink Destination of The Year - sponsored by Whitespace
Winner: Foodhaven
Finalist: Downsview Dairy Produce Ltd
Best Independent Retailer - Sponsored by Platinum Business
Winner: Alexis Dove Jewellery
Finalist: Alistair Fleming Design
Finalist: Bake Out
Business in the Community - sponsored by Wave Leisure Trust
Winner: So Sussex
Finalist: Lewes Football Club
Finalist: The Runaway
Employer of the Year - sponsored by RSE Group
Winner: Fundraising Auctions
Finalist: Lewes Football Club
Finalist: Seahaven FM
Professional Services Award - sponsored by Allied Irish Bank
Winner: Oakley Property
Finalist: Alistair Fleming Design
Finalist: Mayo Wynne Baxter
Tourist Destination of the Year - sponsored by Uniglobe Preferred Travel
Winner: Depot Cinema
Finalist: Branching Out Adventures
Finalist: Driftwood Garden East Sussex
Finalist: Lewes Light Community Interest Company
Entrepreneur of the Year – sponsored by LEAP
Winner: Sarah Williams, The Patchwork Cat
Finalist: Laura Callaghan Grooms – Plastic Free Baby
Finalist: Ben Clear – Clear Surveys
Finalist: Wendy Reed – The Remarkable Group
Finalist: Brett Wheldon – Solseed Landscapes
Businessperson of the Year - sponsored by Viva Lewes
Winner: Carmen Slijpen, Depot Cinema
Finalist: Richard Light, Fundraising Auctions
Finalist: Victoria Young, Front Room
Small Business of the Year - sponsored by Allied Irish Bank
Winner: Front Room
Finalist: The Beauty Rooms
Finalist: SO SUSSEX
Company of the Year - Sponsored by Cheesmur Building Contractors
Winner: Tomsetts Distribution Ltd
Finalist: Industrial Construction Sussex Ltd
Finalist: Wilson Wilson and Hancock Opticians
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