The winners of the 23rd Sussex Business Awards and the seventh Brighton and Hove Business Awards were announced last night at The Grand Hotel, in Kings Road, Brighton.
The ceremony was attended by over 400 of the county’s business figures including the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex Mr Peter Field, Mayor of Brighton and Hove Councillor Anne Meadows, John Barradell, Chief Executive of Brighton and Hove City Council and Caroline Lucas MP.
For the first time, the winners of the Sussex Business Awards and the Brighton and Hove Business Awards were announced in a joint ceremony. Eleven Sussex Business awards were presented by BBC1’s The Apprentice star, Ruth Badger.
Hailsham based Club Class Chauffeurs were runners up for two awards before managing director, Jonathan Dow received the accolade of Businessperson of the Year.
The Sussex Company of the Year was presented to Parafix Holdings, the UK’s leading convertor and distributor of self adhesive materials, based in Lancing.
Five Brighton and Hove Business Awards (BAHBA), sponsored by The Argus, were presented including the Best Independent Retailer to The Book Nook Hotel which had previously received this accolade, whilst Hotel du Vin won the title of Best Place to Entertain Your Clients.
Tony Mernagh, Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership chaired the BAHBA judging panel.
Organiser Caraline Brown, managing director at Midnight Communications in Foundry Street, Brighton, said the move to consolidate the two award ceremonies ensured the greatest value to all entrants this year.
She said: “Brighton and Sussex companies have to make their marketing budgets stretch as far as possible in the current climate. By combining the two most important business awards ceremonies in the county we can help firms get the greatest return on their investment and we guarantee to provide the most memorable evening in the Sussex business community's calendar.”
Peter Field, chair of the Sussex Business Awards judging panel and Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex added: “The Awards give our local businesses the chance to demonstrate great performance and excellence in their field. For 23 years Sussex Business Awards have led the way supporting and showcasing some of the most outstandingly successful individuals and businesses in Sussex. Even in difficult economic times the Awards demonstrate our thriving commercial community and what a terrific place Sussex is for creating and doing business.”
The winners on the night were:
The Award for Innovation in Business
Sponsored by Rossetts Commercial
WINNER - Content Consultants
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Makemedia
FINALISTS - CCC Events
The Award for Leisure & Tourism
Sponsored by Midnight Communications
WINNER - The Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Grounded Events Company (Brighton Marathon)
FINALISTS - Grand Hotel Brighton, Lion Hotels
The Award for the Best Customer Service in Sussex
Sponsored by Domestic and General
WINNER - Total Orthodontics
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Club Class Chauffeurs
FINALISTS - Kineo Ltd, Theatre Royal, Brighton
The Award for the Best Employer in Sussex
Sponsored by BrightonandHoveJobs.com
WINNER - Pegasus PR
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Club Class Chauffeurs
FINALISTS - Propellernet
The Award for the Most Promising New Business
Sponsored by Morrisons Solicitors LLP
WINNER - Qualifa
HIGHLY COMMENDED - BrightonandHoveJobs.com
FINALISTS - Cable & Cotton, Ovingdean Hall International Language College
The Business in the Community Award
Sponsored by Brighton's Juice 107.2FM WINNER - City College Brighton & Hove
FINALISTS - Café Rasoi, EDF Energy
The Healthiest Workplace Award
Sponsored by The Grand Hotel
WINNER - Domestic & General
FINALISTS - CH&Co Catering Ltd and Civil Aviation Authority, Propellernet, RSPCA
The Entrepreneur of the Year
Sponsored by Sussex Life
WINNER - Kevin Byrne (Checkatrade)
FINALISTS - Gary Peters (BrightonandHoveJobs.com), Phillippa Stephen-Martin (Manor of Things)
The Sussex Businessperson of the Year
Sponsored by Morgan Sindall
WINNER - Jonathan Dow (Club Class Chauffeurs)
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Clive Collins (Catsfield Christmas Tree Farm
FINALISTS - Jacquelyn Appleton (Experience Holidays), Natalie Balmond (Purepotions Skincare)
The Small Business of the Year
Sponsored by Lloyds TSB Commercial
WINNER - CCC Events
FINALISTS - Sussex Uniforms, Torr Scientific
The Sussex Company of the Year
Sponsored by Deloitte
WINNER - Parafix Holdings Limited
FINALISTS - City College Brighton & Hove, Marlin Financial Group
BRIGHTON & HOVE BUSINESS AWARDS 2011
Sponsored by The Argus
Best Independent Retailer
WINNER - The Book Nook
FINALISTS - Purple-heart.com, La Cave a Fromage
The Best Place to Entertain your Clients
WINNER - Hotel du Vin
FINALISTS - Sussex County Cricket Club, The Brighton Dome The Creative Industries Award
WINNER - Relentless Software
FINALISTS - Create, Conran and Partners
The Responsible Business Award
WINNER - Jurys Inn Hotel
FINALISTS - Green Mop Limited, Infinity Foods, Shop and Bakery
The Outstanding Brightonian
Sponsored by Absolute Brighton
WINNER - Ryan Heal, Juice 107.2
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