The shortlist for the 28th annual Sussex Business Awards has been announced and hundreds of applicants have been whittled down to just forty one finalists.
Representatives from 27 towns across the county make the shortlist and 2016 is set to be a hot contest to receive one or more of the prestigious seventeen trophies. Six companies make the shortlist twice, including The Base Skatepark CIC, Stelfox, International Logistics Group (ILG), Cheesmur Building Contractors, Yelo Artchitects and The Dental Barn.
To reach their crucial decision, the judges reviewed all the entries within their categories. Candidates then go through a rigorous reviewing system, including phone, face to face and panel interviews, to determine who will be in the running for one of the most highly coveted awards in Sussex.
Taking his place as chairman of the judges for the third year in a row was Mike Herd, executive director of the Sussex Innovation centre and a previous winner of the Sussex Businessperson of the year, who commented: “The exceptional qualities of the entries really shone through, and I know a lot of worthy winners have been chosen.
“Congratulations to all the shortlist!”
Sussex Businessperson of the Year finalists have been automatically selected from entrants to the Sussex Company of the Year and the Small Business of the Year Awards, as well as direct entries. Winners will then be decided after a series of face to face interviews in front of a panel of judges.
Entries were judged by an expert panel which included representatives from Mazars, Morgan Sindall, HSBC, Southern Railway, Vantage Professional Risks, Checkatrade.com, Sussex Innovation Centre, checkaprofessional.com, Wealden District Council, Sussex Chamber of Commerce, University of Sussex, Natures Way Food, Coffin Mew, The Argus, Platinum Business Publications, Heart FM and Title Sussex.
This year’s ceremony will take place on Thursday 1st December 2016 at The Grand, Brighton and will be presented by comedian Simon Evans.
The Awards sell out each year so make sure to book your tickets soon. Buy online at www.sbawards.org.uk
The Entrepreneur of the Year
Sponsored by Platinum Business Magazine
• Neil Laughton, Laughton & Co Ltd
• Terry Nitman & Steve Hayman, Cheesmur Building Contractors
• Amber Rust, Bonieri
The Best Place To Entertain Your Clients
Sponsored by Title Sussex
• Blanch House
• Sussex Cricket
• East Sussex National
• Brighton Fringe
The Award for Healthiest Workplace
Sponsored by Natures Way Food
• Legal & General
• European Recruitment
• Scout Shops Ltd
The International Business of the Year
Sponsored by HSBC
• Frontier Pitts
• Ridgeview Wine Estate
• Stelfox
The Award for Leisure & Tourism
Sponsored by Southern Railway
• The BaseSkate Park CIC
• Best of England
• Smart Performance
The Award for the Most Sustainable Business
Sponsored by Wealden District Council
• The Big Lemon
• Burleys
• Green Mop Ltd
The Responsible Business Award
Sponsored by Checkaprofessional.com
• ILG
• Lovelocaljobs.com
• Wave Leisure Trust
The Small Business of the Year
Sponsored by Sussex Chamber of Commerce
• Boom Boom the Label
• Fundraising Auctions Ltd
• The Dental Barn Ltd
The Award for the Most Promising New Business
Sponsored by Coffin Mew
• The BaseSkate Park CIC
• Opun
• SourcedBox
The Award for Innovation in Business
Sponsored by Sussex Innovation Centre
• Curry Leaf Café
• PULSE.AERO
• TECO Building Products
The Award for Best Employer
Sponsored by Morgan Sindall
• Stelfox
• Yelo Architects
• ILG
The Award for Best Customer Service
Sponsored by Checkatrade.com
• The Dental Barn Ltd
• The Grand Brighton
• Welbeing
The Award for Professional Services
Sponsored by Vantage Professional Services
• Robinson Low Francis
• Yelo Architects
• Juno Wealth Management
The Sussex Company of the Year
Sponsored by Mazars
• ILG
• Crunch Accounting
• The Kitchen Store
• Newview Homes Ltd
• Cheesmur Building Contractors
The Greatest Contribution to Sussex Charity
Sponsored by The Argus
• Andy Cheesman, City Cabs
• Brighton & Hove Buses
• Carousel
Sussex Businessperson of the Year
Sponsored by Heart FM
• To be announced
The Sussex Graduate of the Year
Sponsored by University of Sussex
• To be announced
