| Former Foreign Secretary headlines Awards evening
The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP will be guest of honour and keynote speaker at this year’s prestigious Thames Valley Business Magazine Awards.
The former Foreign Secretary and deputy leader of the Labour Party has enjoyed a lengthy and varied Commons career over the last 30 years, including roles as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
MP for Derby South, she has been on the back benches since last June, but in January 2008 was appointed chairman of the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee, by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Awards chairman, David Murray, said: “We are delighted that Margaret Beckett has agreed to join us for our awards evening. With such an interesting and heavyweight political career, she can provide a real snapshot of what goes on at the heart of government and we’re sure she will prove an entertaining and inspiring speaker.”
Does your business have what it takes to win?
The challenge is on as details of the Thames Valley Business Magazine Awards 2008 are announced for the first time.
The search is underway for the “best of the best” with the launch of this year’s prestigious Thames Valley Business Magazine Awards.
To find out more about each award and enter, click below:
Background to the Awards
Now in its fourteenth year, the event is recognised as one of the most glittering evenings on the corporate calendar and one where the region’s successful companies and business brains vie for top honours.
Such well-known names as BDO Stoy Hayward and Leasedrive VELO walked away with titles at the 2007 event and competition promises to be as tough as ever in 2008.
For the first time this year, there’s a new category – the International Trade Award – sponsored by specialist financial services company HiFX, which recognises the sterling work undertaken by many local businesses in keeping the UK flag flying in overseas markets.
Awards chairman David Murray, said: “We are incredibly excited about the launch of the 2008 awards. Each year, the quality of the entries just gets better and better and the job of the judges gets harder and harder.
“We’re delighted to have welcomed HiFX on board as a new sponsor and very pleased to be able to reward the global recognition which many businesses from this region achieve every day.
“It’s also wonderful to be able to welcome back so many of our regular sponsors, including Pitmans, Slough Trading Estate, Deloitte and The Royal Bank of Scotland. Their support for these awards is overwhelming and I know they feel as I do, that it is so important to mark the ongoing contribution local businesses make to keeping the Thames Valley at the forefront of the UK business arena.
“We all know that 2008 is proving to be a more challenging year on the business front, but we believe this is even more reason to gain independent and expert endorsement of the fantastic job being achieved every day by firms across the region.
“Our previous winners will tell you that winning one of these awards can make a tremendous difference to your company’s reputation. There is no better way to say to your customers – and to your employees – that you have been recognised as the best in the field by your peers.
“Very often, that translates into increased order books, in helping to recruit new staff and, above all, is wonderful for staff morale, so we would encourage as many businesses as possible to enter and join us for a superb night with the cream of the business community. And you might just go home with a trophy.”
Last year’s event saw entries from right across the spectrum of large and small companies.
They ranged from specialists such as Intelligent Retail, a small but fast-growing family business from Thatcham, who took the top accolade for Innovation of the Year for the development of a multichannel till for retailers; to technology company SDL, which was proud to take home the title for The Business of the Year. It has grown over the last 15 years from ambitious British start-up to flourishing global business, with success on both sides of the Atlantic and product marketing manager Paul Hampton said he was “extremely proud” to have won the award.
The awards evening is, for the second year running, being held at the Royal Berkshire Conference Centre, Madejski Stadium, Reading, on Thursday, November 20, and is expected to be attended by around 300 of the region’s business leaders and top companies.
For the first time, all entries must be submitted online. For details of how to enter email laura@elcot.co.uk. The closing date is Friday 26 September 2008
2007 Winners
Business of the Year Award (sponsored by Pitmans)
Winner: SDL
Second: DriveTech (UK)
Third: MeetingZone
Commended: GCS IT Recruitment, Logicall Results and Cattles Invoice Finance
Innovation Award (sponsored by Slough Trading Estate)
Winner: Intelligent Retail
Joint Second: Secerno
Joint Second: MediHome
Commended: MeetingZone, Chris Lewis Security Services and Solsis.
Business Management Team Award (sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland)
Winner: Leasedrive VELO
Second: Workmates
Third: GCS IT Recruitment
Commended: Talkington Bates, GoCompare.com, Intelligent Retail.
Employer of Choice Award (sponsored by The Mandeville Recruitment Group)
Outstanding Employer: BDO Stoy Hayward
Employers of Choice: Intercall, The Listening Company, GCS IT Recruitment, MWB Business Exchange and Nominet UK.
Dynamic Business Award (sponsored by Deloitte)
Winner: Aerial Facilities
Second: Fresh Direct
Third: Thunderhead
Commended: Dreams, 2e2 Solutions, Wellness Foods, Codian, Spinvox.
Young Entrepreneur Award (sponsored by Millgate Homes)
Winner: Sarah Willingham of Clapham House Group
Second: Alisha Lyndon of Logicall Results
Third: Chris Parke of Talking Talent
Commended: Mark Lomax - MediHome; Jamie Mistlin - RecruitmentRevolution.com; Vincent Jelinek - Increation
Small Business Award (sponsored by Regus)
Winner: Beacon Graphics
Second: Solsis
Third: Changework Now
Commended: Allen Associates, Cotswold Fayre and Automation Consultants.
|
