Previous Winners & Judges Feedback
British Gas
Commenting on the Best Business Award to British Gas for Best Innovation for XSol Diagnostics, Andrew Areoff, Chairman of the Judges, said::
“There's nothing worse than your gas boiler breaking down - and it always seems to happen in the middle of winter when you need it most. British Gas has developed a new way of finding out what is wrong with boilers and heating appliances more accurately and quickly - no easy feat considering there are more than 4,000 types of boilers in people's homes. XSol Diagnostics means repair times have been cut by 10% while more than 20% is being saved from the cost of parts per job. All this is great news for the customer - many congratulations to British Gas for developing a breakthrough piece of technology of direct benefit to customers.”
Qdell & LHR Express Cars Ltd
Commenting on the Best Business Award to Qdell & LHR Express Cars Ltd for Best Small to Medium Sized Business, Andrew Areoff, Chairman of the Judges, said::
“Qdell & LHR Express Cars have taken the lead in fuel-efficient professional driving through a combination of improved driver training, more efficient allocation of vehicles to jobs and upgrading their fleet of 150 vehicles with hybrid alternatives and using biodiesel fuel. The results have been highly impressive with significant reductions in fuel bills and drivers achieving fuel consumption rates of more than 70 mpg. Qdell & LHR Express Cars is a shining example of how SMEs need to be agile, forward-thinking and resourceful to remain at the forefront of their sector.”
Chess Telecom
Commenting on the Best Business Award to Chess Telecom for Best Customer Focus, Andrew Areoff, Chairman of the Judges, said::
“Chess Telecom has been enjoying a 25% increase in customers after restructuring its business around the customer. The focus on putting the customer first has seen the company introduce dedicated teams whose job is to look after the specific needs of a group of business customers so those customers know they are just one call away from any issue being resolved, from an account query to a technical question. Congratulations to Chess Telecom for making the right move - and putting customer service at the heart of its growth strategy and operations.”
Xero
Commenting on the Best Business Award to Xero for Best Innovation, Andrew Areoff, Chairman of the Judges, said::
“Xero has taken accountancy functions for businesses and organisations into the digital age so they can access their latest financial position and check records at any time and from any device. The innovation in cloud accounting is a step-change in technology that gives the customers unrivalled access to their financial data. Little wonder Xero has seen its turnover and its number of customers double in the past year - congratulations on a brilliant piece of innovation.”
HMPS – New Hall Prison & Young Offenders’ Institution
Commenting on the Best Business Award to Her Majesty's Prison New Hall and Her Majesty's Young Offenders' Institution Askham Grange in Yorkshire for Best Health and Safety, Andrew Areoff, Chairman of the Judges, said::
“In the challenging environment of a prison and young offenders' institution, New Hall and Askham Grange have introduced a new health and safety regime that has significantly reduced the risks of accident and injury. The new focus on health and safety has incorporated every aspect of life at the establishments and included training sessions for residents and staff. Much of the credit for the improvement deserves to go to New Hall's Health & Safety Advisor who overcame the most challenging circumstances to engage everyone in this worthwhile project thanks to her drive and enthusiasm.”
TIGA
Commenting on the Best Business Award to TIGA, the trade association for the digital games industry, for Best Small to Medium Size Business, Andrew Areoff, Chairman of the Judges, said::
“TIGA has had an incredible year - winning a tax break from the Government for its members and the wider games industry, achieving great media coverage and delivering a range of benefits and services to its membership. In doing so the association has set an outstanding example of how best to represent a sector that makes a major contribution to the economy. Well done to TIGA for being proactive and doing an excellent job in representing its members and the gaming industry so well.”
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Treze Ltd
Commenting on the award to Treze Ltd in the Best Corporate Social Responsibility (childcare and education) category, Andrew Areoff, the Chairman of the Judges, said::
“Technology company Treze has made a excellent start at tackling the problem of cyber bullying in the UK and overseas. Realising there was a lack of centralised information, its website www.nobullying.com provides parents and teachers with advice, statistics, articles and video interviews with child psychologists. It also has a presence on social media networks such as Facebook, Google Plus and Twitter where the cyber bullies operate. This is a much needed social service that is set to make real progress in the fight against online bullying.”
Nix Network Services
Commenting on the award to Nix Network Services in the Best Small to Medium-Sized Business (telecommunications) category, Andrew Areoff, the Chairman of the Judges, said::
“Aiming to beat the competition with cutting edge solutions, Nix Network Services has lived up to its promise and in its first 12 months of trading it has set the cash tills ringing with a massive ??2.3 million in turnover expected to rise to ??4 million this year. The key to its success is great customer service and nurturing and supporting staff. Fantastic results and a brilliant launch for a newcomer in the highly competitive packaged telecommunications market.”
Unilever, Domestos Brand Team, Turkey
in the Best Corporate Social Responsibility (marketing and PR) category, Andrew Areoff, the Chairman of the Judges, said::
“To increase brand awareness in Turkey, the Domestos disinfectant brand team came up with a clever programme of running hygiene courses for children across the country. By targeting youngsters, it helped spread the word about cleanliness across the wider family and quadrupled the reach of the programme. The clean sweep campaign also helped Domestos products fly off the shelves and achieve a 20% increase in sales in 2012. Altogether a bright idea that will improve the health of the Turkish nation.”
Tiro Associates Ltd
Commenting on the award to Tiro Associates Ltd in the Best Customer Focus (professional services) category, Andrew Areoff, the Chairman of the Judges, said::
“Tiro Associates is a recruitment consultancy that offers a lot more than just placing people in roles. By developing long-term partnerships, it has a built close working relationships with customers and extended its portfolio of services becoming more of an extension of the HR department. It now offers numerous other services including manpower planning and feasibility studies. To ensure service is always spot on, staff work as one big team. It is a strategy that works because after 13 years many of its original clients are still with the company.”
Tiro Associates Ltd
Commenting on the award to Tiro Associates Ltd in the Best Small to Medium-Sized (professional services) category, Andrew Areoff, the Chairman of the Judges, said::
“Tiro Associates is a remarkable industrial recruitment consultancy that has seen strong growth over the past five years in the worst recession in living memory. By excelling in customer service, building up a loyal customer base and extending its range of services, it has produced excellent results with turnover soaring to ??3.3 million in 2012. The fact it has a staff of only eight people, makes it even more astounding. With 13 years in business, Tiro Associates is now firmly grounded and its future is secure.”
Winning Smiles
Commenting on the award to Winning Smiles in the Best Small to Medium-Sized (health and beauty) category, Andrew Areoff, the Chairman of the Judges, said::
“Specialising in cosmetic dentistry and nervous patients, Winning Smiles, based in Gillingham, has captured a niche section of the healthcare industry and turned it into a winning business. By offering the latest techniques in orthodontics, it is now attracting customers from across the country. It figures look polished too. In the 12 months to July 2013, profit increased by 72.2% to ??192,000 and sales increased by 10%, whereas nationally many private practices were seeing a fall in profits. Dazzling results and something to beam about.”
Founder - Y2 Learn Driver Training
winning this last award has got me an invitation to join the Institute of Master Trainers Association. I’m really pleased
Director of Marketing, Solihull College
Winning a Best Business Award has provided us with a platform to raise our profile via the media. Since winning we have secured press coverage in key national and regional publications regarding the great work we are doing and we have attracted students to the college that may not have otherwise heard about us.
I would recommend the Best Business Awards to any dynamic organisation that wants to prove to stakeholders that it is delivering.
co-founder of Concert Live
If you are a young business without much marketing spend, then entering awards can be a cost-effective way of generating positive marketing and PR, because you are thrown into the spotlight. It also offers a seal of approval.
Potential customers can look at that and think “I’m happy to do business with this company”, because they have that recognition.
Winning Smiles
Commenting on the award to Winning Smiles in the Best Customer Focus (health and beauty) category, Andrew Areoff, the Chairman of the Judges, said::
“Anyone with a fear of going to the dentist should visit Winning Smiles. The friendly dentists have done just about everything possible to make it a pain-free experience. There are soft comfy chairs, TVs on the ceiling, no needles and no drills. Instead there are flavoured topical anaesthetics and air abrasion drilling. The company likes to stay ahead of the competition and it specialises in offering new cosmetic treatments that are not available elsewhere in the UK. With a range of flexible payments options thrown in, customers can't help but smile.”
ELIX-IRR Partners LLP
Commenting on the award to ELIX-IRR Partners LLP in the Best Product/Service (professional services) category, Andrew Areoff, the Chairman of the Judges, said::
“ELIX-IRR has pushed with boundaries of innovation with its new collaborative approach to procurement. Rather than getting involved with a long list of vendors, using ELIX-IRR's collaborative solution clients can engage with a few selected vendors to jointly come up with a solution to a problem. While not suited to every procurement, the solution is best for those where is there no clear answer to a business problem. Saving money, time, effort and creating new innovative results, the collaborative solution has already produced impressive savings for clients.”
Environmental Mobile Control Ltd
Commenting on the award to Environmental Mobile Control (EMC) in the Best Employer category, Andrew Areoff, the Chairman of the Judges, said::
“EMC, a mobile phone recycling company, has demonstrated how putting staff first creates business successes. Realising that its people are its future, EMC puts all its staff through an induction course and it has implemented a number of programmes for developing its people at all levels. Creating a vibrant and fun working environment with an ethos of working hard, EMC has won loyalty and commitment from its staff enabling it to expand rapidly into five new European countries including Spain, Italy and Portugal. Over the past year it has doubled its workforce which is good for jobs and, with more phones recycled, good for the environment.”
Sepura
Commenting on the award to Sepura in the Best Innovation category, Andrew Areoff, the Chairman of the Judges, said::
“After two years in development and having undergone rigorous testing, Sepura's STP8X hand portable radio is the ultimate must-have for those working in hazardous environments. It is designed to provide crisp clear audio in the harshest of environments, it can be used with gloves on, it won't ignite inflammable substances and the display can be seen in the brightest of sunlight. For those working in industrial noisy places, the military or in the emergency services, the STP8X has got all the features anyone would possibly want. It even sends an alarm if the user falls or becomes trapped. A brilliant tool and a real life-saver.”
V1 Ltd
Commenting on the award to V1 Ltd in the Best Small to Medium-Sized Business category, Andrew Areoff, the Chairman of the Judges, said::
“V1 has turned the myth of the paperless office into a modern day reality for thousands of businesses. Through its electronic paperless solution, V1 helps companies create electronic documents and, thereby, cut paper costs, enjoy new efficiencies and see a return on investment within just six months. Growing its business through partnerships with companies such as Infor and Sage, has been a great move for V1 that has enabled it to expand globally. It has also diversified from solutions aimed at finance departments to systems for HR units. The fact that V1 has planted 4,000 trees since 2006 was another great achievement that impressed the judges.”
SJB Accounting
Commenting on the award to SJB Accounting in the Best New Business category, Andrew Areoff, the Chairman of the Judges, said::
“SJB Accounting is an imaginative business that has taken accounting into the realm of making business dreams come true. Rather than number crunching, it helps its clients understand their figures and develop opportunities to help them maximise successes. Using its performance, measurement and improvement system, described as a 'sat nav' for businesses, SJB helps clients map out opportunities and reach their goals. It has taken ideas from some of the world's greatest business thinkers and achievers and turned them into processes and tools that helps businesses grow. SJB has given accounting a new edge and added some fresh excitement.”
QubeGB Ltd
Commenting on the award to QubeGB Ltd in the Best Small to Medium-Sized category, Andrew Areoff, the Chairman of the Judges, said::
“By concentrating on customer service and providing innovative solutions to clients, telecommunications engineering and installation services company QubeGB, has achieved incredible growth. It now covers around 90% of the UK and is one of five main engineering operators. It has expanded its customer base to 482,000 in 2012 from 155,570 in 2011, a leap of 342%, with another 150% spurt expected this year. In Q4 FY 2012/ 2013, revenue soared to almost ??7 million from just over ??1 million in Q1 FY 2011/2012. And from only 60 employees and sub-contractors in 2007, by end of 2012 it had 635 staff. This clearly demonstrates what good customer service can do.”
British Gas
Commenting on the award for Best Corporate Social Responsibility to British Gas Retention Team, Andrew Areoff, Chairman of the Judges, said::
“The British Gas Retention Team have placed CSR at the heart of their operations and are involving their entire staff throughout the country in Big Swim challenge to raise ??1 million for Great Ormond Street Hospital. Training sessions are being held with top coaching by Olympic heroes and there are different challenges depending on ability so the event appeals to as many people as possible. The company is also supporting Shelter in a five-year partnership as well as a wide range of local charities. Congratulations to British Gas for getting everyone involved in CSR in such an imaginative and innovative way across the company.”
Garanti
Commenting on the award for Best Customer Focus to Garanti bank, Andrew Areoff, Chairman of the Judges, said::
“Finding the right finance is a key concern of SMEs which are the backbone of the economy, whether in Turkey or Britain. Garanti's Subvention Finder is an ideal solution that offers easy access to all the information a business is looking for in where to apply for grants or other funding. Launched in association with a consultancy, the service has received very high rates of customer satisfaction from the thousands of applications it has handled. Garanti are to be congratulated for putting themselves in the customers' shoes and making sure their services are designed to meet customer demand in the most accessible and user-friendly way.”
Kent County Council
Commenting on the award for Best Communication to Kent County Council for the Keep Warm Keep Well campaign, Andrew Areoff, Chairman of the Judges, said::
“Concerned about the effects of a cold winter on vulnerable people, Kent County Council was commissioned to launch a public awareness campaign. Using on- and offline media as well as home visits by Home Improvement Agencies, the campaign reached thousands of elderly people as well as their family and friends so they would be aware of key information to help those who may need it most. Launched with a modest budget, the campaign was highly effective with clear, well-presented advice. Kent County Council is to be commended for such a well-planned and executed campaign that could not have been better timed given last winter's record cold spells.”
Active Securities
Commenting on the award to Active Securities in the Best Small to Medium Sized Business category, Financial Services sector, Andrew Areoff, Chairman of the Judges, said::
“By harnessing the talent of its staff and making use of a cutting edge end-to-end loan management system, Active, in only a few years, has shaken up the loans market and become a global player in the provision of consumer and commercial finance. Its figures stack up nicely too. In 2010 annual revenue reached ??2.9 million, an incredible rise of 728%, and ??4.7 million in 2011. The growth rate for the loan business in 2012 was heading towards 219% a figure any bank would envy. Capexpand loan online merchants cash advances of up to ??20,000. 247Moneybox provide fast cash advances to individuals for their short-term money needs.”
O Spa
Commenting on the award to O Spa in the Best New Business category, Health & Beauty sector, Andrew Areoff, Chairman of the Judges, said::
“O Spa has proved that the death of high street is greatly exaggerated. Founder Sarah Smith has breathed new life into Solihull's high street with a luxury spa that offers a wide range of pampering services including osteopathy, acupuncture, manicures, pedicures, massages and facials. Clients can pop in for a quick nail fix or stay all day and indulge themselves in the full range of therapies. Sarah believes that more affluent people are looking for quality beauty therapies rather than a speedy service and she is now preparing to open more outlets in other wealthy areas.”
