The awards, in association with WSM Partners LLP, have been developed by South London Business, Merton Council and Merton Chamber of Commerce, in order to reward and celebrate the many dynamic and innovative businesses in the borough.

Diana Sterck, Chief Executive of Merton Chamber of Commerce said “As the borough based Chamber of Commerce, we are very excited about the awards. They showcase both the sponsors and winners and helped put Merton businesses on the map in these challenging economic times.”

Diana went on to say “As an organisation that works with over 4000 businesses we experience, on a day to day basis, the difference between those businesses who are customer orientated and those that aren’t. That’s why we – as the borough based business solutions agency – are sponsoring the best Business for Customer Service. We believe that excellence in customer service is something to aspire to and something that can make a real difference to your business success. If you are a business that places the customer at the heart of what you do and provides excellence and high customer satisfaction levels, this is the category to showcase your achievements.”

Companies can enter one or more of the 11 different categories. The twelfth category –
Business of the Year – is the overall winner chosen by a panel of judges.

Helen Clark Bell from Merton Chamber of Commerce encourages business to enter one or
more of the 11 categories. She said: “There is a wealth of talent and a wide variety of businesses in Merton and the Merton Business Awards gives us the chance to recognise and celebrate these businesses. Applying for the awards is free and open to all and we recommend businesses use it as a great marketing opportunity as well as using the application process as a developmental tool.

Merton Chamber is proud to support the Merton Business Awards for the third
year and encourages all businesses in the borough to apply.”

Full details on how to enter the awards as well as news updates are available at www.mertonbusinessawards.co.uk, call 020 8253 4256 or e-mail info@mertonbusinessawards.co.uk

Companies small and large gathered to hear how they could benefit from entering this year’s awards at the launch event on 14 March at South Thames College in Morden.

Merton Business Awards, in association with WSM Advisors Ltd, have been developed by
South London Business, Merton Council and Merton Chamber of Commerce to reward
and celebrate the many dynamic and innovative businesses in the borough.

Peter Pledger, Chief Executive of South London Business told guests at the launch:
“We want to encourage more and more businesses to apply this year because we
know there are hundreds of excellent businesses across the borough. And we want
businesses to take advantage of the awards to promote themselves not just in
Merton but across London as a whole.”

Simon Marsh of WSM Advisors Ltd, the headline sponsor, said:
“WSM has been part of the Merton borough business community for over thirty
years, providing tax and accountancy advice to our small and medium sized
businesses, and we are delighted to sponsor the Merton Business Awards 2012 to
highlight the entrepreneurial talent and strength and diversity of businesses
that operate in our borough.

“We urge all businesses in the borough to enter the Merton Business Awards 2012 as we are sure this opportunity to showcase their businesses will bring benefits to their customers, their staff and their owners as well as providing a springboard for their businesses that success inevitably brings.”

Last year’s winners Elliott Partnership LLP, a Wimbledon-based structural and civil engineering practice spoke about how they had benefited from winning the awards last year. Gary Elliott of Elliott Wood Partnership, said: “This independent endorsement about the way we do business helps to reinforce our values to our clients and helps to give us confidence to develop further.

“Whilst the financial environment remains tough for all, we have managed to continue to expand over the last few months.  At the time of the awards we were a 60 something strong practice and we are now a 70 something strong practice.

“I am not suggesting that this is entirely due to the Merton awards but these have helped significantly with local recognition and profile within the Borough and this can only be
positive.”

Companies have until 5pm on 15 June, to enter the free awards, which will culminate
in a prestigious awards ceremony on 26 September at the renowned All England
Lawn Tennis Club.

Companies can enter one or more of the 11 different categories. The twelfth category – Business of the Year – is the overall winner chosen by a panel of judges.

Best Small Business
Best Medium Sized Business
Best Business for Customer Service
Best Business for Hospitality and Leisure
Best Business for Training and Development
Best Green Business
Commitment to the Community
South London’s Favourite Business
Best Independent Retailer
Entrepreneur of the Year
Best New Business

Helen Clark-Bell from Merton Chamber of Commerce encourages business to enter one or more of the 11 categories. She said: “There is a wealth of talent and a wide variety of businesses in Merton and the Merton Business Awards gives us the chance to recognise
and celebrate these businesses.

“Applying for the awards is free and open to all and we recommend businesses use it as a great marketing opportunity as well as using the application process as a developmental tool. Merton Chamber is proud to support the Merton Business Awards for the third year and encourages all businesses in the borough to apply.”

Several top businesses, including, WSM Advisors Ltd, Veolia Environmental Services,
Wimbledon Guardian , Morrison’s Solicitors LLP, and Merton Chamber, Merton
Council  and South Thames College have already announced their support for
the awards.

The winners of each of the above-mentioned category will automatically be shortlisted for the larger South London Business Awards in 2013, spanning the 12 south London
boroughs.

Full details on how to enter the awards as well as news updates are available at

www.mertonbusinessawards.co.uk, call 020 8253 4256 or e-mail info@mertonbusinessawards.co.uk

There were representatives from Merton’s award-winning firms such as Gary Elliott, partner of the Elliott Wood Partnership LLP, who has already seen benefits from being crowned as Merton’s Business of the Year at the All England Lawn Tennis Club last September.

Mr Elliott told the gathering how he and Paul Wood set up the structural and civil engineering practice on Valentines’ Day 1994.

He said: “We had just come out of recession and we had no workstream, no money, a small office in Kingston Road and a shared computer. But we also had a desire to succeed and, over the past 18 years, we have added two further partners, about 70 staff and now have three offices in Wimbledon Broadway, Central London and Nottingham.

“We believe in treating the people that work for us and our customers well and apply one simple rule: do what you say you will do.”

Although Elliott Wood Partnership had won awards within their own industry, before 2011 they had never previously entered an actual business awards.

“We were taken aback when we won the awards for best medium sized business and were commended as best employer but were totally astounded and delighted to win the overall award for best business,” added Mr Elliott.

Now Elliott Wood, and the other category winners, are entitled to enter the South London Business Awards for which entry closes on April 20^th, with a gala final set to attract around 600 of the region’s best businesses to the Riverbank Plaza on July 5^th.

South London Business now runs nine borough-wide awards programmes across south London but chief executive Peter Pledger said the success and quality of the Merton event, had been a particular cause for pleasure.

“We were told that it would be impossible to run successful awards in Wimbledon and are delighted to have proved that to be wrong,” he said.

“Its status in the community is shown by the fact that such a prestigious venue as All England Lawn Tennis Club wants to host the event because it wants to be associated with your success.”

Simon Marsh, of Merton Business Awards’ headline sponsors WSM Advisors Ltd, said: “Merton is a great borough for business and the success of these awards is a testimony to that.

“We hope to see the Merton businesses freshen up their entries so that, in Olympic year, they can represent the borough at the South London Business Awards.

“We are also keen to spread the word so that some of the other outstanding businesses in the borough throw their hat into the ring for this year’s Merton Business Awards.”

Diana Sterck, of Merton Chamber of Commerce, said: “Merton has a diverse business base and we should celebrate that diversity. There are a lot of businesses in the borough that deserve recognition for sustaining and growing their business, despite the difficult
economic climate.

“Even for businesses that don’t win, entering awards such as these are a really useful learning process and development tool for growing your business.

“This year marks the Chamber’s 20^th birthday, the London Olympics, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and Merton Business Awards – so let’s make it a year to remember!”

A launch event for this year’s Merton Business Awards, which are also supported by the London Borough of Merton, will be held at South Thames College, Morden, from 8-10am on Wednesday, March 14^th. For more details call 020 8253 4256 or e-mail mertonawards@southlondonbusiness.co.uk

This award was very much welcomed and was particularly poignant as TVP was facing closure earlier this year, and was saved by the support of new and existing funders.

Monica Tyler, Chief Executive said:  ‘Staff and volunteers have worked very hard this past year to continue the work of the charity, therefore it is with great pride and enthusiasm that we collect this award, as it is a testament to our commitment  to serve local  communities in Merton, Sutton and parts of Surrey.  This demonstrates that our work is making a positive impact on people’s lives and the environment.  In these economic times, like most local charities, TVP continues to face financial challenges and appealing for donations is an ongoing process however awards such these can help to strengthen our appeal to funders and supporters and for this we are eternally grateful!’

The Vine Project provides a valuable reuse and recycling service for local people across Sutton, Merton and parts of Surrey diverting household items that would otherwise be sent to landfill.  Local people in these areas can contact the Vine and donate unwanted furniture and household items.  These items are then made available to low income individuals and families who require furniture.  The charity also runs a supported volunteer programme providing opportunities for work based and accredited training for the long term unemployed priority is given to people with learning disabilities, mental health illnesses and adults recovering from addiction.  This past year the Vine Project has provided volunteering opportunities for more than 100 local people.

Anyone interested in volunteering, donating furniture, accessing handyperson services or making a donation should contact: 020 8685 6640.

“We love the work we do, and we’ve won awards for our projects before, but this is the first time we’ve been recognised as a company, and it’s fantastic,” said Gary Elliott, who received the prestigious honour in front of more than 240 businessmen and women at the Gala Awards Ceremony held at Wimbledon’s All England Lawn Tennis Club on Wednesday, September 21^st.

The packed audience at the ceremony, organised by South London Business in association with WSM Advisors Ltd, heard from WSM Advisor’s director Simon Marsh how the judges had chosen Elliott Wood Partnership LLP as the overall winner for its ‘excellent service to customers with an imaginative yet personal approach; impressive staff relations and high level of social responsibility.’

The practice, which had earlier won Best Medium Sized Business sponsored by the Career Development Group and had been short-listed for Best Employer, has around 65 staff across its offices in Wimbledon, central London and Nottingham, and their specialist work includes complex projects in regeneration, large scale residential, commercial, healthcare, education and leisure throughout the UK and beyond.

The runner-up was local estate agency Samuel Estates, which scooped two awards – Best Business for Marketing and Best Small Business for 2011, for the second year running, in recognition of their dynamic leadership, solid business plan and innovative marketing plans.

Its director Nick Samuel said he was delighted his business had won the Best Small Business category two years in a row as well as Marketing, and he would be aiming for Best Medium Sized business next year.

The awards have been developed by South London Business, Merton Council, and Merton Chamber of Commerce, in order to reward and celebrate the many dynamic and innovative businesses in the borough. They were supported by a number of major businesses in the borough, including WSM Advisors Ltd, Barclays Bank PLC, Box 2, Careers Development Group, Morrisons Solicitors LLP, Vinci Construction UK Ltd, Wimbledon Village Association, Wimbledon Guardian and XpertHR.

Opening the ceremony, South London Business’ chairman Sir Bob Scott, said: “I am proud that SLB have been able to organise these awards to celebrate the excellent businesses, both large and small, which generate prosperity in Merton and produce jobs.  We know that it is the business community that will lead us out of the current economic challenges and the companies here tonight are in the forefront of business development and job creation.”

Photographer Julia Boggio was delighted to be honoured as Entrepreneur of the Year, back at the helm of her business just 17 weeks after giving birth to her first child, while Best New Business winners were IT consultants, TechQuarters, whose business has grown to eight staff and is in profit just 18 months after launch. Its director, Chris Dunning, said he had been inspired by attending the 2010 Merton Business Awards where the winning businesses had given him the drive to grow further.

Other winners on the night were Italian restaurant Piccolino, which received the Wimbledon Village Award for Customer Service, the Chartered Institure for Personnel and Development (CIPD) which won Best Business for Training and Development, The Vine Project, honoured for its Commitment to the Community , Wimbledon Village Stables, which won Best Business for Hospitality and Leisure and Edit Optimisation, which won Best Employer.

More information on the award winners can be found at: www.mertonbusinessawards.co.uk

Best New Business winners TechQuarters Alex Sepahi and Chris Dunning thanked the Merton Business Awards 2010 and headline sponsor WSM Advisors Ltd for helping to give them the drive to grow their business.

“I have Microsoft awards on my wall, but this is the best,” said Chris. “I sat here last year as a guest and hearing all the business stories inspired me to go forward. We are a year and a half old now, with eight staff and in profit.  It’s fantastic.”

The award was presented by Jon Wilson from Xpert HR who said TechQuarters had “married real business confidence during these difficult times, with a desire to deliver excellent service and value to their customers. As a result, they are growing rapidly, not only their revenue but also the number of people they employ.”

 More information about the awards can be found at: www.mertonbusinessawards.co.uk

Accepting the Merton Entrepreneur of the Year award just 17 weeks after giving birth to her first child, photographer Julia Boggio thanked her husband and employee Kate ‘who had answered all my prayers’ by supporting her in running her business.

Malcolm Martin from Morrisons said: “The winner has proved to be versatile in adapting their business model to deal with changes in the commercial environment and personal circumstances. The winner has diversified their range of services but retained the essential brand and continues to recognise opportunities.”

The innovative use of being Merton Best Small Business in 2010 for marketing purposes helped to scoop the Best Business for Marketing award for Samuel Estates in 2011.

Accepting the award, Paul Ahearn, said: “We used winning the award last year in our marketing and realised the value of marketing – so we got ourselves a mascot, Sam the Dog, who comes with us on campaigns.”

Presented by David Boyer who said: “Already a winner in 2010 this company demonstrated why it continues to be successful in 2011. The judges were impressed not only by the skilful way its success last year was incorporated into marketing campaigns but also by the innovative and unique marketing strategy adopted this year to help the business grow during this challenging period.”

‘Being a good employer makes  good  business sense,’ was the message from Sanjay Shelat of Edit Optimisation which won the Best Employer Award

“It’s not just about being altruistic,” said Sanjay. “It makes business sense as well; if you look after your employees they like their work and work well – and it makes for a great place for you to work as well.”

The award was presented Jon Wilson of XpertHR who praised Edit Optimisation for” a truly impressive mission to develop the skills, talents and passions of their people, and in so doing have created an inspiring place to come and work. Their people feel valued, rewarded and supported which ultimately feeds through to their customers too.”

The award for was presented by Russell Payne of Vinci Facilities who said of Wimbledon Village Stables that “they understand the benefits of mixing good business within its community. They operate a sustainable business in the region which positively impacts on the local economy and truly gives the customer what they desire within their neighbourhood; which is demonstrated through their excellent customer testimonials”. Caroline Stevenson and Carol Andrews accepted the award on behalf of Wimbledon Village Stables and thanked their team.