Merton Business Awards

Commended: SOS Office Solutions
Highly Commended: Paul Strank Roofing Ltd
Winner: The Vine Project

“We are part of the community and put the community at the heart of everything we do,” said Wimbledon Guardian Assistant Editor Paul Cahalan, as he presented the award, “and the Vine Project impressed the judges with their commitment, passion and hard work to support Merton and its residents.

The award was accepted by The Vine Project’s CEO Monica Tyler and its chairman Alex Davies who said: “This is a huge honour for us as a local charity, serving our local community. We want to thank our staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to serve our community in which we live.”

Commended: The Brewery Tap
Highly Commended: Rose and Crown Hotel
Winner: Piccolino

Wimbledon Village Italian restaurant Piccolino was honoured for its customer service. Presenting the award, Richard Hunter from the Wimbledon Village Business Association, said: “We particularly liked their commitment to outstanding service and we felt their enthusiasm to go beyond the ‘call of duty’ was second to none.”

Dean Fawcett from Piccolino thanked his team, saying: “without them I wouldn’t be here.”

Commended: TWM Solicitors
Highly Commended: Admiral Scaffolding Group Limited
Winner: Elliot Wood Partnership LLP

The Elliott Wood Partnership LLP, also Business of the Year winner, thanked their 60-strong UK team for helping them win the Best Medium Business award sponsored by the Career Development Group.

Award judge Jenny Woodrow from the CDG praised Elliott Wood Partnership LLP for “knowing how to target their customers and what they need through a thorough understanding of their business and a real focus on quality and customer service.

“They have an incredible attitude towards their staff, have contributed a lot to the local community and the Partners lead by example, which ensure loyalty from both customers and staff alike.”

Commended: Julia Boggio Studios
Highly Commended: Wimbledon Village Stables
Winner: Samuel Estates

Best Small Business winner for the second consecutive year is local estate agency Samuel Estates.

Presenting the award, Kate Dickens from sponsors Barclays Bank PLC, said Samuel Estates were: “a fine example of how dynamic leadership, a solid business plan and a strong commitment to customer service can turn an idea into a successful growing business.”

Nick Samuel and Paul Ahearn from Samuel Estates said they were ‘ecstatic’ to receive the award for the second year in a row, and would be looking to enter Best Medium Sized Business in 2012

Some of Merton’s leading businessmen and women have taken a huge step towards winning a top award.

Judges have agonised over the applications and have whittled the entries down to shortlists in nine categories for the Merton Business Awards.

Winners will be announced at a Gala Awards Ceremony and dinner to be held at the Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis Club on Wednesday, September 21st.

Art Division Ltd, a web design and development company, is set for an exciting night having earned nominations in three categories. The company, based in Durham Road, West Wimbledon, is among the contenders in the Best Small Business Category, sponsored by Barclays, and the Best Business for Marketing. Meanwhile, Business Development Manager Nelly Berova is among six candidates for the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, sponsored by Morrisons Solicitors LLP.

Nelly said: “We are in an industry which is relatively new and ever changing. With key players such as Facebook and Google, we have to stay up to date and on our toes all the time in order to be ahead of the game. We embrace new ways to market ourselves and our clients and are not afraid to quickly implement them.

“Winning an award would be a great recognition of our efforts throughout the years and would help expose our services to other local businesses who wish to grow and follow our example.”

Entries for this year’s Merton Business Awards closed on Friday, July 29th and other gongs up for grabs include Best Medium Sized Business, sponsored by Careers Development Group, Business Award for Customer Service, backed by Wimbledon Village Business Association, Commitment to the Community, sponsored by Newsquest, Best Business for Hospitality and Leisure and Best Business for Training and Development, both sponsored by Vinci Construction, and Best Business for Marketing and Best New Business, both supported by Xpert HR.

The Awards, which are organised by South London Business, working with the support of Merton Council and Merton Chamber of Commerce, were free to enter and open to all businesses based in the borough of Merton. They aim to recognise forward-looking and innovative firms and individuals who have demonstrated commitment and determination to drive their businesses forward.

If any of the finalists are looking for inspiration on the night it can be provided by Box 2, winner of the Merton’s Best Retailer at the Awards in 2010, who are providing chocolates for this year’s event.

Owner Alison Cohen said: “It made me realise the importance of events like this to reward local businesses for all their hard work and commitment to their local area and it also gave me, as a business owner, an opportunity to let my staff know how much I value and appreciate them.”

“I very much hope that all the finalists and winners this year benefit as much as we did from winning our prestigious title.”

Jenny Woodrow, business manager at Career Development Group Wimbledon (CDG), sponsor of the Best Medium Business Award, said: “CDG is excited to be taking part in the awards for the second year running in the vibrant community of Merton. It is a fantastic platform for local businesses to be recognised for their achievements and to be celebrated in the business community.”

As well as honouring Merton’s elite business, the event also offers a unique networking opportunity with hundreds of businessmen and women set to attend the highlight of Merton’s 2011 business calendar.

The evening commences in style with a drinks reception and is followed by a delicious three-course meal and the awards ceremony hosted by award-winning radio phone-in host Clive Bull.

Tickets to the gala dinner and awards ceremony are on sale now. To book tickets for the event, priced £79.50 plus VAT (South London Business members £69.50 plus VAT) for a standard ticket or £750 plus VAT for a table of 10 (SLB members £705 plus VAT), visit www.mertonbusinessawards.co.uk

A record number of Merton businessmen and women have put themselves line for a top award.

A late surge in entries in the run up to the closing date on Friday, July 29th means that judges for the Merton Business Awards 2011 must reach their verdict on the borough’s success stories from a much greater pool than for last year’s inaugural awards.

Judging has now begun and this year’s winners will be announced at a Gala Awards Ceremony and dinner to be held at the Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis Club on Wednesday, September 21st.

A host of gongs are up for grabs in the categories of Best Small Business, Best Medium Sized Business, The Wimbledon Village Business Award for Customer Service, Commitment to the Community, Best Business for Sustainability, Best Business for Hospitality & Leisure, Best Business for Training and Development, Best Employer, Best Business for Marketing, Best New Business and Entrepreneur of the Year.

The Awards, which are organised by South London Business, working with the support of Merton Council and Merton Chamber of Commerce, were open to all businesses based in the borough of Merton. They aim to recognise forward-looking and innovative firms and individuals who have demonstrated commitment and determination to drive their businesses forward.

Ross Feeney, South London Business’ Director of Business Support, said: “We are delighted with the response to Merton Business Awards 2011.

“The quantity and quality of the entries demonstrates the continues huge wealth of success stories among Merton’s businesses, including many new start-ups establishing themselves in the borough as well as some amazing business development and growth.

“This is testament to the drive, determination and entrepreneurship of Merton’s business leaders and it is these qualities that the awards allow us to celebrate.”

Backers of the Awards include WSM Finance, Morrisons Solicitors, Barclays Bank, the Career Development Group, XpertHR, Box 2 and the Wimbledon Business Association.
Paul Windsor, Business Development Partner for WSM Advisors Ltd, said: “Merton is full of enterprising and innovative companies. WSM is delighted to continue in the role, for the second year running, as lead sponsor for the Merton Business Awards so that these companies and the individuals behind them have an opportunity to demonstrate their wide ranging skills and celebrate their achievements.”

Paul Harvey, Managing Partner at Morrisons Solicitors, which is sponsoring Entrepreneur of the Year, added: “The Awards are a great initiative which we want to support and help to develop over the coming years.”

News updates on the awards are available at: www.mertonbusinessawards.co.uk