Around 500 of the county’s leading businesspeople gathered for the annual Sussex Business Awards ceremony held at The Grand Brighton on November 29th. Celebrating thirty years in 2018, the awards are the most sought-after accolade by organisations from every sector in Sussex.
This year saw a record-breaking number of nominations for each category, with representatives from sixteen towns across the county making the shortlist of fifty-one finalists. Judges had an enormously difficult task, as the entries were of such a high standard.
The judging panel, chaired by Mike Herd, executive director of Sussex Innovation Centre, included representatives from Allied Irish Bank, HSBC, Mazars, Gatwick Airport, University of Sussex Business School, Red7, Coffin Mew, Clearline Recruitment, CountyClean Group, Vantage Professional Risks, LMS Group and Rockinghorse.
Mike commented: “It goes without saying that it is a huge honour to be the Chair of the 30th Sussex Business Awards.
“Each year the standard of entries gets better and better and this year was no exception. This year’s finalists are a stimulating mix of established businesses and new entrepreneurial ventures with a common thread running through them all – resilience and determination to succeed”.
The big winner on the night was Rayner which took home awards for Large Business of the Year and Business Innovation of the Year.
World of Books was named the overall Company of the Year winner – an award not directly entered but chosen by the judge from businesses entering SME of the Year and Large Business of the Year. The winner is crowned thus because they have excelled in every part of the awards criteria.
Other winners included Carl Fillery of Boundless (Businessperson of the Year), Paxton Access (International Business of the Year), Morgan Sindall (Corporate Fundraiser of the Year), Jeremy’s Restaurant (Food & Drink Destination of the Year), B&CE (Employer of the Year), MacConvilles Surveying (Professional Services Award), Waffle (Start-up of the Year), Rhythmix (Creative Industries Award), Mabel’s Emporium (Business in the Community Award) and Nuffield Health Haywards Heath Hospital (Best Customer Service).
For further information or to get involved in 2019 email sussex@platinumpublishing.co.uk
2018 SUSSEX BUSINESS AWARDS WINNERS:
Business Innovation of the Year
Sponsored by Sussex Innovation Centre
WINNER: Rayner
Flinder
LifeBox Health
Mindlab International
Business in The Community Award
Sponsored by Gatwick Airport
WINNER: Mabel's Emporium
Engage Health Group
Search Seven
Best Customer Service
Sponsored by Platinum Publishing Group
WINNER: Nuffield Health Haywards Heath Hospital
Allison Jeffery Skin Health and Laser Clinic
Boundless by CSMA
Paxton Access
Employer of the Year
Sponsored by Clearline Recruitment
WINNER: B&CE Holdings
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Legal & General
The Student Room Group
Professional Services Award
Sponsored by Vantage Professional Risks
WINNER: MacConvilles Surveying
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Rix & Kay
Quantuma
Start-up of the Year
Sponsored by Coffin Mew
WINNER: Waffle
Advanced Material Development
MyPocketSkill
Creative Industries Award
Sponsored by University of Sussex Business School
WINNER: Rhythmix
Brightec
Dotsquares
Tourist Destination of the Year
Sponsored by Red7
WINNER: The Charleston Trust
Fishers Adventure Farm Park
Horsham Museum & Art Gallery
Food & Drink Destination of the Year
Sponsored by The Gemini Print Group
WINNER: Jeremy’s Restaurant
Malmaison Brighton
Pascere
Corporate Fundraiser of the Year
Sponsored by Rockinghorse
WINNER: Morgan Sindall
Pryzm
Richard Place Dobson
International Business of the Year
Sponsored by HSBC
WINNER: Paxton Access
PVL UK
Rinkit
SME Business of the Year
Sponsored by LMS Group
WINNER: Allaero
ONE TO WATCH: Modus Brands
Crunch
HSM Global
Large Business of the Year
Sponsored by Allied Irish Bank
WINNER: Rayner
Rinkit
World of Books
Businessperson of the Year
Sponsored by CountyClean Group
WINNER: Carl Fillery, Boundless by CSMA
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Kevin Markwick, The Picture House Cinema and Restaurant
Nick Broom, PVL UK
Company of the Year
Sponsored by Mazars
WINNER: World of Books
Allaero
Bird & Blend Tea
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club
Chandlers Building Supplies
Rayner
