Brighton & Hove’s business community came together in spectacular style as the winners of the 2026 Brighton & Hove Business Awards were revealed at The Grand Hotel in Brighton on October 1st.
Hosted by acclaimed comedian Hal Cruttenden, the evening brought together businesses, entrepreneurs and leading figures from across the city for a night celebrating everything that makes the city’s business community so special.
The energy in the room was electric, with a real sense of unity as businesses of every size and sector came together to celebrate the people and organisations making an impact across the city.
Established in 2004, the Brighton & Hove Business Awards have become one of the city’s biggest celebrations of business excellence, recognising outstanding achievement, innovation, growth, leadership and contribution to the wider community.
Taking the night’s top business honour, Young Friends Kindergarten was crowned Company of the Year 2026, while Barry Carden received the prestigious Outstanding Brightonian Award, recognising his exceptional contribution to the city.
There were celebrations across 18 categories, with Clarity Environmental enjoying a particularly successful evening, taking home both Employer of the Year and Best Customer Service Award.
Other major winners included Shoreham Port, named Large Business of the Year; Spark & Bell Lighting, which took Medium Business of the Year; and Always Possible, crowned Small Business of the Year.
Richard Pollins was named Businessperson of the Year, while Daze Livingstone took home Future Talent of the Year.
Fiona Graves, Events Director at Platinum Media Group, said: “The energy in the room was incredible. What really stood out was the sense of unity – businesses from across the city genuinely supporting and celebrating each other. Congratulations to all our finalists and winners, who once again showed just how much talent, ambition and entrepreneurial spirit we have in the city.”
VIEW THE 2026 WINNERS HERE
The winners were selected following an intensive judging process involving an experienced panel of business leaders and representatives from organisations including Churchill Square, Merranti Group, City Girl Network, MD HUB, True Potential, Help To Grow University of Brighton, Growth Animals, Allica Bank, Galloways, Carnegie Group, Search Seven, The Jonathan Lea Network and EMC Corporate Finance.
