District business awards attract 345 nominations

The great and good of the Leatherhead business community gathered last week to celebrate the town's entrepreneurial spirit.

Hosted in the grand surroundings of Cherkley Court and Gardens, the first inaugural Leatherhead and District Business Awards came to a close last Thursday with an awards ceremony.

The awards were launched last year by Leatherhead-based PR company Prowse and Company and the Leatherhead Chamber of Commerce as a way of recognising business in the town.

Introducing the awards Prowse's managing director Joanne Rogers said the awards had been a great success despite it being only the first year.

She said: "I can reveal that we received a total of 345 nominations, which in total recognised the efforts of 43 companies and business leaders. That is a great result for the first year. Nominations came from staff, colleagues and the companies themselves.

"As you can imagine from a judging point of view, it was very difficult to choose from a variety of nominations.

"Two qualities stand out from the nominations – a determination to succeed during these challenging economic times and a determination to work together for local economic prosperity."

The awards were handed out for six categories – Small Business of the Year, Large Company of the Year, Marketing Excellence, the Green Award, Customer Service and the Business Personality of the Year.

John Hickey, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, praised the award winners and the other headline sponsors, ExxonMobil, Mole Valley District Council and the Leatherhead Area Partnership.

Mr Hickey, who was also chairman of the judges, said: "We received more than 340 nominations over six categories and what was particularly good, was that the nominations were received from across our district.

"We actually encompass a little bit of Dorking as well as Fetcham, Bookham, Leatherhead and Ashtead, and it is good that we have nominations and winners from those areas.

"I would like to add my thanks and congratulations to the winners, the runners-up and those who were short-listed."

He added: "The calibre of entries was fantastic."

Customer service award

This award was for businesses who go the extra mile for their customers and was sponsored by the Swan Shopping Centre.

The finalists were Building Supplies, Jones' Creative Services Ltd and Soulinni's sandwich shop.

Design company Jones' Creative Services came in as runner-up. for keeping "the customer at the heart of its operation, holding daily briefing meetings to ensure that all clients are being offered the best service."

But with more than 30 nominations from customers alone, the winner was Soulinni's sandwich shop in Bridge Street, Leatherhead.

Owner Karen Rogers praised her team of four staff for making sure that the customers are well-looked after at the shop.

She said: "It is really all about the team because without them we wouldn't be here receiving the award. It is a very close knit team."

She added: "We forwarded a good 30 nominations from the shop and there were a few more that went direct to the organisers. There were some lovely comments from customers."

The green award

The Leatherhead Advertiser-sponsored award recognised businesses with a strong commitment to reducing environmental impact.

There were four finalists for the category – D and E Roberts, Dial-A-Dad Services, the PEC Partnership and the Swan Shopping Centre.

Third place went to waste management company D and E Roberts, based in Kingston Road. , for its commitment to beating national recycling targets. The runner-up was the Swan Shopping Centre.

, recognised by judges for its "awareness of issues and areas of impact, which it acts upon in innovative ways."

But it was a consultancy company that took home the award for being a "world authority" on sustainability for other businesses.

PEC Partnership, one of whose directors Richard Inns lives in Ashtead, provides advice to international companies on how to be more sustainable, particularly in terms of using packaging.

Mr Inns said: "We are a small and new company so it is nice to be recognised in this way particularly when you realise what a thriving and active business centre Leatherhead actually is."

Large company of the year

This award was for companies with more than 50 employees in the area and was sponsored by Cherkley Court and Gardens.

The finalists for the award were Denbies Wine Estate, Menzies and Nuffield Health.

In third place was Menzies, which is one of the UK's largest firms of accountants and advisors to privately owned businesses, which is based in The Crescent, Leatherhead.

Runner-up Nuffield Health took over the Cannon's gym site, also in The Crescent, in 2008, and was praised by judges for "making a major effort to focus on the health needs of the community".

The prize went to Denbies Vineyard in Dorking with the judges noting it had increased its visitor numbers and event bookings in 2009 despite the recession.

Jeannette Simpson, marketing manager of the vineyard, believes that it is the business' diversity which won the award.

She said: "We have got agriculture, conferences, banqueting, accommodation, retail, administration – we cover lots of areas from a business point of view."

She added: "We are absolutely delighted to win the award."

Marketing excellence award

This award was for businesses who had an outstanding marketing campaign or initiative demonstrating its creativity.

The finalists for the award, sponsored by Prowse and Company, were Barton's Bookshop, Denbies Wine Estate and Marsha Hall Handmade Shoes.

The runner-up was Denbies Wine Estate for its "creative, multi-strategy approach to its marketing needs." , resulting in successful campaigns that have benefited the business."

But the winner was Barton's Bookshop whose manager Peter Snell said he was stunned by the victory.

The bookshop was praised in particular for its 'human chain' event, which took place when it moved from its previous location in the Swan Centre to Bridge Street in 2008.

For this, a continuous chain of staff and volunteers passed stock from the old to the new store.

Mr Snell said: "I have always looked up to Denbies as a brilliantly run place, and I can't believe anyone considers my marketing as good as theirs. It is very different – mainly because we have no budget.

"The human chain was one thing we did but the other is that we have been giving a discount each month if a book has a particular letter in the title.

"For June it was a J, for July it was a Y and for December it was X for Christmas.

"People enjoyed the game because they looked at the shelves in a new and different way."

Business personality of the year

This award, sponsored by Andy Newbold Photography, was for a leading businessperson who has shown dedication and achievement in their role.

The finalists were Sharon Felton from Swan Lettings, Jenny Moore from B@titude and Peter Snell from Barton's Bookshop.

The runner-up was Sharon Felton, , the mother of Harry Potter star Tom Felton, who has run the estate agents, in North Street, for the past 13 years.

Judges praised her as she "successfully combines her role as mother and business woman with good company ethics". which includes supporting other businesses and charities in the town.

But the winner was Jenny Moore, the founder of B@titude, a shop that sells good-as-new babies and children's clothes, and also functions as a community hub for North Leatherhead.

Described as an outstanding figurehead in the community, judges said their winner worked tirelessly for the benefit of others.

Jenny's prize was collected on her behalf by colleague Ruth Shepherd and daughter Naomi Moore, who praised her for her selfless nature.

Mrs Shepherd said: "It is very well deserved. I think B@titude has helped a lot of people in so many different ways."

Miss Moore added: "One of the ideas behind the shop is that wherever there is a problem there is a solution. It is not just a shop but somewhere to sit and have a chat."

Small business of the year

This award was for businesses with less than 50 employees, which has shown exceptional performance.

The finalists for the category, sponsored by the Leatherhead and District Chamber of Commerce, were Englishman's Castle, Marsha Hall Handmade Shoes, Run to Live and The Duke's Head.

The Duke's Head in Leatherhead High Street came in third place with the judges praising the pub for its "complete transformation" over the past nine months.

Furniture shop Englishman's Castle, based in Church Street, was the runner-up with judges commenting on the fact it was the town's largest independent retailer. with plans to expand in the future.

But the winner was Run to Live, a running shoe shop in Barnett Wood Lane, Ashtead, which also hosts keep-fit events.

Owner Nicky Donbavand said: "We are over the moon considering we are quite a new business, we have only been going for two years, it is really delightful.

"We are a shop that sells running shoes and we help people with our expertise but Run to Live is much more than that.

"It is about raising money for charity and encouraging people to start running."

Among the forthcoming charity events organised by the shop is a 20km run for the benefit of Help for Heroes which takes place on March 14.