The second annual Southwark Business Excellence Awards are now open to all 18,000 businesses across the borough, which stretches east from Southbank to London Bridge and Surrey Docks, and south from Bermondsey, to Peckham, Camberwell and Dulwich.
Free and easy to enter online, there are 14 exciting entry categories updated for 2019:
• Apprentice Employer of the Year – Sponsor, Great Portland Estates
• Best Business for Customer Service
• Best Business for Hospitality, Leisure & Tourism
• Best Business for Tech & Innovation – Sponsor, Landsec
• Best Charity of Social Enterprise – Sponsor, Delancey
• Best Employer
• Best Food and Beverage Award
• Best Medium Sized Business
• Best Small Business
• Business of the Year – Headline Sponsor, LSBU
• Contribution to the Community – Sponsor, London College of Communications
• Entrepreneur of the Year
• Independent Retailer of the Year – Sponsor, Lendlease
• The Southwark Cultural Commitment Award – Sponsor, British Land
• Women in Business Award – Sponsor, Galliard Homes & Aviva Investors
Businesses can enter up to three categories for free, with the exception of Business of the Year which is chosen by the judges. Last year’s winners can enter any category except those which they won in 2018.
Award submissions must be entered by the closing date of Wednesday 20 March.
Local people are also being invited to think about who their favourite business is and nominate those who they feel deserves to be recognised.
Urging firms to enter, last year’s first-ever Business of the Year winner Melissa Harwood, owner of East Dulwich restaurant Spinach, said, “Winning and the recognition it has given us was a real confidence boost. I would absolutely encourage all businesses to enter in 2019 – for us, it has been great for business, great for our community and a real morale booster for staff.”
The finale of the awards programme will be a glittering, Gala Dinner & Charity Ball awards ceremony in June, hosted by ITV Good Morning Britain presenter Michael Underwood.