Countywide Business Awards - what a night for Essex!

The Essex Countywide Business Awards took place on the 10th May, 2013. APC Solutions Group Sales Director, David Bell, was lucky enough to be Chair of the Judges. Being involved from the start, David was able to meet with the individual judges of each category and co-present on the night.

The evening proved a huge success, with a record number of entries for 2013; the judge’s decisions were tough.

David Bell delivered an inspirational speech and Chaired the evening alongside Ann Quinn from the Business Awards.

Here’s to next year...

The winners of the categories were:

New company

Smart Scaffolding Services
Beauty Treats by Natalie
Howgates

Environmental Awareness

Recycle for Essex
South Essex Homes
Radisson Blu Hotel London Stansted Airport

Excellent Customer Service

Central Cars
Rawley Plant Ltd
Summercare

Community

Hood Group
Opportunity Thurrock
Kids Inspire

Business to Business

Edward Carter Solutions
Mackman Group
Utilize IT Support

Growing Business of the Year

Edward Carter Solutions
The Underfloor Heating Store
A1 Pharmaceuticals Plc

Small Business of the Year

Essex Canine Hydrotherapy
My Buggy Buddy Ltd
4 U Media Ltd

Retail

The Wine Centre
Hadleigh Hats Ltd 

Highly Commended

New Company – Sales Scene Ltd
Business to Business – Hidden Technology Systems International Ltd

Apprentice of the Year

Scott Bilham
Blueflame Services

Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Alan Webb
Griffin

Business Woman of the Year

Sarah Brockwell
Sarah Bee Marketing

Business Man of the Year

Steven Lewis
The Underfloor Heating Store

Lifetime Award for Business Management and Development
Tony Gudgeon
Chelmsford Star Co-op

Essex Countywide Business Awards - David Bell is the Judges Chair

As Group Sales Director, David Bell, was about to board a plane to visit the US office, Ann Quinn, from the Essex Business Awards, rung to invite David to be the 2013 Countywide Business Awards Chair of Judges. Having won Business Man of the Year at the 2011 Mid Essex Awards, David knew this opportunity was too good to miss. Allowing David the chance to review all the entries and work with the business awards team to help agree the finalists for each category, David would be an instrumental part of the judging process.

David and his fellow judges reviewed this year’s record number of entries selecting the shortlist for each category. It is then down to the judge of each category to choose the final winner.

The awards evening will be hosted by Ann Quinn and David Bell who will lead the evening and assist in presenting the awards. David will also deliver an inspirational speech at the event.

David and APC’s relationship with Essex Business Awards started when it entered and won Business Man of the Year in the 2011 Mid Essex Awards. In the same year, APC’s Technical Director Chris Lynch, was shortlisted for Business Man of the Year at the Colchester awards.  APC then went on to receive further awards success in 2012 when it was shortlisted for Business Man and Growing Business of the Year at the Colchester awards, its Technical Project Manager Lee Collis, Won Employee of the Year at the East of England Business Champions Awards and it was head sponsor of the Countywide Business Awards. APC also sponsored Business Woman of the Year at the Mid Essex Awards which saw David deliver a speech and present the award.

So are awards important to local businesses? Of course. The networking opportunities alone offer companies that may even operate within the same town the chance to meet and secure future relationships. With email, social media and video hangouts taking over the way we network and communicate, there is still no substitute for meeting someone face to face. Yes, a recommendation on a website can give you an idea of the work the company has conducted, but meeting the MD, hearing from them on a first hand basis, and meeting the people they employee will instantly give you an impression of the company.

Sponsoring awards also gives you a valuable platform to talk to a captive and relevant audience about your business. Choosing a category, you are passionate about, or which relates to your business is fundamental in achieving awards success. This will single handily allow you instant access to your peers, you can learn from their entries, their achievements and their business structure and in turn, depart your own advice from your business experiences.

David being chosen as Chair of the Judges is a huge honour for APC Solutions. Allowing David to be involved from the start, meeting and working with all of the individual category judges has given him valuable insight into Essex businesses. Working with estate agents, HR consultants and fellow MD’s, David has been given the opportunity to review all the individual entrants.

2013 has seen a record number of award entries across all categories. The strength, diversity and entrepreneurship across the county is outstanding. Essex is THE hub for business and APC is very proud to be part of it.