The Business Excellence Awards returned to Salisbury for the first time in nine years on Friday night.
Hosted by the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce and Salisbury BID, the awards night celebrated the wide range of independent businesses that make Salisbury a thriving place to be.
Andy Rhind-Tutt, President of Salisbury and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “It was time for Salisbury and south Wiltshire businesses to be showcased and celebrated with a bit of fundraising mixed in and we worked hard to encourage a reasonable response – especially after such a long break.
“Friday night’s event demonstrated not just that but far, far more! 160 local business owners and representatives joined us for a black tie dinner, including 10 charities, and after recognising this year’s highly commended and winning businesses over five categories, our master of ceremonies and King Rat of 2018, Adger Brown, had the audience in hysterics whilst fundraising and amazingly secured a phenomenal £9,000 for local causes.
“For me, these photos capture the moment Salisbury and south Wiltshire turned a corner. To see old and new business entrepreneurs dressing up, meeting up, networking and having a laugh was just what was needed.
“As I come to the end of my six years as President I feel very satisfied that the 110-year-old Chamber is in good shape for the future and will continue to deliver, with Salisbury BID, important events like these for its members and the business community.”
Pictures by Ash Mills
Proof of a ‘thriving business world’
Supported by the Salisbury Journal, the awards ceremony was also attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Sarah Rose Troughton, who said: “It was a beautifully organised and very jolly event and we were delighted to see lots of old friends and meet some new ones.
“The business world in the south of our county is evidently thriving and the winners and runners-up for these prestigious awards will be rightly proud.”
Robin McGowan, Chief Executive of Salisbury BID, added: “It was great to see so many businesses attend the Business Excellence Awards 2022 on Friday evening and celebrate business success in Salisbury and south Wiltshire.
“Salisbury BID recognises the importance of these awards to the business community and a big thank you to all those that took part. We hope that this helps reinstate this event in future years.”
'We stood out from the crowd'
Muse Hairdressing won the Start up Business award, sponsored by The Enterprise Network and presented by Amanda Foster.
Owner Lois Mant, 38, was really pleased with the award.
“The judges said I had done well to stand out in such a crowded industry,” she said.
The salon in Winchester Street first opened in 2020 but had to close after just nine days due to the Covid-19 lockdown. Despite this, the business has been going from strength to strength.
Highly-commended:
- Clearway Pets
- Futurum Consulting
Shortlisted:
- Culture Coffee
- Sonder Coffee
- Miami Mobile Ltd
'We really do care about our service'
A-Plan Insurance in Winchester Street has been crowned Employer of the Year, an award sponsored by Salisbury City Council and presented by Mayor, Caroline Corbin.
Manager David Willis, 37, said: “We attended the award ceremony and were amazed and felt quite emotional. We really didn’t expect [to win].”
The Salisbury branch, opened in 2009, aims to promote the firm’s passion for good customer service.
“We really do care about the service we provide,” added David. “We invest in staff training and monitor telephone calls to make sure that all is as it should be.”
Highly-commended:
- Aspire Defence
- Berry Telecom
Shortlisted:
- Giganet
'Time to focus on green solutions'
SGS Heating and Electrical has been awarded the Innovation and Sustainability award, sponsored by Dunbar Associates and presented by MP John Glen.
Managing Director Mike Fone said: “We are proud to have been awarded best in category for Innovation and Sustainability.
“I would like to thank all the staff at SGS to make this possible, we hope the award highlights our offering of the latest green and renewable technologies in the local community.
“Many of us are worried about the uncertainty of energy costs so there has never been a better time to invest in greener and smarter solutions helping our customers and our environment.”
Highly-commended:
- Step Associates
- Amesbury Filling Station
Our win was 'the icing on the cake'
Sponsored by Sarum St Thomas’s Church and presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Sarah Rose Troughton, Pritchetts Butchers took home the Business in the Community award.
Following the win, Charlie Aldridge, of Pritchetts, said: “We are so proud and very surprised too, as we were against so many good businesses. We were so happy to get to the final, it just makes the hard work that people don’t see worth while.
“It was a great night and such a boost for us, the win was the icing on the cake.”
Highly-commended:
- Fisherton Mill
- W Carter & Son
Shortlisted:
- A1 Roadcraft
- Amesbury Filling Station
- Require Consultancy
- A2Z House
'A reflection of our hard work'
Taking home the Business of the Year award, sponsored by the Salisbury BID and Salisbury Chamber, was land and marine surveyors Geosight.
Surveyor Andrew Coombes said: “It was a bit of a surprise because we’re not sure who nominated us and it is a reflection of all the hard work the team has put in over the last year.”
Highly-commended:
- The Stonehenge Inn
- The Ox Row Inn
Shortlisted:
- Design Pit
- The Hair Extension Cave
- SGS Heating and Electrical
- Live Escape Salisbury
'Really quite humbled'
At the end of the ceremony, awards were also given out to Bill Browne, former editor and publisher of the Salisbury Journal, and Chamber President, Andy Rhind-Tutt, who received a collage of photos as a tribute for his six official years as President.
Mr Browne said the organisation was “in need of rejuvenation” when his friend Andy first joined.
“Andy is a leader, a historian, a passionate campaigner, a photographer, a great family man and a champion for this city and this part of south Wiltshire,” he said.
“When Andy put on the gold chain of office for the Chamber he did it with pride and – as with any role he has ever had – he took it seriously.
“And as he steps aside, it is a mark of his forward-thinking that he has restarted the business awards in conjunction with the BID and, of course, media partners, the Journal, at a time when local businesses need all the recognition they can get.”
Mr Browne himself was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award, also sponsored by the Salisbury BID and Salisbury Chamber, for his 43 years’ career in journalism, publishing and general management.
Mr Browne said he was “really quite humbled” to receive this accolade.
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