Award sponsors and judges of this year’s Dorset Business Awards have chosen the finalists for the county’s most highly regarded business awards programme.
More than 30 judges have taken the time over the last month to analyse all award entries in detail and score them based on each specific award criteria, before compiling a list of 39 local businesses that stood out from the crowd.
Proving that business continues to strengthen throughout Dorset, finalists are scattered across the county located in Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Dorchester and Bournemouth to name a few.
The ‘Meet the Finalists’ drinks reception will be held on Monday October 15 at The Italian Villa in Poole, and will bring together finalists and award sponsors to celebrate business achievement in Dorset. The winners of each award will then be announced at the gala dinner ceremony at the Bournemouth International Centre on Thursday November 1.
Organised by the Dorset Chamber and in association with the Daily Echo and Dorset Echo, and backed by the south’s leading radio station Wave 105, the awards evening will begin with a drinks reception sponsored by Caterpillar Marine UK Ltd. This is followed by an exquisite three-course dinner before the awards presentation begins. Brighter Productions has come on board for the fourth year as production sponsor of the awards.
The 2018 finalists are (in alphabetical order):
Business Leader of the Year Award, sponsored by Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership
- Georgina Hurcombe, managing director at LoveLove Films, Bournemouth
- Tony Lockwood, managing director at BOFA International Ltd, Poole
- Jamie Sergeant, founder and director at Crowd, Bournemouth
Dorset Environmental Business Award, sponsored by Dorset Wildlife Trust and Poole Harbour Commissioners
- Neals Yard Remedies, Gillingham
- Tops Day Nurseries, Bournemouth
- Upton Country Park, Poole
Exporting Excellence Award, sponsored by HSBC and PSP Worldwide Logistics
- Atlas Elektronik UK, Dorchester
- Haystack Dryers, Ringwood
- Modulift, Poole
Outstanding Customer Service Award, sponsored by Beales Gourmet and Teachers Building Society
- Bluebird Care (Bournemouth & Poole), Bournemouth
- Blue Sky Financial Planning, Poole
- Sontronics, Poole
TeamJobs Team of the Year
- Inspire, Poole
- Siemens, Poole
- Sunny Bird PR, Bournemouth
The Developing Talent Award, sponsored by Sunseeker
- Greendale Construction
- Inspire
- Ward Goodman
Young Apprentice Ambassador of the Year, sponsored by Superior Seals Ltd
- Tilly Cuttler from JP Morgan, Bournemouth
- Tom Davis from Cloudserve, Bournemouth
- Gareth Holford from Weymouth College
Creative Impact Award, sponsored by Liz Lean PR and Digipigz
- Coastal BID, Bournemouth – Project Name: Go Bournemouth Coast
- Salad Creative Ltd, Poole – Project Name: Commonwealth Games England Website
- The ID Group, Poole – Project Name: You Are The Media
Employee Health and Wellbeing Award, sponsored by BWT Physio and Ouch Training Team
- Health-on-line, Bournemouth
- Organix, Wake up to Wellbeing, Bournemouth
- The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bournemouth
Lester Aldridge Company of the Year
- Actisense, Poole
- Alfatronix, Poole
- BV Dairy, Shaftesbury
PKF Francis Clark Family Business Award
- BV Dairy, Shaftesbury
- Hall & Woodhouse, Blandford Forum
- Marsham Court
The ScaleUp for Business Growth Award, sponsored Enhanced
- Beyond Retail Ltd, Bournemouth
- DJS (UK) Ltd, Bournemouth
- Unicorn Training Group Ltd, Bournemouth
UK Health Insurance Investing in Dorset Award
- BV Dairy, Shaftesbury
- Sea-NC Engineering / Network Enterprise Complex, Portland
- Sontronics, Poole
Stuart Dixon, head of marketing and communications at Dorset Chamber, said: ‘‘Huge congratulations to those who entered and have reached the penultimate stage of this year’s competition. It’s fantastic to see a wide range of industry sectors based from all corners of the county represented in this year’s Dorset Business Awards.”
Tickets for the black-tie Awards gala dinner cost £86 + VAT (Chamber members), £96 + VAT (non-Chamber members), £800 + VAT for a table of 10 (Chamber members) or £900 + VAT (non-Chamber members). Companies interested in purchasing a ticket, table or finding out about any further sponsorship opportunities for 2018, please contact the Dorset Chamber on 01202 714800.
All finalists are based in Dorset or have a BH or DT postcode.