The deadline for entries and nominations for the first ever Purbeck Business Awards is looming and local companies and organisations are being urged to complete their entries in time.
Following a difficult Christmas trading period, with high inflation, rising interest rates and soaring energy costs, the Purbeck Business Awards is focussed on giving a boost to grassroot businesses and it’s free to enter.
The Purbeck Business Awards were launched in September 2022 at Kingston Coutry Courtyard near Corfe Castle
Entries and nominations are rolling in
The Purbeck Business Awards successfully launched in late September 2022 at Kingston Country Courtyard near Corfe Castle. Just one month later, the number of entries and nominations had surged past the level expected.
All entries and nominations must now be submitted by 2 pm on Friday 6th January 2023.
Originally the deadline was just before Christmas but it’s been extended to give people the chance to complete the short form over the quieter trading period at the beginning of the year.
Business owners or employees with the permission of the company may fill out the entry form.
There’s also an opportunity for clients or customers to nominate businesses that they believe are deserving of an award. When it comes to the judging it’s not the number of times a business is nominated but what people say.
Guests were given a presentation giving more details
Categories to enter
- Best tourism attraction/experience
- Accommodation provider of the year
- Arts, crafts and local market stallholders
- Best place to work
- Café, pub, casual dining
- Excellence in customer service
- Family business of the year
- Green/eco-business
- Health and fitness
- Beauty and fashion
- Independent business
- New business of the year
- Young entrepreneur/rising star
Chair of Swanage Chamber of Trade Caroline Finch and organiser of the awards, Nigel Reeve at the launch
“Local businesses and SMEs help drive the economy”
Nigel Reeve from Marketing West SW set up the Bridport Business Awards just before the Covid pandemic.
Since then his idea has taken off with business awards organised for Bournemouth, Bridport, Christchurch, Dorchester, Lyme Regis, Poole, Sherborne, Weymouth, Wimborne and Shaftesbury. Now Nigel has turned his attention to Purbeck. He said:
“Local businesses and SMEs help drive the economy in this country. Large or small they are the backbone of the UK economy driving recovery and prosperity. Until recently business awards focused on larger-sized businesses and covered large geographical areas. These are different.
“The focus is on local businesses, working in conjunction with organisations like the local Chambers of Commerce and local Business Improvement Districts.”
Hotel, restaurant and event venue Kingston Country Courtyard will host the awards ceremony
These awards are different
Nigel is keen to emphasise that the awards are not an excuse for a party and are totally different from the usual awards. They are held at lunchtime, entry is free, and the entry form is simple. Businesses can enter as many categories as they want.
The judging also breaks the mould with judging online and even the judges don’t know who the other judges are.
The awards ceremony will be at lunchtime on Thursday 23rd February 2023 at Kingston Country Courtyard, near Corfe Castle. It is also intended for the event to be streamed live so everyone can find out who has won.
Further information
- All information is on the Purbeck Business Awards website
- There is an entry form and a nomination form
