Winning certificates have been presented to 12 local companies at the inaugural Purbeck Business Awards at a ceremony at Kingston Country Courtyard near Corfe Castle.
From just under 100 entries and nominations, the winners of the awards to recognise the quality and range of businesses across Purbeck were revealed on Thursday 23rd February 2023.
The outdoor company Land and Wave won Best Place to Work and the Best Overall award
Land and Wave picked up the top award
From the 12 category winners, the overall prize went to the Swanage-based outdoor company Land and Wave, who also picked up the award for the Best Place to Work.
The judges commented that they found the nomination from one Land and Wave staff member totally inspiring and truly wonderful and concluded that the company’s ethos towards its employees and the many benefits that they offered, made it shine out as a great place to work.
Sisters Sophie Tanner and Rosie Tanner from outdoor company Land and Wave
“We should be really proud of the outdoor industry”
Receiving the award from the Mayor of Swanage Tina Foster and the Mayor of Wareham Malcolm Russell, Land and Wave marketing director Rosie Tanner said:
“I’m so shocked and happy! Thank you to all our staff at :Land and Wave – we couldn’t do it without the amazing people who work for us.
“We’ve worked really hard in the last couple of years – actually the outdoor industry has had it pretty tough since Covid, so I just want to say thank you to the outdoor industry in Purbeck as a whole, to Cumulus, Brenscombe and everyone that makes up a really amazing industry.
“We should be really proud of the outdoor industry and the people who work within it because they work their socks off – it’s long hours and a pretty tough job but with amazing rewards as we have wonderful kids who come and see us every year.
“They get so much out of what they do with us, out on the water and along the coastline, so thank you and please support your local outdoor industry, as it’s brilliant and something to be proud of!”
The Mayor of Wareham Malcolm Russell and the Mayor of Swanage Tina Foster were on hand to present the awards
List of winners 2023
- Overall winner: Land and Wave, Swanage
- Independent business: Cumulus Outdoors, Swanage
- Green / eco business: My Scented Home, Corfe Castle
- New business: Garden Gate Tea Room, Wareham
- Excellence in customer service: Kingston Country Courtyard
- Artisans, arts and crafts: Purbeck New Wave Gallery, Swanage
- Health and wellbeing: Lewis Manning Hospice Care
- Family business: Purbeck House Hotel, Swanage
- Café, pub and casual dining: The Horse and Groom, Wareham
- Best place to work: Land and Wave, Swanage
- Tourism attraction: Dorset Adventure Park, Corfe Castle
- Best small hotel: The Bear, Wareham
- B2B business: Purbeck Jobs
The headline sponsor of the event was the training company Action Coach.
The awards ceremony was held at the hotel and events business Kingston Country Courtyard near Corfe Castle
Main aim is to boost business
Nigel Reeve from Marketing West SW set up the first business awards in Bridport just before lockdown.
Since then his idea has taken off with business awards organised for Bournemouth, Bridport, Christchurch, Dorchester, Lyme Regis, Poole, Sherborne, Weymouth, Wimborne and Shaftesbury.
The idea is that these are grassroots business awards and not an excuse for a party. The focus is on the entries and not the event, with the main aim to boost local business.
The judging is independent and online with five to six judges for each category, who look for the businesses who care and have an enthusiasm for their product or service.
Nigel Reeve (left) founded the Purbeck Business Awards
“Atmosphere at the awards ceremony was amazing”
Nigel Reeve said:
“I’m absolutely delighted by how the Purbeck Business Awards went. The response of the businesses was superb and the atmosphere at the awards ceremony was amazing. From when we first started planning the awards to now, it has all happened and I couldn’t be more pleased.
“I’m particularly pleased that since starting the awards across Dorset in 2019, 1,400 people have attended the various award ceremonies and about £100,000 has gone back into the local economy through hiring venues, and using suppliers.”
The planning starts now for the second Purbeck Business Awards. Entries open in October 2023 with the awards presented in March 2024.
Watch the awards ceremony
The winners in pictures
Independent business: Cumulus Outdoors, Swanage
Green / eco business: My Scented Home, Corfe Castle
New business: Garden Gate Tea Room, Wareham
Excellence in customer service: Kingston Country Courtyard
Artisans, arts and crafts: Purbeck New Wave Gallery, Swanage
Health and wellbeing: Lewis Manning Hospice Care
Family business: Purbeck House Hotel, Swanage
Café, pub and casual dining: The Horse and Groom, Wareham
Best place to work: Land and Wave, Swanage
Tourism attraction: Dorset Adventure Park, Corfe Castle
Best small hotel: The Bear, Wareham
B2B business: Purbeck Jobs
Further information
- More about the Purbeck Business Awards is on its website
