Lambeth’s successful home-grown businesses celebrated their own ‘Oscar’ night on 24 March Thursday in a glittering ceremony at the Kia Oval.
Now in their fourth year the Lambeth Business Awards have been developed to reward and celebrate the borough’s vibrant and dynamic business community. The awards are a major annual event and a focal point for business networking. They are supported by the MJF Group and organised, for Lambeth Council and Lambeth First, by South London Business.
Councillor Steve Reed, Leader of the Council, said, "In this challenging economic climate, it is more important than ever that we do all we can to encourage and support local businesses. We are all going through tough times at the moment. But as every successful business person knows there is an opportunity in every challenge. This is a great event; it gives us all a chance to celebrate the best of business in Lambeth. .
Twelve categories were up for grabs and more than 50 firms competed for accolades ranging from Best Green Business, Best Workplace, and Best Woman in Business to Best Young Entrepreneur and Market Trader of the Year.
Lambeth’s Business of the Year was named to great acclaim as Vauxhall City Farm accepting the award, trustee Nigel Rust told the 260-strong audience:
“We are so honoured to be named Business of the Year. We have been around since 1977 and it’s lovely to be recognised as a part of the community.”
Best Green Business was named as Brixton Cornercopia which only launched just over a year ago. “I’m incredibly proud and very, very happy,” said Anne Fairbrother, adding: “I hope we can inspire other small businesses to take a green approach to what they do. This proves you can have a lot of success in a short amount of time.”
Collecting the Commitment to the Community award for London Horizons, Jim Davies said: “It is fantastic to receive such an award from Lambeth Council, this is fantastic news.”
An organisation that was highly commended in last year’s awards now took the top spot in the Best Cultural and Creative Business category. For Future Theatres Company Caroline Bryant told the audience. “This is just a fantastic step up. What I really love about this award is that we are a small company, just four of us, and this award is for us all.”
Perhaps the most outlandish response came from the founder of Todich Floral Designs Todd Todich. Accepting the Best Customer Service award he said: “I promised my Customer Services Manager that I would eat a rose if we won the customers services award. I’m going to have to do this tomorrow.”
Individual award categories were sponsored by a wide range of organisations. These include Lambeth Council, MJF, Veolia Environmental Services, Inclusive Employers, NHS Lambeth, St George South London Ltd, Beacon Organisational Development, Lambeth College, London Duck Tours, South London Press, London South Bank University and South London Business. The many category sponsors have generously sponsored the food, drink and prize money. Without their involvement and financial generosity, Lambeth Council would not have been able to run the awards and to stage this event this year.
Click Here to view the winners of the Lambeth Business Awards 2011.
