Events
Southwark businesses celebrated at virtual awards ceremony
Southwark’s brilliant business community was celebrated at an awards ceremony held virtually for the first-time on Thursday 26 November. The Southwark Business Excellence Awards, held in association with London South Bank University, saw more 190 hopefuls and their friends, family and colleagues log in to watch the awards evening, hosted by award-winning broadcaster Fayon Dixon.
an amazing year for us. We are in the events sector, and had to shut down, but we are problem-solvers so put our efforts into creating our online events solution. I didn’t launch my own business when I was younger as I wanted to be ready, and I have learned so much. I am elated by the recognition.”
A total of 11 categories were decided on the evening, including the prestigious Southwark Business of the Year Award, which was won by Peace Ballers.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic causing disruption for so many, business resilience and a commitment to deliver for customers, clients and the wider community has remained as strong as ever. More than 120 entries from 84 businesses were submitted for the awards.
Zion Zachary, CEO, Peace Ballers said: “I am personally very touched to have been recognised as a winner and am totally blown away. This really has been
The 2020 Southwark Business Excellence Awards Winners: • Business of the Year Sponsored by London South Bank University Winner - Peace Ballers • Best Business for Customer Service Winner – D.A.Y Highly Commended – TheLodge.space Commended – Incentive FM Group • Best Charity or Social Enterprise Sponsored by Elephant & Castle Town Centre Winner – The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education Highly Commended – Theatre Peckham Commended – Restorative Justice for All International Institute (RJ4AII) Commended - UK Homes 4 Heroes Pride & Passion
Sarah Moore-Williams, Dean of London South Bank University Business School, said: “We’re delighted to have once again sponsored the awards – and what an evening it’s been. We have seen the best of Southwark’s Business community celebrated this evening and we’re proud to be a part of it. “Well done to everyone this evening you’re an inspiration to so many.” In a joint statement Peter Mantell and Richard Kalmar from Southwark Chamber of Commerce said: “Congratulations to each and every one of our finalists and award winners.
• Best Employer Sponsored by Landsec Winner – Inner Circle Consulting Highly Commended – TOPDesk Commended – Holistic & Beauty Therapy • Best Medium Sized Business Winner – CD International Highly Commended – Complete IT Commended – Inner Circle • Best Small Business Sponsored by Lendlease Winner – Support & Sustain Highly Commended – Adriot Accountax Commended – Berry Cole Studios Commended – Friddle’s Cakes • Contribution to the Community Sponsored by Great Portland Estates Winner – Unity Music Arts Team Highly Commended – VHR Commended – De’Osa Catering & Events
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
SOUTHWARK’S CHRISTMAS VIRTUAL BEER TASTING Thursday, 10th December at 6pm
Southwark was, and arguably is, the center of the world beer scene. From the world’s largest brewery in the 19th century to the hippest hotspot of micro-breweries in the 21st century, and home to the world famous Bermondsey Beer Mile! This tasting session is an opportunity to sample the traditional tastes of beer produced in Southwark and also learn how the new flavours are developing. To celebrate this, Southwark Chamber of Commerce have arranged a virtual beer tasting and invites you to participate. This is a great opportunity to: • Meet fellow local businesses and explore business opportunities • Learn about and, of course, taste the beer • Support a local brewer during a very challenging time with some CSR • Entertain clients safely in the runup to Christmas. We can arrange breakout rooms to facilitate networking. • Actually, have some fun in the runup to what looks like a very restricted Christmas season. £35 for Chamber members and £40 for non-members, courtesy of chamber member Southwark Brewery, who will deliver a six pack of different beers to your home address and then give a virtual zoom presentation for about an hour, followed by breakout rooms for as long as you choose, or the beer runs out! For your free registration contact: admin@southwarkcommerce.com or call Sonia on: 07477581977
32 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY
“It was a pleasure to join our business community for an evening of celebration. Everyone has worked so hard to get to this point and, in what has been a |difficult year, it has been great to highlight and showcase the hard work of so many people.” The Awards programme is sponsored by headline partner London South Bank University, event partners Southwark Chamber of Commerce and Southwark Council, sponsored by British Land, Elephant & Castle Town Centre, Great Portland Estates, Landsec, Lendlease, and supported by Insight 6, Southwark News, Sea Containers London and Hiver Beers.
Entrepreneur of the Year Winner – Zion Zachary, Peace Ballers Highly Commended – Sean Baradaran, Greenzen Commended – Mark Allan, Job Doctors Women in Business Sponsored by British Land Winner – Sarah Preece, Mountview Highly Commended – Jennifer O’Donnell, Jane Jefferson Cleaning Commended – Helen Cuthbert, Planning Potential Commended – Jane Langley, Blue Patch • Best Business for Hospitality, Leisure, Food & Beverage Winner – Bankside Hotel Highly Commended – Diogenes the Dog Commended – Tower Tandoori • The Southwark Culture & Tourism Award Winner – Copeland Park & Bussey Building Highly Commended – Mountview • •
WHICH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM WILL YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF?
A FREE introductory talk for Southwark businesses We are all aware of social media’s increasing importance in promoting your products and business but, with Instagram ratings soaring, is LinkedIn still the go to place for business or should you be focusing on tweets and is it worth paying for Google AdWords?
To answer these important questions and have an interesting intro into social media at all levels we are delighted to have Tendai Chagweda, social media specialist lecturer, addressing the chamber on a virtualzoom meeting. The details of the event are: • One hour talk at 6:00pm on Wednesday 16th December 2020 • Basic introduction • The advantages of the different platforms for your business To learn more about Tendai click: https://quest4success.co.uk/ Please register for free at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/128769658515 or contact: Sonia on: admin@southwarkcommerce.com or call: 07477581977
