Business

68 The West Dorset Magazine, December 2, 2022 Business Free to enter business awards open

Free to enter business awards are now up and running for Sherborne, Bridport, Dorchester and Lyme Regis. There’s also a contest for Weymouth and Portland businesses – again, free to enter. Businessman Nigel Reeve, who owns Marketing West Events, promotes and supports local businesses with grassroots business awards in Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Wimborne, Dorchester, Weymouth, Bridport, Shaftesbury, Sherborne, Axminster, Lyme/Charmouth and Purbeck. Nearly 2,000 entries have been submitted to the awards in recent years, and 600 business leaders have attended the awards ceremonies. Initially, Marketing West Events was established as a marketing agency, but the firm has now moved almost entirely into business awards as a result of lockdowns and the need to promote and support local businesses. Judging is independent and online, with no outside influence and there’s a category for every business. The awards ceremonies are open to all and the fee to attend is cost price. Categories include: Best Place to Work Café, Pub, Casual Dining Excellence in Customer Service New Business of the Year B2B Business of The Year Family Business of the Year Independent Business of the Year Health and Fitness Business of the Year Young Entrepreneur/Rising Star Green/Eco-Business of the Year Artisans and Market Vendors Retail Business of the Year Overall Business Of The Year Marketing West donates from the launch tickets to a local charity. This year they dropped off three bags of shopping to Bridport Cupboard Love at St Mary’s, South Street. Lindsay Jones from Marketing West said: “Having never been to a foodbank before I was rather shocked at how busy it was – rather humbling.” Entries for Bridport close on Friday, December 9, and the awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, February 10. Entries for Sherborne closed in November, with the awards ceremony on Thursday, January 12. Lyme’s Jurassic Awards are closed for 2022, however Weymouth’s awards are open now – entries close Monday, January 9, with the awards ceremony on Thursday, March 9. Dorchester/Poundbury awards are also open now. Entries close Monday, January 30, with the awards ceremony on Thursday, March 30. To enter, go to: Bridport: bridportbusinessawards.co.uk Sherborne: sherbornebusinessawards.co.uk Weymouth and Portland: weyportbusinessawards.co.uk Dorchester and Poundbury: dandpbusinessawards.co.uk

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Dorchester firm off to national awards finals

Dorchester’s Precision Acoustics, a world leader in underwater acoustic and ultrasonic technologies has struck gold at a prestigious regional manufacturing awards ceremony. The awards were presented at a ceremony in Bristol organised by Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation, and sponsored by legal firm Bevan Brittan. They were held to recognise the achievements of manufacturing companies from across the South, with the winners now going on to the national finals in London in January. Joint winners of the innovation award sponsored by Isoclad, the business was praised for its ability to solve complex challenges and the speed at which new products entered the market. Judges said: “Precision Acoustics are an excellent example of innovation, the company clearly know their market and as leader in their field they have continued to develop solutions to meet their customers’ needs. Even when operating in a challenging economic environment this organisation’s product development is already yielding a commercial return. Innovation is really at the heart of everything they do.” MD Gary Livingstone said: “We’re delighted to have won the Innovation award at the Make UK regional dinner. It’s a fantastic achievement. We have an amazing team at Precision Acoustics, and it was a great night to celebrate just how far the team has come.”