Brilliance in Business Awards 2024 launched at Balmer Lawn Hotel

THE New Forest’s finest firms will be honoured in the 19th Brilliance in Business Awards.

A launch event at Balmer Lawn Hotel welcomed 100 representatives of local businesses to celebrate, including headline sponsor Parker Bullen Solicitors, which has recently opened a new office in Totton.

Nominations are now open for the Forest awards, which celebrate local individuals and businesses that demonstrate outstanding achievements.

Matthew Lawson, chair of the New Forest Business Partnership, said ‘’This very special event is about commemorating the successes of local businesses, recognising their achievements and celebrating what they have accomplished despite the challenges of the past year.

“We look forward to receiving a record number of entries this year – all local businesses can apply or be nominated.”

The awards event will take place on Thursday 29th November at Brockenhurst College and afterwards at Careys Manor Hotel.

To make a nomination visit www.nfbp.org.uk/awards. Closing date for nominations is 1st October 2024.

There are 19 categories:

• The Totton College Award for Training and Development – for businesses offering outstanding career opportunities to their employees including training, career development and mentoring.

• The NFU Mutual Award for Contribution to the Community – for businesses which recognise the importance of a real commitment to the local New Forest community.

• The Solent University Award for Innovation – for businesses which successfully apply any form of innovation in the way they do business, the way they work with their people or customers, or in product and service development.

• The New Forest Marque Award for Food and Drink – for businesses which celebrate the very best in food and drink production in the New Forest.

• The Balmer Lawn Hotel Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Visitor Economy – for businesses which lead the way in providing high quality New Forest visitor experiences, which protect and enhance the local environment, benefit residents and support the local economy.

• The University of Southampton Business School Award for Entrepreneur of the Year – for a dynamic, creative and visionary leader who has achieved sustained levels of growth for their business.

• The New Forest Enterprise Centre Award for Best New Business – for businesses created since 1st October 2020 which have exceeded their initial targets for growth and already show significant product/service development and leadership within their sector or industry.

• The Forest Foodie Award for Outstanding Customer Care – for businesses which recognise the importance of the customer in growing their business.

• The Wessex Optical Award for Young Person in Business – for an individual aged under 30 years on 1st October 2022 who has made a significant contribution to a business.

• The New Forest National Park Authority Award for Sustainable Business of the Year – for businesses that understand their social responsibility to drive environmental improvements within their industry, creating a greener, more sustainable product or service.

• The Forest Foot and Health Clinic & New Milton Foot Clinic Award for Health and Wellbeing – for businesses which recognise the importance of creating an environment for their staff where health and wellbeing is of the highest priority.

• The New Forest District Council Award for Best New Forest Micro Business – for businesses with fewer than five employees who are demonstrating both sustainable growth and a product or service that is standing tall amongst their competitors.

• The Fordingbridge Print Award for Business Growth – for businesses that can demonstrate a clear business growth strategy that has taken their business to the next level.

• The Scott Bailey Award for Professional Services – for businesses that demonstrate excellence and are innovative in their approach to the services they provide.

• The New Milton Advertiser and Lymington Times Award for Not For Profit Organisation of the Year – for charities, social enterprises and other not-for-profit organisations that are innovative and delivering sustainable benefit to New Forest society.

• The New Milton Sand and Ballast Award for Personal Achievement – for an individual within the New Forest business community who is recognised as having made an outstanding contribution to the local economy.

• The View HR Award for Apprentice of the Year – for the outstanding achievement of an apprentice who has successfully applied their learning in the workplace to advance themselves and their employer.

• The Escape Yachting Award for Marine and Maritime – for businesses that demonstrate a commitment to excellence, innovation and sustainability in this key sector in the New Forest.

• The overall New Forest Business of the Year, sponsored this year by Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa, is selected from the winners of the individual categories.