The Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce Business Awards will return to Cowes Yacht Haven on Friday 6th May 2022, with entries opening on 1st December.
The Island’s most prestigious awards are being presented for the first time since 2019, due to the pandemic, and will be sponsored by WightFibre.
Each entry is judged by impartial experts, drawn from across the UK and the world. Businesses will be assessed objectively and judged wholly on their submission, which should reflect activity and success in the 2021 calendar year. Any Island-based business can enter; they don’t need to be members of the Isle of Wight Chamber.
Steven Holbrook, Chief Executive of IW Chamber, says:
“We’re thrilled to be once again looking forward to the biggest night of the year for the business community. It’s a real opportunity to bring people together to celebrate success, in what has been an unprecedented and difficult time for us all.
“In the last year businesses have evolved, shown resilience and overcome all sorts of challenges as a result of the pandemic. We’ll be recognising those outstanding achievements at our awards ceremony on the 6th May.”
This year’s category list includes a new Entrepreneur of the Year Award, along with the Made On The Isle of Wight Award which recognises homegrown success, as well as a Launched in 2021 Award which spotlights a newly launched product or brand.
The event hasn’t been held since October 2019 because of the pandemic. Bringing the ceremony back in 2022 presented an opportunity to reposition the awards night as a precursor to the summer, rather than at the end of the year.
Island Echo was crowned Micro Business of the Year at the 2019 event.
Steven adds:
“I would recommend that every Island business enters for an IW Chamber Business Award. The process makes a business look at themselves from a distance – to analyse the things they do well, which can often highlight areas for potential growth too.
WightFibre’s CEO, John Irvine, adds:
“WightFibre is proud to be the overall sponsor of the 2022 IW Chamber Business Awards – this prestigious night does so much to celebrate the success of the IW Chamber and the Island’s business community. WightFibre are thrilled to be part of it”.
Entries will open from Wednesday 1st December and all entries must be submitted online by close of play on Tuesday 1st February 2022. Judging will then take place and a shortlist will be published at the end of March.
The categories in full
Start Up Business of the Year
Sponsored by PC Consultants
Entrepreneur of the Year
Sponsored by Liz Earle
Customer Service Award
Sponsored by Hovertravel
Business in the Community Award
Sponsored by WightFibre
Workplace Health and Well-being Award
Sponsored by BCM
Training and Development Award
Sponsored by Hillbans Pest Control
Environment and Sustainability Award
Sponsored by NFU Mutual
Technology and Innovation Award
Sponsored by Lifeline Alarms
Hospitality and Tourism Business of the Year
Sponsored by Visit Isle of Wight
Manufacturing and Export Business of the Year
Sponsored by GKN
Made on the Isle of Wight Award
Sponsored by Red Funnel
Launched in 2021 Award
Sponsored by IFPL
Growth Business of the Year
Sponsored by WRS Systems
Micro Business of the Year
Sponsored by Gurit
Small Business of the Year
Sponsored by Wightlink
Also presented on the night:
IW Chamber Member of the Year
IW Chamber President’s Award
IW Chamber Business of the Year
Where is the “Claim furlough money from the Government while forcing your staff to work” award. I could name one BIG Local Isle of Wight Company that did that…. anyone want to know who it is?
I Can’t Really Till you.