Seven London businesses were named winners at the British Business Awards last night (Thursday 30th April) alongside some of the UK’s most recognisable and leading companies at the event, which featured special guest George Clooney and helped to raise almost £2 million for homelessness charity Social Bite.
Octopus Energy was named Technology Company of the Year, while its CEO, Greg Jackson CBE, was awarded as Business Leader of the Year. The award for Financial Services Company of the Year was given to Vanguard Asset Management, Zilch was awarded in the Business Innovation of the Year category and Dishoom was crowned as Socially Responsible Business of the Year. Dr. Ben Maruthappu MBE, of Cera was named as Entrepreneur of the Year and Zahra Bahrololoumi CBE, CEO at Salesforce walked away with the top award in the Inspiring Women in Business category.
Major multi-nationals including AstraZeneca and Holland & Barrett were among the winners at the ceremony, which boasted a glittering line-up of celebrity guests including comperes Rob Brydon and Elaine C Smith, Keynote Speaker Sir Bob Geldof and international superstar George Clooney, who did a fireside chat with Rob Brydon.
Other winners included Warburtons, Dynisma and Sodexo. The winning companies were named as judge’s top picks from the inaugural British Business Leaders List, a new designation recognising the organisations setting the benchmark for modern enterprise and shaping the UK’s economic future.
All 150 companies shortlisted this year were independently evaluated across five core pillars: business performance, innovation, workforce and culture, customer impact, and contribution to society and the wider economy. The highest performing businesses across all categories were then selected to be awarded by 18 key figures from British industry, chaired by the former CEO of Unilever, Alan Jope CBE, and Emma Crystal, CEO of Coutts Bank.
Chosen charity partner, Social Bite, will benefit from the almost £2 million raised at the event and a fundraising dinner which took place on Wednesday (29th April) at Gleneagles Hotel, allowing it to continue delivering a range of services to people who are experiencing homelessness; the charity’s services range from free food services, employment programmes, and social enterprise coffee shops which generate money to support the amazing work Social Bite does across the UK. Additionally, the generous donations from eventgoers will also support the Social Bite Villages which offer quality, bespoke built housing with around-the-clock support for people experiencing homelessness.
Josh Littlejohn, founding partner of the British Business Awards said: “The huge turnout to the awards tonight is testament to the strength in the business community, and the extremely high standard of the winners speaks to the strength and bright future of our economy.
“A huge thank you to all the winners, those who came to celebrate with us, everyone who donated, and, of course, to our wonderful keynote speakers and hosts throughout the evening.”
Alan Jope CBE, Chair of the judging panel, said: “Congratulations to all the winners! It was a tough shortlist – the calibre was extremely high, so the winners were up against some impressive competition. The money generously donated by guests at the awards will go a long way to supporting people in our communities who need it thanks to Social Bite.”
Rick Haythornthwaite, NatWest Group Chair, said: “The British Business Awards were a fantastic celebration of the ambition, creativity and excellence that is at the heart of so many great British businesses. It was fantastic to pay heed to the creativity, innovation and enterprising spirit of so many people all while raising vital funds for Social Bite which does such great work throughout the UK.”
Full list of winners:
Investor in Britain – Scottish Power – Glasgow
Growth Strategy of the Year – Morrison Community Care – Glasgow
Professional Services Company of the Year – MDDUS – Glasgow
International Business of the Year – Mackie’s of Scotland – Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire
Legal Firm of the Year – Shepherd & Wedderburn – Edinburgh
Large Business of the Year – Miller Homes – Edinburgh
SME of the Year – Champions Speakers – Leicester
Family Business of the Year – Warburtons – Bolton
Green Business of the Year – AstraZeneca – Cambridge
Customer Satisfaction Award – Holland & Barrett – Nuneaton
Employer of the Year – Sodexo – Manchester
Leadership Team of the Year – Dynisma – Barrow Gurney, Somerset
CEO of the Year – Ken McMeikan, Moto Hospitality – Toddington (Bedfordshire)
Technology Company of the Year – Octopus Energy – London
Business Leader of the Year – Greg Jackson CBE, Octopus Energy – London
Entrepreneur of the Year – Dr. Ben Maruthappu MBE, Cera – London
Inspiring Women in Business – Zahra Bahrololoumi CBE – Salesforce – London
Business Innovation of the Year – Zilch – London
Financial Services Company of the Year – Vanguard Asset Management – London
Socially Responsible Business of the Year – Dishoom – London
