2014 marks a very special year for the Test Valley Business Awards; as it enters the 10th year of celebrating small and local businesses in the Borough of Test Valley!
To mark this special occasion, a gala dinner – packed with local music, local entertainment, local produce and moving photography rejoicing in everything that has made Test Valley great over the last decade – will be held on 15th May 2014 at The Lights, Andover, in which the awards ceremony will be taking place.
To mark the most significant of milestones in TVBA history, there are a total of 6 award categories this year, giving businesses in Test Valley a chance of recognition for their outstanding achievements in the local business community.
The guest of honour for the prestigious Gala Award dinner will be Professor Khalid Aziz LVO DL. Khalid is a well-known broadcaster, author and businessman with a wealth of experience in media communications and organisational development.
He is Chairman of Enham Trust, the charity for 2014; Life President of Jack’s Place and Naomi House Children’s Hospice; and an International Ambassador for The Prince’s Trust.
Professor Aziz said of the upcoming celebrations: “I am delighted to help celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Test Valley Business Awards. Great businesses provide the fuel for a great society by providing goods and services and in the process creating jobs. “
“After the worst recession in living memory businesses are poised to make real headway after five years of really tough times. The Test Valley Business Awards will provide a springboard to recovery by celebrating the brightest and best in local business.”
The event is fortunate enough to be sponsored by many thriving and important Test Valley businesses who have the interests of the local community at the heart of their work.
Gold Sponsors
Andover College – sponsoring ‘Employer of the Year Award’
There is something different about studying at Andover College. Since the College re-launched in 2007 (merging with Sparsholt College), their focus has been on improving the student experience as well as achievements and results. Their success, as a result of this philosophy, has seen student numbers increase year on year, record A Level results and a hugely successful BTEC and vocational programme.
Basepoint – sponsoring ‘Small Business of the Year Award’
Basepoint (www.basepoint.co.uk) specialises in the development and operation of flexible business, innovation and enterprise centres. These centres provide comprehensive accommodation and support infrastructure packages to new and early-stage businesses within a supportive and secure environment.
The company operates both wholly and part-owned centres, as well as managing facilities on behalf of public sector bodies. Group operations currently include 30 centres across southern England, the Midlands and Wales with additional opportunities under assessment across the UK.
Basepoint offers a variety of benefits to its licensees including an easy-in easy-out licence agreement, quality managed services, meeting rooms, free parking, training and development services and a business portal. Each centre also hosts regular free networking events (“The Networking Hub”) for licensees and the wider business community, to encourage and nurture business growth in the local area.
Churchill Retirement Living – sponsoring ‘Business in the Community Award’
Churchill Retirement Living specialises in the development of attractive, purpose-built one & two bedroom retirement apartments across the UK. The retirement developments are designed to eliminate the hassle and fears that can be experienced by older people living alone and replaced with a new lifestyle that provides security, peace of mind and independence.
Typically, a retirement development is a collection of individual apartments in a secure environment with a number of communal facilities. Every detail is carefully considered, from the location of the development to the design, size and layout of the accommodation.
Kier – sponsoring ‘New Business of the Year Award’
Kier Group Plc is a leading construction, services and property group specialising in building and civil engineering, support services, public and private house building, property development and structured property financing.
The Group employs over 17,000 people worldwide and has a projected annual revenue of £3bn for the year ending 30 June 2014.
Test Valley Borough Council and Kier entered into a partnership in 2011 to develop vacant plots on the Walworth Business Park. The first development completed in February 2014 with Dormy House as tenant.
Test Valley Borough Council – sponsoring ‘Tourism Business of the Year Award’
Tourism is important to Test Valley’s economy: it accounts for 5,500 jobs, more than 1 on 10, and was worth £178m. at the last count, back in 2010. Economic Portfolio holder, Councillor Peter Giddings comments “Looking after visitors is also important to the character of the place, whether it’s magnificent houses like Mottisfont, its pubs hotels and B&Bs or its wonderful open spaces like Danebury Hillfort.”
“By sponsoring the Tourism Business Award we want to recognize this important service industry which is well-placed to continue to develop as we share Test Valley’s special appeal to visitors from far and wide.”
The University of Southampton Science Park Ltd – sponsoring ‘Innovation and Technology Award’
The University of Southampton Science Park is host to a vibrant and high-tech entrepreneurial business community. It recognises the importance of encouraging entrepreneurs and assisting the growth of small businesses in the region.
Accordingly it provides valuable business support to early-stage companies at the Park, including initiatives such as the Catalyst Centre and SETsquared, to facilitate the growth of high quality technology businesses from formation to maturity.
Judging Underway
Currently, the event sponsors are undergoing the difficult task of choosing their short lists for the awards ceremony which will be announced in the first week of April 2014.