TV presenter Michael Underwood hosted the dazzling finale of the Southwark Business Excellence Awards, sponsored by London South Bank University.
The campaign’s Gala Dinner and Charity Ball, demonstrated the incredible mix and talent of businesses across the London Borough of Southwark. More than 400 attended the event at the luxury Hilton Bankside on June 13, where they applauded the winners, and enjoyed a three-course meal, entertainment, a charity raffle and dancing until the early hours.
Origin Coffee Roasters were crowned the best of the best at the event. The coffee firm, nestled beneath Scoresby Street’s railway arches, was selected by judges as Business of the Year from the cluster of 15 category winners. Origin owners Sophie Egan and Umair Arshad, pictured below, collected the top Award as the ceremony closed, having scooped the Best Food and Beverage prize earlier in the evening.
The duo’s coffee shop, serving breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch, opened in Southwark last October. Judges were impressed by their highly professional attitude, civic engagement, innovation, strong commitment to sustainability, fantastic customer service, focus on staff training and development, and support for the living wage.
Sophie said: “This is amazing. We’re so proud to be part of the Southwark community and this is recognition of that. We believe we’ve been awarded for the way we engage with people, our customers, our staff – our ethos. Our Cornwall roots keep us humble, we look after our people.”
London South Bank University is the Awards headline sponsor. Angela Dalrymple, Director of Education and Student Experience in the School of Business, highlighted the University’s successes to Gala Dinner attendees. These included being ranked third in the whole of the UK for graduate careers, winning Entrepreneurial University of the Year and being 15th in the world for enterprise. There are 72 graduate business start-ups working alongside the university and programmes worth £9m involve 700 SMEs. The University’s Passmore Centre, a one-stop shop connecting employers and apprentices, is a unique collaboration between the university, businesses and the local authority.
“We’re really committed to supporting businesses in Southwark,” Angela said. “We’ve been here since 1892, we’re Southwark’s own university and we’re very proud of that.”
Alison May, London South Bank University Apprenticeships Manager, added: “This has been a fantastic night that’s really showcased the diversity, innovation and strength of businesses in Southwark. Businesses are about relationships – with their community, their customers, their staff. Tonight celebrates that and it’s been great fun too.”
Councillor Stephanie Cryan, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Business and Innovation with Awards Partner Southwark Council, addressed Gala Dinner attendees.
She said: “Southwark businesses are at the heart of our borough, you all play a vital role in strengthening our economy. Southwark is open for business and will continue to be through Brexit and beyond. We have an ambition to be a full employment borough where barriers to work are swept away.”
She highlighted how borough leaders were determined to double the number of living wage employers, to make the difference between employees “surviving and thriving”, and that for women it was “time to smash the glass ceiling to smithereens”
Businesses were urged to sign up to the ‘Open the Door’ initiative, launching in October as part of the Awards campaign.
As well as the incredible array of companies entering and being shortlisted, the Awards are backed by a prestigious group of businesses. They include British Land, who sponsored the Cultural Commitment Award; Delancey, Best Charity or Social Enterprise; Galliard Homes / Aviva Investors, Women in Business; Great Portland Estates, Apprentice Employer of the Year; Landsec, Best Business for Tech & Innovation; Lendlease, Independent Retailer of the Year; UAL: London College of Communication, Contribution to the Community Award; Wates Construction, Best Business for Customer Service.
The Shangri-La hosted our launch event with Willmott Dixon sponsored this and the VIP Drinks Reception at the Gala Dinner. Our supporters also include Southwark Council, Southwark Chamber of Commerce, Fourpure Brewing, Insight 6 mystery shopping, Sea Containers London and Southwark News.
Read the list of awards winners in full at: www.southwarkawards.co.uk/the-2019-winners/
*Picture shows Sophie Egan and Umair Arshad of Origin Coffee Roasters.
