The History of the Worthing Business Awards
The First Awards - 2007: In November 2006 Worthing First decided to promote a Business Awards event, specifically for Worthing to showcase the town's business success. Inevitably, a committee was formed with what turned out to be an ever changing cast although stalwarts such as Jim Cunliffe from Face Media Group, Patrick Malloy from Rocket 88, Tina Tilley from Worthing Chamber, Dan Thompson from RAG, Jason Nicholls from Hot Dog Media and Chris Coopey from Carpenter Box LLP stayed the course and working closely with Louise Ballard from Giant Apple 'produced' the first event.
Worthing Borough Council and other Worthing business organisations helped where they could with The Worthing Chamber of Commerce supplying one of the three judges for each of the categories.
A great deal of hard work went into the organisation, branding and promotion of those first awards and the committee members (who had no idea what they had let themselves in for) worked toward delivering the town's first business awards in October of 2007. There were endless tasks to complete - nomination forms, sponsors, publicity, judging panels, catering, ticketing - you name it! The main sponsor for the first awards was Carpenter Box LLP - the Chartered Accountants based in Worthing. They deserve great credit for taking the risk of being involved with an unproven event as do the category sponsors in that first year.
The Pavilion Theatre was chosen as the venue, the judging organised and the shortlisted companies contacted. Giant Apple organised the award event and the Mayoress, Cllr Dr Heather Mercer launched the awards with with Ian Hart hosting the ceremony. It was a great success and the Awards started to establish themselves.
See some of the winners from the 2007 Awards:
The
second awards - 2008: For the second awards a core of the same people
from the first awards committed to building on the success of the first and so
it went. Everyone agreed that the second Business Awards was bigger and
better than the first. Carpenter Box kindly agreed to be the main
sponsor and Louise Ballard of Giant Apple organised the event. She also
dealt with much of the administration in the run up and all of this, again at no cost.
In 2008 almost three hundred
Worthing business people cheered and applauded the seventeen category winners
before raising the roof for Hughes Pumps Ltd, the winner of the Worthing
Business of the Year Award.
The evening was compered by Splash FM's Anna B and Pete Mcintosh and was
followed by an after-awards party until 1am! The awards were now firmly established on the
Business Calendar. See some of the winners from the 2007 Awards:
See some of the winners from the 2008 Awards:
The
Worthing Business Awards 2009.
Following discussions, about the the best way to take the event forward Worthing First agreed to hand over the Awards to EDRP to ensure their continual success during the difficult economic reality. The Awards were treated as a joint event for all Worthing business organisations to contribute to and to make the event even better. The 2009 ceremony in October 2009 was the finale of months of nominations and judging for the town's best businesses.
The 2009 competition was also the first in which the Worthing Herald was fully involved with both the sponsorship, promotion and running of the awards ceremony. Working together, the EDRP and The Herald delivered a first class event of which the Town and its businesses could justifiably be proud.
A little bit about EDRP
The Economic Development and Regeneration Partnership (EDRP) has been established to address strategic issues. This partnership includes representatives from Worthing Borough Council, Worthing Chamber of Commerce, Worthing First, Worthing Town Centre Initiative, Federation of Small Businesses, Northbrook College, Worthing College, Council of Voluntary Services, Learning Skills Council, Business Link and Worthing Arts Council. The partnership aims to help keep Worthing working!