The KBBA are an ideal opportunity to highlight diverse organisations, industries and sectors who work hard away from the usual spotlight. We want categories which are in tune with the ambitions of Kingston Borough partners and businesses.
Outstanding Business Social Impact Award
The nominees for this award category will show how they have been committed to delivering an outstanding business contributions to the community and will be able to demonstrate the local impact made. This community investment can cover commitment of time, effort and/or money to deliver positive outcomes.
Criteria
• Demonstrate how the objectives, plans and/or strategies were effectively implemented.
• Demonstrate the benefits for the local community/positive impact of your work.
• Demonstrate tangible results and evaluation.
• Demonstrate evidence of satisfaction (such as case studies or testimonials).
What the judges are looking for
Judges are looking for business organisations who show exceptional commitment to delivering the very best in their contributions to the community.
Creative Effectiveness
This award recognises and rewards the Borough’s most fresh and progressive creative talents. The work can cross a diverse range of formats, genres and industries, creating essential works of art in their respective fields. Sponsored by Wolters Kluwer.
Judging overview
Judges are looking for creative talent to showcase innovative and creative approaches that achieved / surpassed the creative brief.
Criteria
- Clearly identify the objectives of the brief and the target audience
- Demonstrate evidence of how creativity was employed and implemented
- Demonstrate how the campaign or project has made a real impact or gained significant traction
- Demonstrate evidence of customer satisfaction (such as case studies, testimonials, customer retention / loyalty).
You may provide further information that supports your submission.
Developing Young People’s Skills Award
This award category will showcase organisations that have shown they have a firm commitment to developing the skill sets of young people (under 24 years), to dramatically improve their educational prospects and enhance their employability and life progression.
Criteria
• Demonstrate your commitment through a clear plan, detailing objectives, strategy and delivery.
• Demonstrate how the project has made a real impact for the young person/ people involved.
• Provide details of the challenges faced and how they were overcome.
• Demonstrate inspirational qualities that are appreciated by customers, staff or employers.
What the judges are looking for
Judges are looking for organisations that show exceptional commitment to delivering the very best in the development of skills for young people.
Digital, Marketing and Social Media
This category is for businesses who have been innovative and agile in digital, marketing and social media. It is open to individuals, agencies or organisations, of any size, who can prove their campaigns have had a measurable effect.
Judging overview
Judges will be looking for a clear description of an outstanding campaign/project that has made a significant impact, shown creativity and made a lasting impact.
Criteria
- Clearly identify the need or opportunity, defining the brief objectives, an indication of budget and target audience
- Clearly show what differentiates you from your competitors
- Demonstrate how innovation and creativity provided results that achieved / surpassed the client brief
- Demonstrate how the campaign was evaluated and measured
- Demonstrate evidence of customer satisfaction (such as case studies, testimonials, customer retention / loyalty).
You may provide further information that supports your submission.
Excellence in Customer Experience Award
The nominees within this award category will demonstrate how the customer sits at the heart of their business and the strategies adopted to provide customers with an excellent and sustainable experience.
Criteria
• Demonstrate that an excellent customer service experience has been clearly incorporated into your core business strategy.
• Demonstrate tangible results and evaluation.
• Clearly show what differentiates you from your competitors.
• Demonstrate evidence of satisfaction (such as case studies or testimonials).
What the judges are looking for
Judges are looking for businesses that show exceptional and sustained commitment to customer experience.
Excellence in Food and Beverage Award
Excellence in Food and Beverage Award will reward food, hospitality and beverage providers who are passionate about delivering quality food and drink, and great service. This category includes hotels, restaurants, pubs, cafes and outside caterers.
Judging overview
Judges are looking for businesses who show a commitment to the service and delivery of food and beverages, and an adaptation to consumer / trading trends.
Criteria
- Demonstrate that customer service has been clearly incorporated into your core business strategy
- Clearly show what differentiates you from your competitors
- Demonstrate commitment to staff training / personal skills development
- Demonstrate your commitment to local quality products and supply chains
- Demonstrate evidence of customer satisfaction (such as case studies, testimonials, customer retention / loyalty).
Health & Wellbeing
This category recognises businesses that have prioritised and raised awareness about mental health and wellbeing, food and fitness, providing new initiatives for employees or the business community. Sponsored by Unilever.
Judging overview
Judges are looking for businesses to show a commitment to health and wellbeing, clear objectives and effective implementation and tangible results.
Criteria
- Provide the objectives of your health and wellbeing strategy and the audience it is aimed for
- Clearly show what differentiates you from your competitors
- Demonstrate new initiatives and implementation of training
- Provide details of the challenges faced and how they were overcome
- Demonstrate a clear evaluation as to how the project made a real impact for the person / business.
You may provide further information that supports your submission.
Best Independent Local Retailer Award
This award category will celebrate not only the commitment and creativity of entrepreneurial independent retailers but also the role they play in their local communities.
Criteria
• Demonstrate how your business has engaged with and supported their local community.
• Provide details of the challenges faced and how they were overcome.
• Clearly show what differentiates you from your competitors.
• Demonstrate evidence of satisfaction (such as case studies or testimonials).
What the judges are looking for
Judges are looking for businesses that show a commitment to their local community economy, providing clear evidence of how their work has made a difference.
Outstanding Sole Trader/Freelancer
We understand sole traders/freelancers are an important and hard-working sector within the economy. This category is designed to celebrate the best and brightest sole traders/freelancers in the Borough.
Judging overview
Judges are looking for sole traders/freelancers who can demonstrate an ongoing commitment to delivering excellent customer service while showing creative and fresh initiatives.
Criteria
- Outline a project where you used a creative approach to meet a clients brief
- Provide details of the challenges faced and how they were overcome
- Clearly show what differentiates you from your competitors
- Demonstrate evidence of customer satisfaction (such as case studies, testimonials, customer retention / loyalty).
You may provide further information that supports your submission.
Excellence in Professional Services Award
This award category will highlight the very best work across professional services, such as legal, consulting, advertising, finance, HR and banking. The category is designed to showcase processes or products that have brought benefit to the business and its clients.
Criteria
• Demonstrate that best practice has been clearly incorporated into your core business strategy.
• Demonstrate tangible results and evaluation.
• Clearly show what differentiates you from your competitors.
• Demonstrate evidence of satisfaction (such as case studies or testimonials).
What the judges are looking for
Judges are looking for individuals/businesses that demonstrate exceptional conduct beyond the standard professional services they provide. This award is open to businesses, of any size, that provide a professional service.
Resilience and Adaptation
This special category recognises businesses, teams and leaders who have shown resilience, collaboration and adaptation in their business, to persevere through the crisis.
Sponsored by Kingston Council.
Judging overview
Judges will be looking for clear evidence of how a business has shown resilience and adapted to change, including their ability and resourcefulness to respond to challenging situations.
Criteria
- Provide details of your specific challenges faced and how they were overcome
- Demonstrate how the service adapted to consumer / trading changing trends
- Demonstrate pro-active leadership, collaborations and management
- Demonstrate how the lessons learnt have changed your business plans for future sustainability.
You may provide further information that supports your submission.
Best Start-Up of the Year Award
This award category will showcase start up businesses, operating since January 2022, in any business sector. It is aimed at independent businesses that have identified a market opportunity while building a solid foundation upon which their business can thrive.
Criteria
• Demonstrate your ability to overcome barriers to success/obstacles to growth.
• Outline your goals for your future sustainability and growth for the next two years.
• Clearly show what differentiates you from your competitors.
• Demonstrate evidence of satisfaction (such as case studies or testimonials).
What the judges are looking for
Judges are looking for individuals/businesses that have exceeded their targets for growth, can demonstrate effective leadership and excellence in developing their business, and are continually innovating to succeed.
Sustainable Business
The Sustainable Business category is designed to recognise environmental and sustainability initiatives and reward those who place sustainability at the very heart of their business. Sponsored by Willmott Dixon.
Judging overview
Judges are looking for organisations who show exceptional commitment to delivering the very best in sustainable initiatives.
Criteria
- Demonstrate that sustainability has been clearly incorporated into your core business strategy
- Demonstrate innovative approach to delivering creative results that achieve / surpasses the client brief
- Demonstrate the tangible benefits for the local community / businesses
- Demonstrate how a green approach to business is helping achieve your key performance indicators (KPI’s).
You may provide further information that supports your submission.
Innovative Use of Technology
The winners of this category will have shown how technology and innovation have led to an improvement or efficiency in their business, their clients or broader community.
Judging overview
Judges will be looking for a clear description of an outstanding innovation or tech product / use, with indication of budget.
Criteria
- Clearly identify the need or opportunity, defining the brief objectives, an indication of budget and target audience
- Provide details about the innovation, technology or product including its implementation and delivery
- Demonstrate how the success of the innovation was evaluated and measured
- Demonstrate the impact of the innovation, challenges that were faced and what has been learnt from this.