Winners

Sponsored by

Rotary Clubs

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This award category will celebrate registered charities and social enterprises that have demonstrated pioneering ideas and the entrepreneurial drive to make social changes that will have a positive impact on society.

Criteria

•     Provide clear evidence of your objectives, target audience and ethical values.

•     Demonstrate your ability to overcome barriers to success / obstacles to growth.

•     Demonstrate clear evidence of community benefit and impact made in the borough.

•     Demonstrate evidence of satisfaction (such as case studies or testimonials).

What the judges are looking for

Judges are looking for charities/social enterprises making a significant positive difference to the borough through their activities, with an ability to generate and attract funding to meet defined societal goals.

Sponsored by

LeBoo Media

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This award category will celebrate the immense contribution freelancers/sole traders (one-person limited business) make to companies and projects everywhere. It will recognise quality, creativity and impact of work, but also take into account skill and integrity.

Criteria

•     Outline a project where you used a creative approach to meet a client’s brief.

•     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 freelancers/sole traders (one-person limited business) who can demonstrate an ongoing commitment to delivering excellent customer service while showing creative and fresh initiatives.

Sponsored by

IQ in IT

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This award category will showcase individual practitioners or independent businesses that demonstrate their commitment to the wellbeing of people through the application of a range of mental health, personal and physical programmes.

Criteria

•     Demonstrate evidence of the impact your programme/initiative has had on the performance of any business or individuals.

•     Demonstrate evidence 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 individual practitioners, or an independent practice, that are committed to positive culture and health and wellbeing methods for individuals or workplaces.

Sponsored by

DoubleTree by Hilton

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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.

Sponsored by

Bluprint

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This award category will showcase the creative ways individuals, agencies or organisations, are utilising the digital landscape (such as websites, social media, AI or apps) to provide customers tangible communication impacts on their businesses.

Criteria

•     Demonstrate how innovation and creativity provided results that achieved / surpassed the client brief.

•     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 will be looking for a clear description of the commercial success and impact of your business and a demonstration of excellent digital knowledge.

Sponsored by

Pearson Hands

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This award category will recognise borough-based residential and commercial businesses, large or small, that have made an impact in the local property sector, with deals that must have completed since July 2022. Have you done something particularly different or innovative? Have you been an early mover in an area or sector in which no one else saw the potential?

Criteria

•     Clearly show evidence commercial success, growth, achievement and ethical values.

•     Demonstrate excellent knowledge of your industry and great customer service.

•     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 residential and commercial businesses that are making a significant positive difference to the borough through their activities.

Sponsored by

Forbes Design

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This award category will champion businesses in the sport and fitness sector for their dedication and commitment to helping people (of all ages) to improve their fitness and achieve their goals. It is for any business in the sport and fitness sector – including but not limited to gyms, yoga, Pilates or meditation studios, football clubs, online coaching, wellness retreats etc.

Criteria

•     Demonstrate excellent knowledge of your industry and great customer service.

•     Demonstrate evidence of commercial/individual success, growth and achievement.

•     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 at how you have provided inclusive and fresh programmes and an ongoing commitment to sport and fitness, either as an individual or as a team.

Sponsored by

Russell-Cooke Solicitors

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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.

Sponsored by

Kingston University

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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.

Sponsored by

Kingston College

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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.

Sponsored by

Holland Hahn & Wills

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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.

Sponsored by

Canadian and Portland

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This award category will showcase and celebrate performance and excellence in Kingston hospitality. It is open to any business in the hospitality sector – including but not limited to pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, outside caterers, cafés and event venues.

Criteria

•     Demonstrate that excellent customer service has been clearly incorporated into your core business strategy.

•     Demonstrate commitment to staff training.

•     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 the service and delivery of food and beverages, and an adaptation to consumer/trading trends.

Sponsored by

Kingston First

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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.

Sponsored by

Unilever UK & Ireland

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This award category will celebrate businesses or individuals who recognise environmental and
sustainability initiatives and reward those who place sustainability at the very heart of their business.

Criteria

•     Demonstrate that sustainability has been clearly incorporated into your core business strategy.

•     Demonstrate an innovative approach to delivering creative results that achieve / surpass the client brief.

•     Demonstrate the tangible benefits for the local community/businesses.

•     Demonstrate evidence of satisfaction (such as case studies or testimonials).

What the judges are looking for

Judges are looking for organisations that show exceptional commitment to delivering the very best in sustainable initiatives.

Sponsored by

Kingston Council

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This award category will champion organisations/individuals who are working to remove barriers to employment and work progression, adapting their employment practices to provide positive impacts. This can include support for neurodiverse, under represented or disadvantaged minority groups, women returning to work, carers, care leavers, ex offenders or careers and advice practitioners in schools.

Criteria

•     Provide clear evidence of your objectives, target audience and ethical values.

•     Demonstrate how your activities/practices have contributed to overcoming barriers.

•     Demonstrate evidence of types of support/engagement you have put in place (such as additional support, training, mentoring, work experience opportunities, supporting local schools careers advice offer or adjusting recruitment processes).

•     Provide evidence of delivery and positive outcomes from your responsible and inclusive activities (such as case studies or testimonials).

What the judges are looking for

Judges are looking for organisations/individuals who have taken consistent actions and high quality care to remove barriers to employment and provide work progression.