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Sponsored by

The Bentall Centre

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This award celebrates organisations or individuals who have set new standards in delivering exceptional customer experiences. It commends those who consistently place customers at the heart of their strategies, creating seamless, personalised, and impactful interactions across every touchpoint.

What the judges are looking for

• Clear evidence of raising the bar for customer experience standards.
• Demonstration that putting the customer first is truly embedded in your culture – not just a slogan.
• Tangible examples of the difference your actions have made for customers.
• Supporting proof points such as data, testimonials, or case studies that show measurable results.

Sponsored by

DoubleTree by Hilton

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This award recognises independent businesses that have gone out of their way to provide an entrepreneurial commitment and spirit to local customer satisfaction.

Criteria

•     Demonstrate the ideas you have used to grow your business in a competitive marketplace.

•     Demonstrate your biggest challenge as an independent retailer, and how you have overcome it.

•     Demonstrate how you foster loyalty among your customers.

•     Demonstrate what differentiates you from your competitors.

•     Provide evidence of customer satisfaction (such as a case study or testimonials).

Sponsored by

Russell-Cooke Solicitors

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This award recognises businesses who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in delivering professional services with integrity and expertise, from legal and financial services to consulting and advisory roles. The award acclaims those who consistently exceed client expectations, set industry benchmarks, and contribute to the advancement of their field.

What the judges are looking for

• Clear evidence of the benefits and value you provide to your customers.
• Demonstration of why excellence in professional service is essential to your business.
• Evidence of how you measure the success of your professional services.
• Proof points: include data, testimonials, or case studies that demonstrate results.

Sponsored by

Kingston University

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This award celebrates a start-up (up to 18 months old) that has demonstrated remarkable growth, innovation, and potential within its industry. It recognises entrepreneurial vision, resilience, and the ability to disrupt markets with fresh ideas, products, or services in Kingston.

What the judges are looking for

• Highlight what makes your business unique and why it stands out in its field.
• Demonstrate effective leadership that drives both business growth and a positive culture.
• Provide evidence of the challenges you have faced and how you overcame them.
• Showcase forward-thinking strategies and a sustainable vision for the future.

Sponsored by

Rotary Clubs

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This award recognises exceptional charities/not-for-profit/voluntary groups that deliver community benefits within the borough.

Criteria

•     Demonstrate how your charity engages with the communities it serves.

•     Demonstrate a specific project/initiative that has had a positive impact on the community.

•     Demonstrate how you measure the success of your work in achieving its goals.

•     Demonstrate how you differentiate yourself in the market.

•     Provide evidence of satisfaction (such as a case study or testimonials).

Sponsored by

Grow London Local

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This award acknowledges freelancers, micro or small 1 – 6 people teams, operating on a smaller scale but demonstrating quality customer service, growth, and adaptability.

Criteria

•     Demonstrate a project where your work surpassed or improved a client’s brief.

•     Demonstrate the steps you have taken to improve your skills and expertise.

•     Demonstrate the methods / strategies you have used to build your brand and attract clients.

•     Demonstrate how you differentiate yourself in the market.

•     Provide evidence of customer satisfaction (such as a case study or testimonials).

Sponsored by

Chessington World of Adventures Resort

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This award recognises hospitality professionals / services that deliver customer or client satisfaction. This is open to hotels, restaurants, pubs, cafés, caterers and venues.

Criteria

•     Demonstrate how you ensure a high standard of customer service across your business.

•     Demonstrate the methods / strategies you have introduced to enhance the customer experience or improve operations.

•     Demonstrate the processes you have in place to gather feedback from customers and act on it.

•     Demonstrate what differentiates you from your competitors.

•     Provide evidence of customer satisfaction (such as a case study or testimonials).

Sponsored by

Pearson Hards Solicitors

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This award showcases a business brand’s impact, customer engagement and overall market success in building a strong, reputable presence.

Criteria

•     Demonstrate your brand’s mission, and how has it been reflected in your actions this year?

•     Demonstrate the strategies you have implemented to increase your brand visibility.

•     Demonstrate a campaign that conveyed your brand’s story with your customers.

•     Demonstrate the steps you take to continuously improve your brand or services.

•     Demonstrate why your brand is deserving of the Brand of the Year Award.

Sponsored by

Kingston Council

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This award celebrates organisations, teams, or individuals, that contribute to the vibrancy of the local arts and cultural sector. It recognises those who provide visitors with access to tourist attractions, visual arts, cultural heritage, theatre, film, music and festivals.

What the judges are looking for

•     Demonstrate context, vision, and insight into your role in the local cultural landscape.
•     Provide examples of outreach, marketing, or innovative approaches to audience involvement.
•     Provide examples of originality and forward-thinking approaches.
•     Show sustainable contributions that benefit the wider community.
•     Proof points: include data, testimonials or case studies that show results.

Sponsored by

Unilever UK & Ireland

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This award highlights companies or teams that provide consistently high levels of employee engagement, satisfaction and welfare at work.

Criteria

•     Demonstrate initiatives you have implemented to foster a positive and motivated workforce.

•     Demonstrate how you gather employee feedback and how this is acted upon.

•     Demonstrate the opportunities you provide for employee learning, development, and career growth.

•     Demonstrate how your business recognises and rewards employee achievements.

•     Demonstrate why your company is a great place to work.

Sponsored by

Bluprint

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This award highlights the talent and impact of the best local marketing, content, digital, SEO and web developer individuals or teams.

Criteria

•     Describe a project that has resulted in increased loyalty, satisfaction or engagement.

•     Describe the key challenges that you learnt from.

•     Demonstrate strategies you have employed to ensure your marketing and digital services remain innovative.

•     Demonstrate why your work is deserving of the Best in Marketing and Digital Services Award.

•     Provide evidence of customer satisfaction (such as a case study or testimonials).

Sponsored by

Kingston College

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This award acknowledges organisations or individuals helping to support young people to find their purpose and confidence throughout their life progression.

Criteria

•     Demonstrate the core mission of your work in relation to supporting young people.

•     Demonstrate the key programmes or initiatives you have implemented to support young people.

•     Demonstrate how these programmes address the specific needs of young people.

•     Demonstrate how you measure the success of this work.

•     Demonstrate an example of a young person who has benefited from your initiatives.

Sponsored by

Kingston First

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This award acknowledges locally-based, independent businesses that provide quality services and solutions to customers beyond the borough, building a reputation nationally or internationally.

Criteria

•     Demonstrate the strategies you have used to grow your business beyond the local marketplace.

•     Demonstrate how your reputation has evolved over time, and what were the key turning points.

•     Demonstrate the values and benefits that you provide to your customers.

•     Demonstrate how you measure the success of your work.

•     Provide evidence of customer satisfaction (such as a case study or testimonials).

Sponsored by

Barwell Business Park

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This award acknowledges organisations or individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment to sustainability. It celebrates initiatives that reduce environmental impact, promote responsible resource use, and drive long-term positive change for the planet and the local community.

What the judges are looking for

• What inspired your focus on sustainability.
• How you integrate sustainability into decision-making and daily operations.
• Clear evidence of the impact your work has had on the environment or community.
• Proof points: include data, testimonials, or case studies that demonstrate results.

Sponsored by

IQ in IT

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This award highlights the achievements of companies / individuals who have made positive business impacts utilising the latest technology, such as AI, automation, XR or other digital programmes.

Criteria

•     Demonstrate the features of the technology/programmes that you have utilised.

•     Demonstrate how you identified the market need for this technology/programmes.

•     Demonstrate key technical challenges that you have learnt from.

•     Demonstrate how your use of technology/programme benefited your clients/customers.

•     Provide evidence of customer satisfaction (such as a case study or testimonials).

Sponsored by

Forbes Design

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This award celebrates the passion and commitment of independent businesses, organisations, and individuals who demonstrate outstanding achievement in the health and fitness sector. This accolade is given to those who champion fitness and wellbeing for people at every stage of life.

What the judges are looking for

• Demonstration of context, focus, and insight in your role promoting health and fitness.
• Tangible evidence of achievements and distinction.
• Evidence of real-life benefits and impact on the community.
• Proof points: include data, testimonials, or case studies that demonstrate results.