Business Excellence 2016

BUSINESS excellence YELLOW SUGAR 2 0 1 6

awards

The latest breakthrough in agro Page 4 We spoke to D.M. Dong Thry Dong, Chairman/CEO Justin Sugar Group, Business Excellence Awards 2016, Best Agro Industrial Company – UK, to gain a tantalising insight into how Yellow Sugar will bring change into the industry. Also proving an insight into how this was discovered by his late father, Justin Thry Dong Dong’

Arzum Group Page 8

The ones to watch in Construction and design

SD Bells LTD Page 10

Offering a unique blend of tradition and innovation

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Welcome to the 2016 Business Excellence Awards

The prestigious Business Excellence Awards were first established to highlight and celebrate the outstanding performance and results achieved by the leading lights across the corporate world, despite working within increasingly competitive markets.

These awards were designed to identify and honour the most respected companies and their C-level executives throughout a variety of industries, while recognising and rewarding outstanding sucess in all its forms across international business communities.

Whilst we understand that there are many aspects to a business’ success, corporate leaders are at the forefront of all industry development and bear a vast responsibility, utilising their ingenuity, creativity and industry experience to steer their firm through trying economic times.

Overcoming adversity is key to good business leadership, and these awards reward those who have worked tirelessly to help both their business and the wider industry to survive despite operating in an increasingly tough corporate climate.

Contents

4. Justin Sugar Ltd has won Best Agro Industrial Company - UK 8. Arzum Group has won Best Design & Build Company 2016 – Slough 10. SD Bell & Co. Ltd has won Best Independent Tea Blender & Coffee Roasting Company - UK 12. AFIA’s Samosa Shop has won Best for Handmade Indian Food - West Midlands 13. Annexio Ltd. has won Best Online Lottery Betting Operator 2016 14. Artificial Solutions UK Ltd. has won Best Natural Language Interaction Company 2016 15. BEA Architects, Inc. has won Excellence Award for Architecture & Design - California 16. Beautiful Skin Expertsz has won Best Beauty Therapist & Make Up Artist - North West London 17. Blue Spark Technologies has won Best Wearable Technology Development Company & Most Innovative Temperature Monitor: Temp Traq 18. Brazil Travel News has won Best Brazilian Travel Publisher 19. Cocoonfxmedia Ltd has won Best Local Web Design Company - Staffordshire 20. Comview Corporation has won Best Communications Lifecycle Management Solution - USA 21. Constellation Healthcare Technologies Inc has won Best Healthcare CEO 2016 22. DIOGO, NETO, MARQUES E ASSOCIADOS-SOCIEDADE DE ADVOGADOS, RL (DNM) has won Best Full Service Law Firm - Portugal 23. EYE TECH CARE has won Best MedTech CEO 2016 24. Finicky Shirts has won Best Bespoke Luxury Tailor - London & Best Tailor Made Shirt Company – UK 25. GIANT Associates Limited has won Best Digital Marketing & Brand Development Company – Belfast 26. Gnewt Cargo Ltd has won Most Sustainable Logistics Company - Greater London 27. Graham Yates Osteopath has won Best Osteopathy Clinic - Kent 28. HeadChannel Ltd has won Best Software Development Company 2016 - UK 29. Hera Conseils has won Best Legal Consultancy Firm in Mali 30. High Grange Developments Limited has won Best Home Building Company 2016 - Cumbria 31. Highly Efficient Heating Ltd has won Best Central Heating Consultancy - Tyne and Wear 32. Innovative Labelling Solutions has won Best Digital Label & Packaging Company - USA 33. Hothe Fine Kitchens & Furniture has won Best for Bespoke Hardwood Kitchens & Fine Furniture - Denbighshire 34. Merrill Corporation has won Business Solution Provider of the Year 2016 35. Motion Placements Ltd has won Best for Educational Working Projects 2016 36. Pall Mall Art Advisors has won Best Tangible Asset Management Advisors - USA 37. Partners With You Ltd has won Best Communication Training Company - UK 38. Perfect Nails Studio & Academy has won Best National Nail Studio - UK

39. SCIENTEX has won Most Efficient Healthcare Start-Up Business Boutique - Europe 40. Sec UK Industrial Battery Ltd has won Best Industrial Battery & Charging Company - East Midlands 41. Sports Perfecta Inc has won Best Global Digital Sports Media Company 42. The Carriage Rooms at Montalto has won Best for Weddings & Events - Northern Ireland 43. Treat Your Skin Limited has won Best SME Business 2016 - UK 44. Valkyrie Craft has won Best Handmande Canoe Company - UK 45. Volume Ltd has won Best Digital Content Provider 2016 - UK 46. Whitescape Ventures Limited has won Most Intelligent Construction Company - UK 47. Zero Design Ltd. has won Best Graphic Design Agency 2016 - Scotland 48. Abbey Windows has won Best Double Glazing Installation Company - Thames Valley & Award for Innovation in Customer Service 48. Adroit Accountax Ltd has won Best SME Accountant & Tax Advisor - London 49. Anglian Intumescent Ltd has won Best Fireproofing Product Distributors - UK 49. Augentius has won Best Independant Private Equity & Real Estate Administrators 50. Bambridge Tax Services has won US Tax Consultants of the Year 50. Bankers Advisory, a CliftonLarsonAllen LLP Division has won Best for Residential Mortgage Compliance Assessments - Massachusetts 51. Barnard Training has won Training Course Provider of the Year - UK 51. BIOSIS SYSTEMS LLC has won Best Biometric Security Products Provider - UAE 52. Blackline Safety has won Best Work Safety Solutions Company - Canada 52. C3 Creative Code and Content GmbH has won Best European Publishing Transaction: Seven/C3 53. Caithness Business Self Catering - The Lorne Apartments has won Best Business Self-Catering Apartments - Caithness 53. CappcoPartners has won Best Business Transformation Consultancy Firm - UK 54. Cautela Security UK Ltd has won Best Security & Investigations Company - UK 54. CloudOrigin Limited has won Recognised Leader in Enterprise Cloud Computing 55. Clyde Windows & Construction Ltd has won Best Double Glazing & Conservatory Build Company - Scotland 55. Comply Serve Limited has won Global Leader in Assurance & Compliance Solutions 56. Cox & Kings Travel Ltd has won Best Luxury Holiday & Tour Operator 2016 56. deVere Group has won Best Global Independent Financial Advisory Organisation 2016 57. Diamond Coast Hotel has won Best Wedding Venue - North West Ireland 57. Diamond Logistics Ltd has won Best Same Day Courier & Logistics Company - UK 58. EHA Group has won Best Specialist Joinery & Construction Company - UK 58. Empower Personal Training Limited has won Personal Trainer of the Year 2016 - Cheshire 59. Epaminondou & Co Audit Services Limited has won Best International Tax Boutique - Cyprus 59. Fifteen has won Most Innovative Website Design Agency - UK

60. Frank Taylor & Associates has won Best Independant Dental Valuer & Sales Agent - UK 60. GlobalCare Clinical Trials, Ltd has won Best Global Clinicians Network 61. Golden Groove Entertainment has won Best Music Entertainment Agency 2016 - Hampshire 61. Groove Travelling Discotheques Ltd has won Best Mobile Disco - North Lincolnshire 62. Havering Carriage Co Ltd. has won Best Private Hire Car Company - UK 62. ICICI Venture Funds Management Ltd has won Best Private Equity Company 2016 - India & Most Innovative in Exit Strategy Execution 63. iKoustic Soundproofing has won Best Soundproofing & Acoustic Insulation Supplier - UK 63. JH Hair and Beauty has won Best Hair & Beauty Salon 2016 – Banbury 64. Jordan & Wagner Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH has won Best Cross-Border Law Firm - Germany 64. Kerb Appealz has won Best On-Line Estate Agent - South West 65. KT&T Limited has won Best Hotel Cleaning Contractors - London 65. Manchester Windows Cleaners has won Window Cleaners of the Year - Greater Manchester 66. Martifer Solar has won Best Global Solar Energy Solutions Firm 66. Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre has won Best Ape & Monkey Sanctury - UK 67. Monterey County Housing Authority Development Corporation has won Best Affordable Housing Developer - California 67. Project (EU) Ltd has won Oracle Solutions Provider of the Year - UK 68. Real Boiler Servicing & Maintenance has won AI Local Excellence Award: Best for Boiler Services - London 68. R I M Tile & Mosaic Boutique has won Best Tile & Mosaic Boutique 2016 - UK 69. Schlee IP International, P.C. has won Best International IP Law Firm - California 69. SkyBus has won Best Airport Transfer Company - Australia 70. Struan’s Landscaping & Groundworks Services has won Best Landscape Contractors - Scottish Highlands 70. The Cotsworld Distilling Company Ltd has won Best Small Batch Distiller - UK 71. The Salon Craig Bolam has won Best Hair Salon - Northumberland 71. The Tranquil Rooms has won Best Luxurious Skin Specialist Company - Northern Ireland 72. Think Tenders Ltd has won Best SME Bid Writing Company - UK 72. UATP has won Corporate Travel Payment Solutions Provider of the Year 2016 73. Uesugi Farms, Inc has won Best Fresh Produce Supplier - California 73. Vienna Capital Partners has won Best Independent Corporate Finance Advisory Firm - Austria 74. VINGROUP has won Best Real Estate Investment Company - Vietnam 74. Westoe Travel has won Best Independent UK Travel Agent 75. Wittur Holding GmbH has won Best Global Elevator Components Manufacturer & Best Manufacturing Growth Focused Acquisition 2016 75. Zen Production Equipment Ltd. has won Best Solder Production Equipment - UK

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Best Agro Industrial Company - UK

JUSTIN SUGAR Revolutionising the sugar industry Justin Sugar Ltd is a London based Agro Industrial Company dedicated to building Greenfield sugar projects, with an emphasis on local improvement and the development of infrastructure in rural areas. We spoke to CEO Justin Sugar to gain a tantalising insight into his dynamic and exciting company and the unique products it provides.

Justin Sugar Ltd has a vast history, which stems back to the days when my late father, Justin Thry Dong Dong started trading sugar to Africa from Cuba in 1972.

The business was formerly established in 2008, when I started working on formulation of his unique product, yellow sugar following a vast amount of research and scientific experimentation.

As a great visionary, he predicted the decline of refined sugar due to health issues such as diabetes and obesity, and as such we are making progress in our aim to perfect yellow sugar, and make it the go-to sugar supplement for those looking for a healthier alternative.

Currently our work revolves around projecting to produce and launch natural yellow sugar and licencing formula to sugarcane producers to replace 10% of the world consumption of brown sugar with our product in order to reduce the risk of diabetics, cancers and obesity by keeping the same flavour/taste of regular brown and refined white cane sugar with sensibly fewer calories.

Sugar is addictive, and is the key ingredient in many processed foods on the market today, therefore sugar manufacturers must invest into reducing all or part of risks of diseases and find serious natural alternatives in order to keep the population of this world safe from their sugar habit. This has been always the main goal of Justin

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Sugar Group Ltd, and for many years we have strived to bring the Yellow sugar to the market in the near future for the first time and offer a tasty, natural and healthier alternative to sugar.

Justin Yellow Sugar, our signature product, is a natural brown sugar processed with liquid of Koocodong diluted into cane molasses. This simple inclusion helps to reduce the unhealthy effects of the sugar after consumption, whilst not affecting the taste of the product. We are obtaining positive results from our current research and we plan to go further into clinical tests of the final product in the near future.

As a firm we are assisted by a number of world class technical partners, engineers, agronomists and financial experts who work with us to achieve our goals and bring our product onto the market.

We appreciate the substantial support from Biocity/Medicity Nottingham since 3 years for their assistance on researches and facilities, Ecopark group also provides expertise in ecosystem, food security program, waste management and the preservation of environment to help us build a better world for future generations.

Within the food market at present a number of valiant efforts have been made to reduce the population’s intake of sugar, for example stevia. However, many of these products have an unappetising aftertaste which makes them unsuitable as a true alternative to sugar.

Mr Justin Thry Dong Dong Late Founder of Justin Worldwide Group, Inventor of Yellow Sugar Address: Justin Sugar (UK) LTD, 40 Bank Street, 18th Floor, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5NR Email: contact@justin-sugar.com Web Address: http://www.justin-sugar.com/

As such we are aiming to produce a healthy alternative which can be mass marketed and integrated into many processed foodstuffs in place of traditional sugar. The main natural and tropical ingredient in our unique product, yellow sugar (named the Koocodong), which my father and many elders from Africa and Cuba used to chew and mix with refined sugar in the 1960’s, and we hope that this ingredient, when combined with sugar, will reduce the effects of refined sugar on human.

profitable sugarcane complexes in Africa as part of our overall plan to support the country, we are also negotiating for land and incentives in two countries in West Africa where we can bring about a number of exciting changes to both the local population and the national economy, including creating jobs, developing agriculture, offering food security programmes, processing meats, producing powder milk and biofuel which will help the regional economies to reduce imports, obtain stability and bring peace.

So far our tests have been conclusive, and many of those who ate this ingredient prior to our discovery of it have not had any symptoms of common sugar related ailments such as obesity or diabetes. The Koocodong fruit grows around gold and minerals deposits in a number of Saharan countries, many of which also product gold and minerals in the soil/rivers, including Nigeria (Northern region), Cameroon (Betare Oya and Eastern region), Mali, Ghana, Senegal, BurkinaFaso and Ethiopia.

This vision is a key aspect of our corporate ethos, and we are always exploring new and innovative ways to make a difference around the world.

Biofuel production, reduction of poverty and the filtration of water for communities in developing countries are key aspects of our humanitarian work. We are seeking to help these communities to be able to support themselves, and are supporting them to produce animal feeds, as well as providing jobs through the creation of food industries and plants in developing countries. There is a lot of injustice in the world, and here at Justin Sugar Ltd we are always looking for ways to overcome it.

At this stage in the development of the product our main concern is to reach the maximum production capacity, as supplies of the ingredient are naturally drying out and we are keen to produce our own version to keep up with demand.

The key project the firm is preparing to undertake at this stage is the preparation of two medium sized sugar plant in Brazil- one of which specialises in sugarcane for the production of yellow sugar - the other in biofuel.

As our vision is to invest in and operate three

In order to keep the world a beautiful place, we are committed to a zero pollution policy. We consider populations of local communities in Africa where we project to operate our factories as members of our own family, Therefore the waste from our factories, in order to preserve environment, whether it be sugar cane, cogeneration, distillery and used water will all be transformed into manure or compost to help fertilise the earth.

Business Excellence Awards 2016 / 7

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Looking to the future, it is our dream to produce and share the formulation of Justin Yellow Sugar to all food and beverage producers around the world so that we can help to feed our population with healthy sugar products that they will enjoy.

Although perfecting the product will take time, we are working diligently to ensure that we meet at term the demands of the increasingly sugar dependant population.

In addition we also wish to fight poverty in countries where we work, in order to help communities to develop. These two key strategies form the basis of our overall mission as a business, and will form the focus of our future endeavours.

Ultimately Yellow Sugar is perfect for meeting the demands of future generations, as consumers require increasingly healthy options and the growing population forces sugar producers to look for alternatives in order to avoid raising the price of their product.

Business Excellence Awards 2016 / 9

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Best Design & Build Company 2016 – Slough

ARZUM GROUP

Building its way to the top of the construction industry Arzum Group is an established design and building firm based in Langley, Slough that has been in business for over 10 years, offering a range of services from big projects such as residential and commercial new build and complete refurbishment work, to small jobs like kitchens, bathrooms installation, flooring and decorating. We spoke to Mr Salah Kamel, the group’s Director who provided us with a fascinating insight into his business and how he has achieved such strong success.

Arzum Group is rising very fast as a company and we have gained an excellent reputation in the design and build industry. The company has quickly become a household name all over Berkshire and we are now becoming an emerging name in greater London area.

I plan on continuing the success further into other regions of the UK to make Arzum Group a national name for all things design and build.

I believe poor communication can seriously disrupt project management, leaving clients unhappy and dissatisfied. This is why at Arzum group we take communication seriously, and ensure that the client’s needs are always adhered to. Giving clients the opportunity to communicate any changes or requests directly rather than having to go through multiple contractors/firms makes the process a lot smoother.

Currently we provide all services in-house to our clients, which enables us to produce a project from early stages of planning and design to completion, with 100% dedication and focus ensuring the client’s expectations are met and the service given is exceptional.

I took my time sourcing out the right members of the company for each role. I believe it is imperative to bring together skilled individuals that are able to deliver independently and as part of a close knit team. Having the right attitude and approach to the business is crucial in being successful in this industry. Therefore collating a team of people who bring confidence and optimism to the company is essential in my perspective. I can proudly say we have developed a very professional and successful team of people that have been a part of this company for many years.

As well as smaller decorating jobs we specialise in construction projects including new build residential properties, loft conversions, and extensions.

In order to transform the client’s vision into a reality, we have a team of in-house architects who work with our clients delivering professional and expert service. This also helps clients save their time and money by not having to run by more than one business for planning approval if needed and helps the project run smoother with high standards of completion.

Having an in-house team of dedicated experts allows the company to interact with clients thoroughly, offering them a one-to-one service tailored to suit the requirements of their project. Our team offer professional skill with a positive attitude: we always work with our clients as a team to meet their budget and to make their dream home a reality. With this principle, our business has been developing and expanding across the south of England, gaining new clients as we continue to build a reputable name in the industry.

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Recently Arzum Group has been featured in the BBC 2 programme ‘Britain got the Builders in’ in March 2015. I was approached by the channel as they were in search of a professional, reliable building company for their new show; which would depict how builders work to make peoples dreams and visions a reality. The programme would show viewers that not all building companies are cowboys, as there are companies that are trustworthy, and in a way restore the public’s confidence in builders and contractors again. The show had a strict selection process for which we were shortlisted for and later chosen to feature as part of the programme.

During this time I was closing a deal with a client in Ascot, and this project was featured in the TV show which helped showcase more of what we have to offer as a company. The programme was about the quality of work delivered and the working relationship between project manager and client. The project that we worked on that was featured in the show took three months to finish. The client was very pleased after the project had been completed and gave us positive feedback, which helped portray both our company and the building industry to the public in a positive light.

Mr Salah Kamel with the TV Presenter Lucy Alexander from Homes Under The Hummer at one of Arzum Group projects.

One of my favourite projects, which did not feature in the show, is a project on Langley road. The property was very old and needed a complete makeover from inside out. My team and I were excited to work on this property as we had the opportunity to demonstrate a variety of services we have to offer at Arzum Group, from indoors to the exterior, a full refurbishment. Some of the services we undertook were installing new boiler with a new central heating system, building a large rear extension with remote controlled under floor heating, block paving of the large driveway with electric gate and adding a new garage to the side of the property.

The client was extremely happy with the service we had offered them and were pleased to see the end result, which had exceeded their expectations. This was a very proud moment for our company as we strive to offer our clients the very best service in order to make their vision a reality.

However the end result is not our exclusive priority, and as such we strive to provide our clients with the highest quality of service delivery, ensuring they are satisfied with not just the final outcome but also the different stages throughout the process, such as consultation, planning etc. We pride ourselves in delivering high standard results, not just with the building and designing aspect of the business but also the communication with our clients.

The build and design industry is full of tough competition and challenges. Thankfully at Arzum Group we have not had to go through many difficult situations but whenever we have had to face a challenge we have come together as a team and were able to overcome it to become a better unit.

Company: Arzum Group Name: Salah Kamel Email: office@arzumgroup.com Web Address:http://www.arzumgroup.com/ Address: Arzum House, Langley Rd, Slough, Berkshire, SL3 7EF

For example, a client may change his/her mind about the number and location of sockets after the plastering is done or the layout of kitchen units from one wall to another after the plumbing has already been done.

This can create further problems and in turn add on extra time to the schedule which then makes the project inefficient. But we understand some clients may have a change of heart and will make amendments throughout the length of the project. We overcome this sort of issue by having the right skilled people as part of our team, who are capable of delivering excellent service and overcome these challenges with focus and dedication. When taking on a new bespoke project, we create a draft for the design phase of the project to ensure things run smoothly and if any changes or

amendments need to be made we can then take a look and do that accordingly as and when.

As we cover both aspects of the industry (design and build) we have not been effected by the recent developments in the industry, such as the self-design business, which has affected many of our competitors.

This is fortunate for us as Arzum Group covers a wide range of services and processes, we are able to deliver variety and work with our clients to give them what they need in order to complete the project and turn their vision to reality. As we provide our clients bespoke design solutions suited to their measurements and special awareness, it is easier for us to communicate and work together with our clients to complete a project to high standards.

Other recent developments in the industry include the recent surge in demand and shortage for properties in the UK, especially residential properties. A lot of people are now looking to extend their properties through extensions or loft conversion to add an extra bedroom, as there is a shortage of living space. Though this may be a problem for the public, but for our industry this is something that will help grow our business and branch the company name throughout England.

The new generation of design is now changing every few months as new innovative ideas and materials are being introduced into the building sector. This is something we as a business keep an eye on and try to keep up to date with so that we are fully aware of the current modern trends and changes in the industry.

There is a lot of demand for the services we offer as a company and see a lot of opportunity for growth within the industry. In order to achieve greater success in the future as a company, we must focus on building a bigger and stronger work team that will be able to take on more complicated projects efficiently.

Providing outstanding service and immaculate results is something I take very seriously and will make sure that this is delivered to each and every client for the future prospects of the company. To make this a success it is important that we only employ the right professionals who are highly skilled, and are able to deliver the exceptional service we are known for at Arzum Group.

Overall I feel extremely proud to have won the Business Excellence Award in the design and build sector as the competition is very strong in this industry. I feel we deserve to win this accolade because of our hard work and dedication in giving our clients excellent results each time. I believe achieving this merit will encourage myself and my team to perform better and keep up with the outstanding quality of work we provide to our clients. My aim now is to be consistent and try to exceed the level of service we provide as a team. We will continue to work hard and keep our clients happy and satisfied. This will provide us with more business opportunities and will help us gain positive exposure.

Business Excellence Awards 2016 / 11

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Best Independent Tea Blender & Coffee Roasting Company - UK

SD Bell’s Belfast Providing the finest tea and coffee, infused in tradition SD Bell’s of Belfast are Ireland’s Oldest Independent Tea Importers and Coffee Roasters. They have been importing and processing the World’s finest teas and coffees in Belfast since 1887. We spoke to Robert Bell about the company and the rich heritage it offers its customers.

Founded by Samuel David Bell in 1887, who started out as a grocer and general merchant, the family firm is now run by his great-grandson, Robert Bell, who represents the fourth generation of this fine Belfast institution.

The firm comprises both retail and wholesale divisions, such that hundreds of customers every day enjoy SD Bell’s teas and coffees on the premises in their 110-seat coffee shop. The business also offer the opportunity to purchase goods from the retail store, while a thriving wholesale business supplies to other businesses throughout Northern Ireland, including hotels, restaurants, offices, the fast expanding farm shop and delicatessen sectors. This business is supplemented by growing web-based sales platform, and all divisions are managed in one geographical location by a small management team.

SD Bell’s expertise in selecting and blending teas extends from popular Natural Leaf Breakfast Teas, enjoyed by generations, to the most exotic, subtlyflavoured white, green and herbal teas. SD Bell’s have provided these in loose-leaf form for generations.

They are also available in a growing range of tea bags, in catering and retail packs, and also string & tag envelopes.

The Bell Family are extremely passionate in providing their customers the best of tastes from around the world. Sourcing only the best coffees from around the world, from the strongest Cuban to the most delicate Blue Mountain Jamaica. While quality of supply is vital for delicious coffee, the time elapsed between roasting and drinking is paramount as the flavour of the beverage reaches its peak. SD Bell’s ensure they roast daily, to order, in small batches to guarantee their beans give the maximum enjoyment in the cup.

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SD Bell’s is a brand that offers a 130-year heritage, as well as expert experience in beverage making and supplying. It is a brand that resonates across the generations, providing a rich tradition that has been carried forward for decades, and it is this that sets the firm apart in current business climate which is a tremendous asset. The brand continues to remain focused on setting high standards in the beverage industry. This is very much evident through the brands innovative product packaging and marketing, creating products that are contemporary but still hold the brands core values.

The firm continuously find inventive ways to refine their products to keep their clientele and customers content. “Staying in contact with customers is extremely important in keeping a business successful as we have a very loyal customer and client base.”

Says Robert. One of the ways they have put this into practice is being active through social media. Knowing what customers want and being able to deliver to their needs is imperative, and the firm strive to achieve this at all times.

Over time the industry has changed in many ways, one being the rise of smaller artisan businesses in comparison to big corporate firms. This has led customers to turn away from the corporate and move towards the artisan suppliers.

At SD Bell’s, traceability and authenticity are increasingly important in terms of product distribution, and customers are always on the lookout for new teas and coffees with interesting flavours and also products with a story. The challenge to find these products and bring them to the market is time-consuming but often interesting and rewarding.

Over the generations, the firm have developed relations with many key players in the industry, whether agents or brokers for the tea and coffee producers, packaging suppliers and even competitors.

Robert explains: “We make a point of ensuring these relationships remain current and fresh. We also would travel to origin countries periodically to ensure we are ‘up to speed’ with production techniques, and finding new teas and coffees to sell, although communication links are such now, that the need to travel to origin is less than it perhaps once was.”

“Tea and coffee are, and always have been a social conversation starter over time. The consumption of tea is known to grow internationally each day, yet every nation has its own customs, traditions and tastes when it comes to etiquette and preference in intensity. Tea unites us socially as a human race, but also defines us as individuals, since we all exert our own personal preferences in its preparation and consumption. It is these endearing and enduring attributes of both beverages that I find so fascinating.”

As the industry has expanded, businesses have gone through changes, some of which have not been accepted by the general public. Large multinational chains have recently been avoiding local taxation which has led the public to vote with their feet and remind these chains about their corporate responsibility. The Bells’ understand how important their customers are and have always taken their opinions and needs into consideration when making business choices.

Company: SD Bell & Co. Ltd Name: Robert Bell, Managing Director Email: sales@sdbellsteacoffee.com Web Address: www.sdbellsteacoffee.com Address: 512-516 Upper Newtownards Road, Knock, Belfast BT4 3HB, N Ireland.

There are tremendous advantages to an established heritage business with assets that include experience, knowledge, machinery and of course proven products.

However, there are certain business processes that need to be changed, change which can also meet with resistance.

“One of the greatest challenges of the last 5 years has been the migration from totally paper-based back-office systems to computer-based accounting.

The results have been wholly positive, but this was only achieved with considerable effort and time management.”

Having existed for 4 generations, the firm sets itself apart by carrying a strong heritage and a set of core values that people can relate to. The firm has made many developments over the years and has branched out into different business ventures which have only been successful and continue to prosper. Most recently, producing a coffee table book titled ‘Creating a stir’ in celebration of being in business for 125 years. The book expands on how the firm started off and how it has established its name over the year.

As the firm continues to develop further, calculated decisions are taken to ensure the firms core values and heritage do not get lost within contemporary ventures.

“Markets must be profitable, and not take us far from our core products and areas of expertise. On the product side, we have developed coffee pods which open up a new customer base, and we are always expanding our selection of teas, both in loose tea form and also in tea bags. On the retail hospitality side, we continue to generate vital cash revenues while expanding from providing Jazz and Blues Brunches to evenings and special events, which open our doors to new customers, and demonstrate to our wholesale food-service customer base that we understand catering and hospitality too.”

“In global pricing terms, tea will remain buoyant, and generally increase year on year in a predictable way. Coffee as a product is much less scalable and production per acre is relatively static and so as a commodity which reacts greatly to weather shocks such as El Nino and global warming factors. As these countries increase in prosperity, the countries retain more product, and prices rise as a result. All this means that coffee pricing will always be more volatile.”

“Businesses will also consolidate over time, and competition will increase as larger firms dominate.

However, it is unusual for small businesses like SD Bell’s to be equally dedicated to both beverages. This is a tremendous strength, and the place of both tea and coffee in our social psyche is unlikely to diminish any time soon.”

The recent expansion of the tea and coffee shop industry has given the firm a positive outlook for future growth relating to their own business. The arrival of the large chains have created a lot more potential customers, and awakened demand in both choice and quality. However it must be said that the larger chains often struggle to present themselves as providers of a high quality product and differentiate themselves against their competitors. A firm like SD Bell’s holds an advantage as they are an artisan firm and provide products that are sourced and produced with high quality standards in mind.

“This is a tremendous accolade. The hard work and dedication of previous generations has ensured that the Firm is instilled with an ethos of integrity and fairness, and respect for its core values. I am proud of how we have managed to retain our heritage values, and communicate to our customers through both traditional and new media. I owe it to the quality and loyalty of our staff, who ensure our customers continue to support us in large numbers.”

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Best for Handmade Indian Food - West Midlands

® CUK-M-289

AFIA’s Samosa Shop Afia’s samosa shop is the UKs first and only gourmet ethnic pastry samosa producer offering wheat and gluten free products to consumers. Offering frozen goods ranging from, wheat and gluten free pakoras and samosas, chapatis and traditional Indian pickles. We spoke to Afia about her unique take on this traditional delicacy.

Always having a passion for cooking and experimental taste and an interest in the traditional recipes used to make food, Afia began her culinary journey in her mother’s kitchen. Afia’s Samosa Shop was formed six years ago when her local superstore, OHO Organics, was in search for some ethnic food and had approached Afia for some samples. This lead Afia to launch her very own ethnic food business, turning her hobby into a successful career.

Having the ambition to work for herself, previously Afia worked in the life science industry as a polymer engineer and business developer, but later decided to do her own biotechnology research to introduce new technology to the market. Afia later decided a change of career and wanted to delve into a brand new industry, setting herself new challenges to accomplish.

Accepting this new prospect, Afia crossed industries paving the way for a unique food experience; leading to be one of its kind in the UK. Being inspired by her mother who has Coeliac Disease, Afia took the initiative to create the UKs first ever wheat and gluten free ethnic pastry food for consumers that have dietary restrictions.

The aim is to offer customers and retailers very high quality food, using only the best of the best fresh ingredients, creating food that is fine in taste and presentation. All ingredients are sourced out locally from organic produce and wholesale suppliers, making sure they are fresh and offer maximum taste when used in recipes.

The company provides high end gourmet food which is divided into two categories, Wheat and gluten free, and non-wheat and gluten free. The non-wheat gluten free category offers customers 14 different delicious fillings of luxury gourmet pastry samosas. Of these 14, seven are vegetarian and seven are meat, ranging in taste from very mild to extremely spicy. The same variety is also offered in the wheat and gluten free range of products for customer to try out.

Company: AFIA’s Samosa Shop Name: Afia Akram Email: info@afias.co.uk Web Address: www.afias.co.uk Address: Birmingham B29 Telephone: 07974669194

14 / Business Excellence Awards 2016

Afia’s recipe for success in regards to her products is making small batches to provide maximum impact and flavour which is appreciated by her customers.

Not to go with quantity but quality as customers appreciate great flavoured food that they would want to eat again.

Afia explains, “As they are buying the product, it is only right to cater to their needs, so listening to the customers is paramount and also taking in their

feedback is essential as this will help the business grow and improve products and service. I believe this is one of the reasons the business has been so successful over the years and continues to grow.”

Excellent flavour is something Afia is passionate about, hence why she has been working on bringing back traditional recipes to customers through her variety of Indian pickles, Afia explains her passion behind creating quality flavoured food, “Traditionally Indian pickles take six to twelve months to mature before they are ready to be consumed, much like fine wine. I take the quality of my products very seriously and will always make sure the products I offer are of the finest quality only. The recipe we use to create the pickles is traditional and passed down from many generations.”

The food industry is changing and consumers are becoming aware of what they are being offered by retailers and are aware of the quality of real ethnic foods. At the same time the awareness of allergens in food and dietary needs is also becoming more important as well. The company take pride in listening to and understanding what their consumers are asking for and being able to cater to their needs. This is what makes Afia’s Samosa Shop a successful award winning business.

Currently the company sells direct to consumers at local events, exhibitions and markets and nationally through their online website. However, as part of their upcoming aspirations, the company is looking to raise investment for future ventures and get a team together to help take the company to new heights.

“The future ambition this year, is to invest into the UK supermarket industry and take our wheat and gluten free food selection to the mass consumers to raise awareness and create new opportunities for the business to grow further and become even more successful.”

Upcoming plans for Afia are to grow the company and secure investors to help the business expand in the food industry. Increasing production capacity and taking on staff who carry the right skillset and are passionate about quality and flavour.

“Winning the award is an honour, especially as it is not from the food industry, it will broaden the company’s horizons and give us more opportunities to make the current products a top success and become a household name over the UK.”

Best Online Lottery Betting Operator 2016

Annexio Ltd. Annexio is a lottery services business that gives customers the chance to bet on some of the biggest jackpots worldwide. Based in the Isle of Man, the company was co-founded in 2010 by Managing Director Jennifer Houghton.

Jennifer Houghton, together with other key stakeholders, set up Annexio in the Isle of Man, a hub for a wide range of eGaming businesses, in 2010. By 2013, it had become the fastest growing company on the Island, expanding by more than 300%.

In just a few short years, Annexio has evolved from an exciting start-up to a leading lottery service operator at the top of its game in one of the fastest-moving industries of our time.

Company: Annexio Name: Jennifer Houghton Email: jennifer@annexio.com Web Address: http://www.annexio.com/ Address: Anglo International House, Level 6, Lord Street, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 4LN, British Isles Telephone: +44 1624 660 177

Houghton outlines the services her firm provides: “We give our customers the chance to participate online in some of the largest jackpots available worldwide – either by picking their favourite numbers or playing in syndicate-style games. We also offer our services to other businesses to run through their own websites. The lotteries we have access to offer life-changing prizes, often running to millions of pounds.

“As one of the first players in the sector, we have been careful not to get ahead of ourselves, but to instead foster slow and steady organic growth. When we established the company, it was important to me that I completed all the necessary legal paperwork myself with no lawyers or corporate service providers. It gave me intimate knowledge of legislation that we were operating within that has proved very valuable in moving the business forward.”

Due to its online nature, Annexio’s client base is spread far and wide which means the business operates across a number of jurisdictions that have very different attitudes to online gambling. Addressing the regulatory demands of this has been a key consideration from the outset.

“We decided at the beginning that Annexio was here for the long haul and we were ready to comply with regulations that were not strictly necessary. We do this because we believe in offering our customers the safest and most enjoyable service we can, and because it effectively sets us ahead of the curve in terms of regulatory compliance.

“Annexio stands out in the global lottery betting environment because we are a fully regulated entity, holding both a Manx gambling licence and a UK betting licence, whereas some of our competitors hold no recognised licences at all. So whilst we share the common problem that we are heavily impacted by decisions made by the regulators in those countries in which operate, we are able to develop a solid offering by remaining pro-active and nimble in response to these changes, ensuring our customers feel they can trust us with their money and are confident in their interactions with us.

“For any successful business model you want to keep both your customers and investors happy. Customers want to know they are getting what they pay for, and that their personal information and their money is safe. Investors want to know that the business they are entering is profitable. Being in the Isle of Man makes both of these things possible, and transparent, which is hugely important.”

While the lottery services industry is still young, it is a highly competitive landscape and new entrants are emerging all the time. Houghton believes many of these will disappear just as quickly as the regulatory environment around eGaming becomes more onerous. “If I were to predict the market over the next decade, I would expect a number of these companies to exit the market as regulators become more stringent,” she says.

But there is still huge potential for growth in the industry: “As the market has matured we have seen some smaller operators merge with larger competitors but perhaps the most significant change has been the demand for white labelling. This allows unregulated businesses to sell their own brand by using platforms run by licensed operators and is fuelling a major drive in B2B services. We expect this trend to continue.”

Houghton’s own route to eGaming and the Isle of Man is an interesting one. Born in California to Swedish and German parents, she sidestepped an early interest in microbiology to move into accountancy, specialising in international audit and finance roles with spells in Luxembourg and Stockholm. As befits the head of an international company she speaks four languages and is on the committee of the Isle of Man Institute of Directors.

But Houghton is the first to attribute Annexio’s success to a team, rather than individual effort: “It’s probably the Swedish in me, but I have always believed that teamwork is the strongest factor in a successful business. While I like to put forward ideas, I don’t dictate and it is important that we utilise the skill and experience of all our people if we are to continue to see the company grow and develop.

“I see this award as recognition for all the staff at Annexio. I think we appreciate that we are part of an extremely exciting business that has the added benefit of being life changing for our customers and our goal is to remain the premium player in this market.”

Business Excellence Awards 2016 / 15

www.acquisition-intl.com/business-excellence

Best Natural Language Interaction Company 2016

Artificial Solutions UK Ltd. Artificial Intelligence has moved from the realms of fantasy to reality, and is rapidly becoming a critical success factor for the customer experience. Businesses that address this demand not only strengthen faltering customer relationships, but also realise unexpected revenue opportunities. But most organizations aren’t geared up to take on the complexities of delivering a Siri-like AI application, even though they can clearly see the advantages.

Key to the success of artificially intelligent applications is a seamless interface between the user and the application.

Fundamental to delivering this flawless experience is ensuring the application understands the user’s natural language input, however, whenever or wherever it’s given. But understanding is only half the story; today consumers expect technology to do more, to meet their needs and get things done. It’s so much more than just providing a smart answer.

Unibet one of Europe’s largest and fastest growing online gambling operators, has developed an artificially intelligent natural language interaction (NLI) capability that it believes will transform the betting experience for its customers.

The app makes it simpler and more intuitive, while eliminating some of the current barriers like finding the particular wager they want amongst the many thousands that are offered.

Artificial Solutions is the leading specialist in Natural Language Interaction (NLI), a form of Artificial Intelligence that allows people to talk to applications and electronic devices in free-format, natural language, using speech, text, touch or gesture. We spoke to Lawrence Flynn, CEO of Artificial Solutions to find out more about the issues surrounding Natural Language Interaction.

Company: Artificial Solutions UK Ltd Name: Liz Johns, Head of Corporate Marketing Email: Liz.Johns@artificial-solutions.com Web Address: www.artificial-solutions.com Address: 3 Riverside House Mill Lane, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 5QS, UK Telephone: 01635 523 267

Customers can simply use everyday language to place a bet “I want to place a tenner on Hobson’s choice at Newmarket tomorrow” or “a fiver on Liverpool to win” and the app intelligently analyses the request and responds appropriately. If there is any ambiguity, the app will either make some safe assumptions or ask the customer to clarify. By using natural language, the app removes some of the traditional frictions and complexities in what can be a complicated and even intimidating environment.

“Using natural language removes the rigid and impersonal barrier between us and our customers” says Will Mace, Head of Strategic Development at Unibet. “The simple, intuitive manner of the interaction makes for a really positive and easy experience. Customers are making increasing demands on their service providers. They expect a seamless experience and quite rightly they are less and less tolerant of clunky or complex interactions.

Early forms of digital interface are being replaced with more sophisticated AI technologies like NLI. This is driven by technological development certainly, but primarily by customer demand. Customers like easy and intelligent experiences”.

Building this level of applied AI into an application is no mean feat. Developing just the simplest of NLI applications in-house can take an army of highly skilled computational linguists, engineers and developers. Choose the wrong technology and the end result may well be nothing more than a long, tortuous and costly white elephant project.

In contrast, Unibet built its app using Artificial Solutions’ patented NLI technology platform Teneo, which is designed expressly to develop and deploy advanced AI solutions. It applies the principles of Artificial Intelligence in the development of applications, shortening design time and eliminating the need for extensive and expensive technical resources. Teneo is a single integrated platform that covers every aspect required to create applications for business, it takes the human/machine interaction far beyond responding to simple speech commands and can even act as an interface to the deep thinking of cognitive computing, all on a cross-platform, cross-device and multi-lingual basis.

But these natural language based applications aren’t just about delivering a vague future customer engagement strategy or business process management improvements. As Unibet know, they fulfil a very real need today and will future-proof their business as they steal a march on their competition.

However, this is only one of the considerations. As consumers increasingly move their lives online, the once direct relationship businesses had with them has floundered. Businesses are now struggling to connect with their customers, leaving both sides with nothing more than a series of disparate transactions.

Introducing an intelligent conversational element to customer interactions brings back that connection in several ways. People reveal a huge amount of information in conversation, why they are searching for something, particular features of interest, the reason they are hesitant to purchase. All this information can be analysed in real-time, enabling the organisation not just to study trends, but to react immediately and personalise the interaction, ultimately, securing the sale.

But relying on the technology goliaths like Apple, Google and Amazon to solve this, is a risky strategy. Even if they were to open up their APIs, they’d undoubtedly still be hugely restrictive and prescriptive in terms of user experience; in how they handle (or not) cross-platform requirements; and even how they treat your organisation as a customer.

Further, your customers don’t restrict themselves to one platform or technology so you also need a solution that works across multiple platforms, devices and channels.

All that aside, the biggest question remains over who would have access to, or even own the goldmine of ‘voice of your customer’ data that is generated. The real risk may be that despite all your investment, your business has no more information than it did when you had nothing but a point and click website.

Artificial Intelligence is here. As a key component, NLI will be critical as humans increasingly use natural, everyday language, gestures and more to control apps, online services, devices, cars, mobiles, wearables and the Iot. They now expect technology to understand them and simplify their lives.

16 / Business Excellence Awards 2016

Excellence Award for Architecture & Design - California

BEA architects, Inc. BEA Architects, Inc., is a world-renowned architectural design firm headquartered in Miami. It has established a reputation as an innovative provider of leading-edge design solutions to corporations and institutions worldwide.

BEA is an interdisciplinary firm providing planning, architectural, engineering and interior design services. As transportation design specialists, the firm is renowned worldwide for its passenger terminals, port infrastructure, marinas and piers. BEA is increasingly in demand for the design of urban waterfronts. The firm’s maritime proficiency results from years of experience working with ports, cruise lines and shipping lines, through which a keen understanding of the port industry and its operations was developed. BEA has designed and built the majority of large state-of-the-art cruise terminals around the world and its close working relationships with all the major cruise lines has allowed it to develop all of the systems and amenities which have now become standards throughout the industry.

The reputation of the firm rests on its most important asset: its people, whose energy, creativity and commitment point to even greater accomplishments in the decades to come. The pursuit of excellence in design, through technology and in execution, underscores BEA’s commitment to quality. Central to the firm’s philosophy is the notion of design innovation, accomplished through the attention of direct senior personnel to design challenges and through the enthusiasm and passion our team brings to detailing and crafting a finished product.

BEA’s maritime expertise is not limited to terminal design for all major cruise lines, but includes their offices, storage facilities and “out-island” destinations. The firm has a long history of designing and overseeing the construction of marine structures including sheet pile bulkheads, caisson wall systems, pile supported structures, submerged sea walls―including dredging and maintenance dredging programs. BEA also conducts market feasibility studies and prepares port master plans which may include graphic animations of projected passenger and traffic flows.

Company: BEA Architects, Inc. Email: beamarketing@beai.com Web Address: www.beai.com Address: 3075 NW South River Drive, Miami, Florida 33142 Telephone: 305-461-2053

BEA has designed more built and operating cruise terminals for mega cruise ships than any other U.S. firm.

Disney Cruise Terminal in Port Canaveral and Port of Miami’s Cruise Terminals F & G are examples of iconic projects designed by BEA that operate seamlessly and were completed complying within strict budgetary and schedule requirements. The firm has developed and maintained a reputation as the world’s leading port planners and cruise terminal designers, and its designs are grounded in the ever-changing patterns and conditions of cruise port operations. Most of the firm’s cruise terminals include intermodal centres and the related canopies and parking facilities. BEA is adept at cruise port planning involving staging the traffic of pedestrians, public transportation vehicles/rails, private vehicles, taxis, delivery trucks, and the like.

BEA Architects has been the first to implement, in the design of cruise terminals, advancements such as the conveyor belt systems for baggage handling as well as airport-style check-in counters and integrated customs and immigration facilities. The firm’s principals have lectured widely on cruise terminal design and security/systems integration from the perspective of designing systems that seamlessly and inconspicuously serve the operations.

The company has been responsible for developing and setting the standards in third, fourth and fifth generation cruise terminals. These new standards in cruise terminal design have been used to measure performance in terminal throughout and passenger satisfaction. These standards have resulted in streamlining the process, saving time and reducing operational costs. BEA’s working and personal relationships with decision-makers at all the major cruise lines allow the firm to innovate alongside the ever-changing industry. BEA Architects has the experience, track record, technical competence and personnel availability to assist port authorities in any cruise terminal project.

Business Excellence Awards 2016 / 17

www.acquisition-intl.com/business-excellence

Best Beauty Therapist & Make Up Artist - North West London

Beautiful Skin Expertsz Company: Beautiful Skin Expertsz Name: Miss. Vandana Malhotra Email: info@beautifulskinexpertsz.co.uk Web Address: www.beautifulskinexpertsz.co.uk Address: Wembley, London, HA9, United Kingdom Telephone: 07407 438 954

Beautiful Skin Expertsz is the sister company to Karismha Beauty. The company provides a range of services including, masterclasses, beauty camps, bridal and party services and holistic treatments. Additionally, the business also offer professional training courses in hair and beauty. We spoke to the owner Vandana Malhotra about winning this accolade for her business.

Vandana Malhotra is a Professional Beauty and Holistic Therapist, Makeup Artist and Author. Starting her career off by working as a beauty consultant in London for an array of prestigious beauty brands, such as Estee Lauder and Giorgio Armani. Over the years Vandana has gained a respective amount of valuable knowledge, providing her with the experience and expertise to offer clients the very best in skincare and makeovers. Her passion for beauty and hair lead her to start up and open her very own firm, offering clients a wide range of services and professional courses.

Beautiful Skin Expertsz provides skincare masterclasses for teenage girls, anti-aging masterclasses for adults, makeup masterclasses, beauty camps, pampering parties & hairstyle masterclasses which are also available to schools in London UK. Also we offering bridal and photographic hair and makeup services and we provide professional training courses for aspiring hair & makeup artists. As well as an extensive list of advanced beauty & holistic treatments from the best western to eastern style Thai & Ayurvedic treatments.

Vandana talks about her approach to skincare, “In our Special Skincare Masterclasses, we show clients how to achieve great skin by following a few simple daily skincare steps which can greatly improve the appearance of your skin. These basic steps will become like a ‘mantra’ and stay with you for life helping you achieve great results over time.”

“With our Specialised Expert Training & Guidance, we recommend a Personalised Skincare Regime for each individual with a complete Personalised Skincare Prescription for the client, to help improve and balance their skin and targeting skin issues.”

The firm has a variety of clientele including teenage girls, schools, celebrities, to media professionals and aspiring training makeup artists. This highlights the extensive selection of variety the firm offers in terms of services.

Vandana’s passion for the beauty and glamour industry, together with her professionalism, lead her to become one of the most recommended names by the top beauty brands. In turn having their products launch into her firm and carry out beauty treatments. She introduced Karismha Beauty, a sub-siding primary business providing the latest beauty and holistic treatments to all her clients along with complete Bridal services.

When starting up her second business ‘Beautiful Skin Expertsz’, Vandana had one aim in mind which was to help and educate the youth and ladies on how to achieve and maintain clean and healthy looking skin for long lasting results.

Vandana started up her second business ‘Beautiful Skin Expertsz’ after finding that vast amounts of youth, to mature ladies in their late 40’s and 50’s, did not understand how to take care of their skin on a daily basis. As there was nothing available in the market at the time to inform and educate ladies with this basic skincare knowledge, Vandana took the leap of faith and believed she could provide women with an approach that was not only simple but would genuinely work.

Vandana expanded her business by offering clients the opportunity to train under her expert knowledge by providing a range of professional training courses in hair, makeup and beauty courses for aspiring makeup artists and beauty therapists.

“What differentiates the classes we offer is the actual hands on time spent doing makeup and skincare routine’s with the students. The tutors and I provide the students individual attention, making sure we adhere to their requirements and bring out their best abilities. We try and keep the classes small to provide undivided attention to students whilst they are learning their new skills. From my previous experience of attending numerous training courses over the years, I realised it was important to maintain small sized classes as we wanted to ensure students do not feel rushed and are actually able to absorb the knowledge. This also gives students the opportunity to learn and practice the skills taught, as the tutors and I are able to divide our attention equally towards the students.”

“One of the main factors I have learned throughout my career in this industry is to receive ongoing training. It is imperative to stay up to date with the treatments and products available for clients, as the hair and beauty industry has new developments and trends occurring every season of the year.”

Vandana has plans to expand her business further by providing students classes that will run nationally, giving easy access to students so that they may learn what they are passionate about without having to travel long distances.

“I am thrilled to have won this prestigious award. I feel winning this award, will provide us with the recognition we deserve, after all the hard work my team and I have put in over the years. This will provide us with more business from schools & corporate professionals in providing wellbeing treatments in the office environment, also strengthen our relationship with existing clientele and help build a loyal clientele base for the business.

18 / Business Excellence Awards 2016

Best Wearable Technology Development Company & Most Innovative Temperature Monitor: Temp Traq

Blue Spark Technologies Blue Spark Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, is a leading supplier of thin, flexible, sustainable printed batteries and flexible electronic solutions. We profiled the firm and explored the innovative solutions they provide.

Blue Spark was founded in 2002 as Thin Battery Technologies, Inc. The company’s initial focus was to develop thin, flexible printed batteries built on Intellectual Property (IP) acquired from the Eveready Battery Company (now Energizer). The patented IP was the result of years of Eveready knowledge, experience, research and development.

Initially, private investors led by Early Stage Partners made significant investments to further develop, test and commercialize this revolutionary technology.

The firm vertically integrates and develops solutions for customers that leverage the innovative Blue Spark printed battery. Blue Spark’s flagship product, TempTraq®, is a wearable, wireless, temperature monitor in the form of a soft, comfortable patch. TempTraq won a coveted “Best at CES” award at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2015. TempTraq has also been featured on “TODAY,” “Good Morning America” and “Fox News Tech Talk,” along with features in The Wall Street Journal and USA TODAY. To signal the next stage of growth and adoption of thin-printed battery technology, the company evolved to become Blue Spark Technologies. Today, Blue Spark Technologies develops end-use solutions for customers that are enabled by its thin, flexible and safe battery technology. In 2015, Blue Spark introduced a near field communication (NFC) temperature data logging label. The NFC data logger is a supply chain label that records temperature readings of goods in the supply chain. The data is then collected via NFC and sent to an Android™ smartphone app developed

by Blue Spark.

Blue Spark Technologies’ latest innovation TempTraq, powered by Blue Spark Technologies’ patented, printed flexible battery, is the only Bluetooth®, wearable temperature monitor in the form of a soft, comfortable patch. TempTraq continuously, and comfortably, monitors body temperature for up to 48 hours and sends alerts to Apple® or Android compatible mobile devices. This Bluetooth low energy-enabled temperature monitor outperforms current measuring devices that only offer one point of data and no continuous monitoring or alerts. Combine that with the accompanying free Apple or Android compatible TempTraq app, and users can now reach a new level of health care for children of all ages, and even adults.

Before the TempTraq design was finalised, there were several prototypes created, allowing variations of the product to be tested and verified for safety, accuracy and comfort. The TempTraq patch represents the intersection of wearable and digital e-health technologies. At its heart lies the merger of printed, flexible and traditional electronics with the latest Bluetooth low energy wireless communication. The connection enables TempTraq to offer unique characteristics not found elsewhere. Following all of the rigorous testing and research, the Class II medical product is FDA 510(k) cleared to meet all standards of safety and accuracy.

After its successful launch at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), this revolutionary product was honoured

by Reviewed.com, a division of USA Today, with its coveted CES Editors’ Choice Awards. Media coverage surrounding our debut has been widespread. We’ve appeared on “TODAY,” “Good Morning America,” and featured in the Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, Yahoo! Tech, MSN.com and many more. TempTraq has recently been named a “CES 2016 Innovation Awards Honoree” in two categories.

Company: Blue Spark Technologies, Inc. Website: http://www.bluesparktechnologies.com/ Phone: +1 440 249 5400 Fax: +1 440 249 5421 Address: 806 Sharon Drive, Suite G, Westlake Ohio 44145 USA

TempTraq has also been a commercial success. The firm’s initial commercial strategy was to focus on a US release (Blue Spark’s home market) followed by the EU and Asia markets. The initial launch was in June of 2015, focusing first on dotcom sites such as TempTraq.com, Amazon, Diapers.com and CVS. TempTraq is now rolling out to “brick and mortar” retail locations throughout the US, including CVS and Target, and will be in over 20,000 locations by the end of July. TempTraq is expected to hit EU markets in 2017.

Following this initial success the future looks bright for TempTraq as we are working toward developing a clinical application for the product so nurses and physicians can better manage the health care of patients in a hospital or long-term care facility on a much larger scale.

Business Excellence Awards 2016 / 19

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Best Brazilian Travel Publisher

Brazil Travel News Brazil Travel News is a travel publication focusing on the luxury lifestyle of Brazil. We spoke to Paulo Miranda to find out more about the company itself and to hear his thoughts on winning this award.

I was born in Recife, Brazil, and moved to SĂŁo Paulo thirty-three years ago. As a Journalist and advertising person as well as a TV host, I would like to think my outgoing personality and great relationships in the tourism trade make me stand out from the crowd. My influence on the tourism segment continues to grow and as one of the top 100 most reputable personalities in the tourism trade I would like to think I am now being recognised for my work.

I have travelled to more than 60 countries and my TV show (TV Travel News) has reached over six million monthly views. In addition to our Sao Paulo office we also have two offices in Florida, United States.

When I founded this publishing company thirty-two years ago with my wife Celia Miranda, I already had a dream: to continue my work with something related to tourism, since I came from a corporate life of this segment.

Before setting up Brazil Travel News I worked for other companies, such as Grupo Varig before founding Jornaltur. At that time, needless to say my work was dynamically different. Technology was a thing of the future and computers did not exist.

Jornaltur became Brazil Travel News, a single magazine that after six years was expanded to another magazine called Trading, the Travel News TV show.

Over the past three decades, we gave birth to four beautiful children: Paulo Ricardo, Roberta, Eduarda and Marcela Miranda. We have always tried to reconcile the lives of our children with our work and our endless trips.

As teenagers they started to participate in the company and to carry out small activities. Paulo Ricardo, the eldest started an internship at the age of 16 in the photolithography area. Roberta, at fifteen became a receptionist and at seventeen Eduarda was an intern at TV Travel News show and Marcela the youngest, started working in the commercial area.

Since then, they have all attended college to do exchange language programs, chosen their careers and also had the opportunity to experience and work in other companies. Our routine is very dynamic, it includes travel journalism from all over the world, participation in national and international fairs and we are always dealing with numerous trips.

Six years ago, we decided to invest in the international market and set up an office in Orlando, Florida. We never lost our focus at work, but the upbringing of our children and the maintenance of family unity has always been our priority.

Company: Brazil Travel News Name: Paulo Roberto Miranda Email: prm@brasiltravelnews.com.br Web Address: www.brasiltravelnews.com.br Address: Edificio Brascan Century Office, Rua Joaquin Floriano 466, Sao Paulo, Brazil Telephone: 00551 2165 2344

Currently, with our office and editorial department in SĂŁo Paulo, the other office in Orlando and our studio for TV and radio in Celebration, Florida, we take turns between here and there. Our current staff are much more streamlined and all of our children work with us, except Roberta Miranda who chose to leave the company three years ago and devote herself to career coaching. For this, she prepared herself and studied abroad and she is now happy with her new venture.

Roberta now works with Tim Gallwey, one of the most important founders of coaching today. Celia Miranda, my wife, is the Vice President of the group.

Paulo Ricardo, became a Commercial Director. Eduarda is a hostess for the TV Travel News show and along with Marcela she took the international area in marketing, media and new projects.

Besides Brazil Travel magazine, Marcela also represents Azul Magazine and Made Magazine. Both Celia and I are very proud of the achievements of our kids. We always gave our children freedom to grow and do whatever they desired. But they chose to stay with us.

We deal with family discord now and then. After all, there are five members of the same family working together with very different personalities. However through dialogue and understanding, we always find a solution and an apology. We also treat our employees as part of the family, but professionalism must come first this is a business after all.

It is a privilege to be the recipient of this award and as we look ahead to the future when Celia and I retire and begin to enjoy Florida’s beach life our children will be the ones who will run the company.

20 / Business Excellence Awards 2016

Best Local Web Design Company - Staffordshire

Cocoonfxmedia Ltd Cocoonfxmedia are experts in creating engaging design and marketing strategies. We spoke to James Blackman, the firm’s Owner and Managing Partner, about the company and its services.

Cocoonfxmedia Ltd was informally established many years ago as a hobby which grew my interest in computer programming and coding, but formally began trading as a business in June 2010.

My previous experience is strongly focused on marketing and web design, which is an industry I have been in since 2002. Working initially in a logistics company, I started off as a booking clerk and then worked my way up to running the marketing department for one of the biggest logistics company in the UK. I have always had a unique insight and this led me to the opportunity to work alongside the CEO and sit in board meetings; which was a big achievement at 23 and taught me a lot about company leadership and corporate objectives.

I built the business from my interest in design and technology, and have designed a unique approach to break into the market. We create innovative, bespoke solutions centred around the user and their requirements, allowing clients to have a completely customised service; unique to their individual requirements.

Alongside this innovative approach to producing solutions, we also deliver a personalised approach to client services, aiming to always highlight our technical knowledge and professionalism, whilst at the same time being approachable and endeavouring to ensure clients fully understand the solutions we are creating for them. Our clients are varied and include high street retailors, personal trainers and marketing companies, among others.

Company: Cocoonfxmedia Ltd Name: James Blackman Address: Unit 64 Britannia Way Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS14 9UY Phone: 01543 223074 Website: www.cocoonfxmedia.co.uk

With these innovative approaches in mind, we created the company strapline, ‘transcend’, with a view to ensure that we excel in everything we do. We take a holistic approach to design, considering user needs as top priority.

We look at how a user would work with the clients’ business and develop the design around that, as often the client has not considered this aspect and their ideas may not actually meet their customer needs, which could be detrimental to the success of the project.

Therefore whenever we are initially approaching a new project we always focus on identifying the clients’ needs and establishing their end goal, before creating a measurable marketing design solution, depending on the project and user requirements.

Working in such a competitive industry, as a business we need to be flexible and open to any ideas, as well as being creative so that we are able to find a solution to issues that may arise.

In addition, Cocoonfxmedia as a company is looking to change the mind-set of our industry, which is currently very focused on firms such as ours providing free work for ‘exposure’. We feel that web design and marketing needs to be recognised and appreciated as its own industry sector, because currently firms such as ours are viewed as a combination of I.T and marketing, and therefore struggle to be taken seriously.

In order to achieve this we have worked hard to build a reputation for being honest with clients and providing them with excellent client service and technically solid solutions, highlighting our skill and dedication.

Another major opportunity to create change is my role as the Vice President for Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber of Commerce, and I am keen to become the president on April 15th. Within this role I sit as part of the policy board council for greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. As President I would like to focus on creating rules making businesses pay all their suppliers within 30 days, as I believe this will help the wider economy as well as businesses such as ours.

Looking ahead, we have a number of exciting projects and plans coming up which will provide the firm with a number of opportunities for growth. We are looking to re-launch our website and expand team members, growing the company to 8-10 people with a long term goal being to take the firm internationally in order to offer our services to a wider client base.

Business Excellence Awards 2016 / 21

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Best Communications Lifecycle Management Solution - USA

Comview Corporation Comview provides a full range of communications lifecycle management (CLM) services to North American enterprises. Comview’s team gives us an insight into the company and the strategies that have led it to win this prestigious award.

Comview’s overall market role is to help North American enterprises reduce the cost, complexity and risk of managing telecom expenses, users and assets throughout the communications lifecycle. Our clients experience fully integrated, Fixed/Wireless Telecom Management software with customer-centric service and guaranteed savings. An easy-to-use cloud-based portal provides simplified management and powerful insights. One platform provides mobility management, invoice management, call accounting, audit/ optimization, procurement, inventory/asset management, MDM integration and more.

The company was founded in 1997 to provide web-based call accounting with the highest level of customer service. Driven by market and customer needs, the company evolved to offer both fixed and wireless telecom expense management and related services through a combination of integrated software and managed services. We work with North American enterprises that have 500 to tens of thousands of mobile devices and/ or millions of dollars in annual telecom spend.

Before undertaking a new project or working with a client, we always begin the engagement by listening first.

You need to start by truly understanding the needs of a prospect or customer so that you don’t propose a solution that isn’t a fit for either party. Once a need and a plan are identified, continuous communication is the key to keeping everything on track and moving forward successfully.

Company: Comview Corporation Email: info@comviewcorp.com Web Address: www.comviewcorp.com Address: 110 Walt Whitman Road, Suite 101, Huntington Station, NY 11746, USA Telephone: +1 631-935-1900

Our on-going strategy is to continue to develop our communications lifecycle management software and services in line with customer and market needs. Comview’s focus is on providing a powerful yet easy-to-use cloud-based management and reporting platform combined with responsive and proactive managed services and customer care – a formula that has served us well for nearly two decades.

One of the most important skills we have learned through practice is to take good care of our customers. If you are responsive to your customers, never take advantage of them, and really focus on their success, your own success will follow.

As a firm Comview has always been known for its totally integrated software and manage services vs. requiring users to switch between applications. It is equally known for its exceptional commitment to customer service that is driven by a top-down, mandated “Customer for Life” philosophy. As such, employees are empowered to do what it takes to make customers happy. The company’s management treats employees with a great deal of respect and inclusiveness since it recognizes that happy employees are likely to carry that feeling into customer relationships.

Comview offers prospective customers a free expense analysis with written savings guarantees. Unlike many providers, Comview doesn’t nickel and dime clients. Instead the company provides predictable pricing with many included features that others typically charge for, such as unlimited user licenses and training.

Looking to the future, our goal is to continue to be a leader in communications lifecycle technology and maintaining our reputation for the best customer service.

22 / Business Excellence Awards 2016

Best Healthcare CEO 2016

Constellation Healthcare Technologies Inc Constellation Healthcare Technologies provides a holistic, integrated suite of practice management support services to hospitals and medical practices across the United States.

Company: Constellation Healthcare Technologies Address: 3200 Wilcrest Dr. Suite 600 Houston, Texas 77042 Phone: 1-800-523-1966 (713) 432-1100 Fax: (713) 481-3548 Website: http://www.constellationhealthgroup.com/

The Healthcare Industry faces many new challenges that are coming together to reduce physician earnings by increasing practice costs and complexity. Multiple health plans, intricate reimbursement methodologies, complex regulatory issues, increased patient responsibility for payments, and growth of the uninsured consumer, are the major drivers of the changes; however mandated use of technology (EMR), and increased dependence on mobile applications by consumers are also contributing factors. These change drivers are responsible for significant downward pressure on the bottom lines of many healthcare organizations.

Unlike many other industries; the medical industry has not adopted and embraced process improvement and automation technology resulting in an industry ripe for optimization. Improving financial performance requires specific knowledge of medical practice processes and business acumen.

This knowledge must be focused on optimizing the inadequate revenue cycle processes in order to maximize profitability. It also requires investments in new technologies such as voice recognition, automated coding, claims, and payment processing, EHR, and business process workflows. Constellation Healthcare Technologies is uniquely positioned to assist the medical profession on this journey of change, transformation, and optimization.

As such, Constellation Healthcare Technologies bring together over a decade of industry experience and innovation. The firm’s staff of industry professionals has the skills and experience necessary to deliver a complete range of health care and advisory services across all sectors of the Health Care industry.

The firm offer comprehensive, customized solutions that help clients achieve their financial goals and overcome their most pressing and complex challenges. The firm value their clients and are fully committed to their success.

Ultimately, Constellation Healthcare Technologies understands these industry challenges. Using innovative services and tools to address all aspects of the revenue cycle, Constellation Healthcare Technologies helps organizations increase net revenues, expedite billing, improve collections, and reduce costs; all while complying with ever-changing government regulations.

Therefore the firm has made it its mission to work in partnership with our clients to lead the evolution of the Health Care industry. Together with their clients and partners in the industry Constellation Healthcare Technologies can help clients bring innovations in patient care to life.

Therefore the firm work hard to enable clients to seamlessly access and integrate patient data, diagnostic data, lab and test data, and pharmacology data to improve the quality of care for their patients, while providing automated and optimized technical and logistical support to create and sustain long-term, bottom-line success for clients.

Led by CEO Paul Parmjit Parmar, the firm has flourished in recent years, developing as a business in order to take over a greater market share, for example acquiring the business and assets of Physicians Practice Plus.

Inc in 2015.

Paul has provided consultancy services to a number of the world’s largest companies including a major healthcare company, to improve their operational platforms by reducing costs and driving efficiencies.

Prior to founding Constellation Healthcare Technologies Paul previously invested in healthcare businesses and technologies. In 2008 a group represented by Paul bought a controlling interest in a medical billing company and subsequently sold the business to NextGen. In 2013 he founded Constellation Health to acquire Orion.

Paul built a private aviation business through both acquisition and organic growth which was sold to Delta Airlines in 2010.

Business Excellence Awards 2016 / 23

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Best Full Service Law Firm - Portugal

DIOGO, NETO, MARQUES E ASSOCIADOS-SOCIEDADE DE ADVOGADOS, RL (DNM) Jorge Marques

DIOGO, NETO, MARQUES E ASSOCIADOS-SOCIEDADE DE ADVOGADOS, RL (DNM) is a multidisciplinary and full service law firm founded in 2002, based on a law office originally set up in 1986, and is one of Portugal´s leading law firms.

It has offices in Lisbon and Pombal, providing legal services throughout the country.

Paulo Neto

Our philosophy has remained unchanged from the start: it´s based on professional excellence and on the desire to practice law in order to achieve the best possible outcome to the client.

This philosophy has led DNM to a sustained growth and to a position of leadership, ensuring the success of its international and specialist policies.

DNM has gained recognition for the quality of the legal services it provides, for its rapid responses, for the professional discipline of its team of lawyers, having shown itself to be a privileged partner in provision of advice to foreign companies and citizens interested in setting up and developing their business in Portugal. Its senior and associate partners regularly attend and are also speakers at important conferences and seminars, both in Portugal and abroad.

Mário Diogo Company: DIOGO, NETO, MARQUES E ASSOCIADOS-SOCIEDADE DE ADVOGADOS, RL (DNM) Partners: Paulo Neto, Mário Diogo, Jorge Marques Email: dnm@dnm-sadvog.com Web Address: www.dnm-sadvog.com Address: Two addresses listed below, Lisbon, Rua Eça de Queiróz, nºs 16 – 16B 1050-096 LISBOA T. +351 213 573 218 F. +351 213 573 220 Pombal Av. Heróis do Ultramar, nº 52, 2º Apt.107 3100–462 POMBAL T. +351 236 209 650 F.+351 236 209 652

24 / Business Excellence Awards 2016

Divided into specialist areas of practice, DNM offers services in different branches of public and private law, using lawyers with extensive experience in management and communication tools that allow them to provide a timely response to client´s needs.

DNM offers services in a wide range of areas of law, focusing on legal consultancy and legal practice (convencing and litigation), in fields such as: Commercial and Corporate Law, TI´s, Telecommunications and Media Law, Finance and Tax, Contracts, Credit Recovery, Labor and Social Security Law, Public Law and Regulations, Administrative and Procurement Law, Real Estate and Construction, Dispute Regulation and Criminal Law. Our team of partners and lawyers are fluent in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese To serve their clients effectively and efficiently anywhere in the world, our law firm has established close links with various international associations of lawyers, namely AEA-International Lawyers Network (www.aeuropea. com), the largest net of world´s attorneys, with one of our partners serving as Vice-President, and Justinian Lawyers (www.justinianlawyers.com), a multinational and prestigious association of law firms that are totally independent and act under their own responsibility, with delegations in the main countries of the world.

DNM has also created strong links through partnerships with foreign law offices and firms in all European countries and in USA, Brazil, Angola, Algeria, China, Japan and India.

Best MedTech CEO 2016

EYE TECH CARE Q - How does it feel to win this award?

A – First of all and on behalf of the whole team of EYE TECH CARE I would like to thank the jury very much for this award. I am honoured and it feels great for the team to get rewarded for all the work done.

Q – Please tell me about your firm, the work you do and the types of clients with whom you work.

A – EYE TECH CARE is a medical device company based in Lyon, France. Our business is in ophthalmology where we have developed a disruptive technology to treat glaucoma, the second cause for blindness in the world.

The device went through clinical testing and showed excellent results based on which we are starting now he commercialization.

Company: EYE TECH CARE Name: Dietrich Wolf Email: contact@eyetechcare.com Web Address: www.eyetechcare.com Address: 2871, Avenue de l’Europe 69140 Rillieux-la-Pape, France Telephone: +33 4 78 88 09 00

Q – Tell me about your business and your ongoing strategy?

A - Our clients are hospitals and ophthalmology clinics that treat glaucoma patients. For the time being our focus was in France but we are currently expanding into Europe and Middle East. Besides Europe our future markets are in middle income countries where glaucoma represents a serious problem and our device meets perfectly the market needs. We started the registration process in China and will launch operations in India in 2016.

Q – What difference would you say winning the award will make for you in terms of future business?

A – I see a double impact: On the one hand there is the internal as to the fact that this is a reward and a motivation for the whole team. We’ll take this as an opportunity for a small party, I guess … On the other hand there is an external impact. A reward from a credible jury is like a strong testimonial for business partners and the world of finance. This will be part of our news flow and certainly help to further build brand equity.

Q - Could you tell us about your prior working experience and how you draw on this in your current role?

A - Since I started in the medical device industry I was always working in technical and clinical innovation to open new market segments. I think this is a prerequisite to run a start-up that has developed a disruptive technology. The strong liaison between technology, clinical, marketing and finally commercialization is extremely important, you need to keep your eyes and ears open about market feedback and stay humble about your results. Never stop improving!

Q - What are your thoughts on the state of your industry currently? Are there any particular issues/changes that are affecting it?

A – In general, the Med Tech markets will continue to grow globally due to the demographic changes and the increasing spending and growing needs in healthcare. On the other hand, certain healthcare markets will continue to put pressure on the industry to provide cost effective solutions. This does not necessarily mean to cut prices but to have a better outcome for the patients or a better cost structure for the healthcare provider.

Q - What has been the most important thing you have learnt throughout your career so far and how has this helped you achieve success?

A – Don’t lose your big picture for where you want to take the business despite of temporarily difficult periods or attractive opportunities.

Q - What challenges and opportunities have you faced during your time here and how have they affected your role?

A – The reason for me to join this company was that I wanted to manage a balance sheet rather than a P&L. Interactions with investors worldwide, getting challenged by them while raising money, working with the board of Directors, is a great and rich experience for me.

Q - How do you manage your staff and how do you cultivate an atmosphere that is conducive to a productive working environment?

A – I prefer to be on the leadership side rather than on the managerial but this depends of course on the situation and the person. I give a lot of trust in people from the beginning and motivate them to work autonomously and in an accountable way. Mistakes and failures are not a problem unless they don’t come as a surprise because risks were not appropriately analysed.

Q - What is your process/approach when undertaking a new client or project?

A – First thing is to do find out if this is the right client or project within the strategic orientation. Depending on the topic discussions with all stakeholders and independent people need to follow in order to set the objectives and to get a team together with right competences. Then kicking the project off.

Q - What are your future aspirations regarding your business? Do you have any future plans/projects you would like to share with us?

A - Our plans are to expand commercially in Europe and to get our product to China and other middle income countries such as India and the Middle East. As a second step Latin American countries shall follow. Our aspiration is to make our innovative glaucoma treatment as standard of care for eligible patients.

Business Excellence Awards 2016 / 25

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Best Bespoke Luxury Tailor - London & Best Tailor Made Shirt Company – UK

Finicky Shirts creates outstanding bespoke shirts for clients in the United Kingdom and around the world, using traditional tailoring knowhow matched with awardwinning customer service.

The company’s knowledge and experience means it can offer personal service at every stage – from the initial taking of measurements to delivery to your door.

Company: Finicky Name: David Buisson Email: david@finickyshirts.com Web address: www.finickyshirts.com Address: 145-157 St. John St, London EC1V 4PY Telephone: 0845 3668543

Finicky Shirts We’ve all experienced the frustration of buying shirts off-the-peg. The only real measurement to go by is collar size, which means the fit of the shirt is random at best. Common problems include sleeves that are too short, shoulders that don’t sit properly, shirts that are too voluminous and buttons that strain when they shouldn’t.

Which is why Finicky Shirts was born. Tailoring made-to-measure shirts, it has transformed the way its customers think about clothing, and its unique system of measurement, design, tailoring and delivery means that customers are never short of a comfortable, well-fitting, head-turning shirt to wear.

Finicky customers choose every detail, from the colour, pattern and type of fabric to the button style, contrast detail and stitching. That means that each shirt is unique, and reflects the style and personality of the wearer. The company finds that customers tend to be conservative to begin with – two or three work shirts, for example – but quickly move on to smart-casual shirts and start to let their imaginations run wild.

“Finicky Shirts is fast becoming the company of choice when it comes to bespoke shirts,” said David Buisson, the company’s founder and Managing Director. “When you consider that some of our competitors have been tailoring for centuries, that’s a fantastic tribute to our tailoring and bespoke options – clients are looking for somewhere that reflects their style, and they just can’t find what they want – even from designer labels. So they pay less and get far more by choosing our bespoke service.”

The company is proud of its customer service. As far as Buisson is concerned, every customer should have an outstanding experience when they deal with Finicky – from the first enquiry to the final delivery. And that service extends beyond the first order: the company receives a huge amount of ongoing repeat business, because once a client’s measurements are taken, new shirts can be ordered, tailored and delivered with the click of a button.

Should measurements change, they are simply updated in the customer’s personal account.

“We bring the very best in customer service experience to a world that is set in tradition,” says Buisson. “We’re available to our customers at all times. We deliver to any doorstep in the world, free of charge. We advise our clients honestly, which means we build genuine relationships that ensure every customer knows how important they are to our business.”

A good time to tailor According to the company, this is the best time to be in the tailoring business. Men’s fashion may be an increasingly competitive market, but get the combination of quality, style and service right, and there’s a great opportunity for new businesses that understand customer needs and how to meet them.

Attitudes to office wear have relaxed over the past few years, and so whilst many professions still require a suit, shirt and tie, others are happy with a smart-casual look, and some actively embrace quirky style. Even the most straightlaced employers are bringing in more casual dress on certain days, or for particular occasions. This, says Buisson, is the perfect opportunity for men in particular to make their fashion mark with a well-chosen fabric, a bold contrast style, or just a really well-fitting shirt.

“Our customers are increasingly using the style, fabric, colour and fit of their shirts to distinguish their look, and choosing a customised shirt means there’s no way you’re going to look the same as everyone else,” he adds. “Our customers love the fact that taking the right measurements means the shirt fits them everywhere – not just around the neck – and the perfect fit means more self-confidence and a much smarter look.”

Size matters With a growing demand for its services and a raised profile with its target market, Finicky Shirts has put a growth strategy in place which will help it to continue to make customers happy. The company recently appointed Simon Griffith – who, with over 20 years’ experience in leading London fashion outlets on Bond Street and in Knightsbridge, including at time at Harrods, joins the company in a business development role. Griffiths has also run his own very successful menswear business, and created an exclusive range of wedding wear, so is the perfect choice for the next stage of the company’s development.

“It was an easy decision to come on board at Finicky,” says Griffith. “The company is constantly striving to provide its customers with the best possible product and the best possible experience. There’s nothing quite like seeing the transformation and appreciation of a customer who has never tried bespoke tailoring. That sudden lightbulb moment when they realise that a bespoke shirt makes them look and feel fantastic is a great thing to be part of.”

“We’re delighted to be winners in the Business Excellence Awards,” concludes Buisson. “It’s a real and valuable demonstration of the way we work with our clients, and opens our business up to a wider market. We’re determined to become the first tailor people think of when they want a bespoke service, and winning awards like this puts us well on the way to success.”

26 / Business Excellence Awards 2016

Best Digital Marketing & Brand Development Company – Belfast

GIANT Associates Limited provides a fully integrated range of commercially focused Design & Marketing and Training & Development solutions to; SMEs, Charities, Local Government and a wide range of Public & Private Sector companies throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe. We spoke to company director Craig McQueenie about what principles the company carry in order to achieve its success.

GIANT Associates Limited Established in 2003, GIANT is built on a compact company core with low overheads, resulting in the ability to provide a fully comprehensive range of integrated creative solutions that are commercially driven.

The company offer a variety of specialisms to clients, including: • • • • •

Brand Identity Specialists E-commerce Specialists Digital & Internet Marketing Specialists Creative Software & Digital Marketing Training & Development Specialists

• • • • • •

Video, multi-media & e-Learning Print Management Enterprise Level Hosting Platforms Bespoke Email Marketing Solutions Search Engine Optimisation specialists Commercial Photography

GIANT has developed an extensive network of resources and trusted ‘associates’ who are specialists in their fields. They assist with different aspects of the multi-disciplined projects and also with the training we deliver.

From this model, the company are able to provide the very best value to its respective clients and partners.

Uniquely, GIANT consult and partner with the main Creative Software companies and lead from the very forefront of the market in terms of software and technology. Not only does the company train and educate the leading Design Agencies in Ireland, but also partner with and develop solutions for and on their behalf.

GIANT is committed to building trusted relationships and to developing the sectors in which the company is involved, both as an education provider and as a commercially focused solutions provider.

Giant is a versatile and extremely agile team, delivering: • Exceptional value • • Rapid response & turnaround times on production • •

Exceptionally high level & dynamic range of skills Reliability Excellent customer service

At GIANT, the team truly value the trusted relationships they have with their clients and are very proud to maintain long-standing partnerships, many of whom have been with the company for over 10 years.

Craig expanded his thoughts on this, “Understanding the true value of a client and the importance of extending them excellent customer service has been the most important lesson I’ve learnt in business. I really value the relationships I have with clients and I am grateful that they allow us to become a valued member of their team and trust us to partner with them and their business”.

The company’s ongoing strategy is to continue to listen to its clients’ needs and continue to provide commercially focused solutions to help develop its business/organisation and to help the company to compete and grow in the marketplace.

Craig explains how having the correct planning strategy is essential to arise over challenges, “When you manage an extensive and dynamic platform as we do, time is the true enemy! Careful management of client expectations and strategic planning help us to overcome the challenges presented by each new project and indeed the successful management of a business”.

The company’s continuing partnerships with leading companies such as Adobe and Wacom are hugely important and something the team at GIANT are very proud of.

Company: GIANT Associates Limited Incorporating GIANT Design & Digital Marketing GIANT Training & Development Name: Craig McQueenie Email: craig@giantdesign.co.uk Web Address: www.giantdesign.co.uk Address: 1 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DJ Telephone: 07900 183 198

GIANT have been working on a new export strategy and have also just incorporated a new suite of cutting-edge project management, CRM and design software solutions and are looking forward to opening up new sectors.

Craig shared his feelings on winning the award, “We at GIANT are extremely proud to have been nominated for this Business Excellence award and for AI to announce us this year as Best Digital Marketing and Brand Development Company in Belfast. This prestigious accolade gives the company positive exposure to new clients and markets. The award helps validate the quality of service we provide to our clients and partners”.

GIANT have just opened the first Nettl studio in Northern Ireland, in Belfast. Nettl provides a complete, end-toend solution that will help the company deliver highly affordable web solutions for its existing clients and also potential new clients. The Nettl infrastructure also provides marketing collateral and central leads, through to clever systems to help pitch and streamline web projects.

Craig further explains, “This is exciting for us, as it opens up a sector of the market that we would not normally target, the integration of the Nettl platform however makes it profitable to do so”.

GIANT have seen a growth in clientele and have opened up many new doors to further the company’s success.

Having gained recognition in the industry and achieving this accolade, Craig and his team at GIANT aim to provide exciting opportunities and solutions in order to become an international name.

Business Excellence Awards 2016 / 27

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Most Sustainable Logistics Company - Greater London

Gnewt Gnewt Cargo is an award-winning, FORS accredited, last mile logistics company operating in the Central London congestion charge zone using a fully electric fleet of over a 100 vehicles. We catch up with Director and cofounder Sam Clarke to find out exactly what this innovative firm is doing to change London’s logistics industry for the better.

Gnewt Cargo is aiming to change “last mile logistics” globally and is doing so with what is currently claimed to be the world’s largest single city-based fleet of 100% commercial electric vehicles. The firm’s vision is to build on and remain the zero emission delivery firm of choice in London and within city centres in the UK and across the globe.

Now numbering more than 100 electric vehicles, the six-year-old business operates in central London but has ambitious plans to launch in cities across the UK and worldwide, with a hub in Oxford due to open.

Gnewt Cargo - an acronym for Green New Transportation - delivers parcels on behalf of a wide range of companies such as third party logistics companies, large retailers and also consults for other organisations including government departments.

Director and co-founder Sam Clarke founded the business with the mission to disrupt the logistics industry for the better, reducing pollution, particulate emissions and congestion while delivering better performance and door step experiences than any of its competitors. He believes that an increasing number of organisations recognised that while goods need to be moved around cities they can be transported more efficiently and in more environmentallyfriendly ways than in diesel vans in stop-start traffic.

He says: “Delivering goods in central London is both hard and expensive and we recognised that there was a more efficient way than the traditional method of companies travelling into cities from outside depots and using subcontractors.”

As a result, Gnewt Cargo operates a combination of 100% pure electric two- and three-wheel cargocycles and light commercial vehicles displaying clients’ livery as well as its own logo.

More than half the fleet is composed of Renault Kangoo Z.E vans and there are six Nissan e-NV200 vans as well as a mix of models from other suppliers. Vans are typically leased on three-year/30,000 mile contracts and travel an average 10-15 miles per day. Vehicle maintenance is undertaken in the company’s own workshops.

Expansion into Oxford will initially add approximately 10 electric vans to the company’s fleet.

The company’s four central London hubs are each equipped with a bank of recharging points. Independent verification by the University of Westminster suggests the company’s business model has cut CO2 emissions per parcel delivered by 62% and reduced kerbside space usage by 54%.

Company: Gnewt Cargo Ltd Address: Arch 45-51 Wardens Grove, London, SE1 0HT Phone: (+44) 0333 939 8855 Website: www.gnewtcargo.com

Mr Clarke explained: “Our cargocycles offer a flexible solution that combine the traffic beating agility of a bike with capacity comparable to a small van. Our vans are all electric and able to carry larger and heavier loads. This combination allows us to shape our service to suit all clients while reducing emissions and congestion.

“On average diesel delivery vans are only half full driving to the centre of a city and going to the same places. We consolidate deliveries that are going to the same place.”

Last year Gnewt Cargo delivered around three million parcels and is currently seeing expansion of around 15% year-on-year in terms of deliveries on behalf of existing clients as well as securing new business.

“In the early days van range, payload and weight were issues, but we have now become experts in the efficient operation of electric vans and the technology has improved,” said Mr Clarke.

Gnewt Cargo also says there have been huge commercial benefits to operating a 100% pure electric vehicle fleet.

“Businesses use Gnewt Cargo because they applaud the fact that we provide them with an environmentallyfriendly option,” said Mr Clarke. “Electric vehicles are our greatest asset, our USP, our differentiator. We are 100% electric and always will be.”

28 / Business Excellence Awards 2016

Best Osteopathy Clinic - Kent

Graham Yates Graham Yates is a Kent based Osteopath offering a wide range of treatments which are individually tailored to meet client’s needs. We invited Graham to talk us through his work and the techniques he employs to ensure each client receives the best possible treatment.

Company: Graham Yates Osteopath Name: Graham Yates Email: info@grahamyates.com Web Address: www.grahamyates.com Address: 27 Archery Square, Walmer, Kent, CT14 7JA Telephone: 07890198921 / 01304379954

I trained originally in osteopathy and undertook additional training in acupuncture and hypnotherapy. I have also studied Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT) under Professor Peter O Sullivan, and this technique is currently the best evidence based treatment for sufferers of low back pain.

Prior to becoming an osteopath I spent eight years working as a nurse in a busy London teaching hospital. This experience has influenced my knowledge and helped shape my therapeutic philosophy.

Within my current practice I treat people with musculoskeletal pain, but I am especially interested in people with persistent pain states and the issues that exacerbate their pain. I now treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome, headaches and migraines, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Alongside traditional treatments I also create customised exercise programmes which are emailed to my clients in video form to help them manage their conditions.

My business is based in my home town of Deal in Kent, and also in Lenham. I still practice from London in the NHS for two days a week, working alongside G.Ps, which has helped increase my knowledge base.

I have been accepted onto an MSc in Mindfulness starting in 2016. Although it might seem that I am a collector of qualifications, my reasons for these extra studies are to act as an adjunct to my osteopathic treatment as they each have unique and specific ways of adding value to treatment outcomes.

I have studied modern understanding of pain science and follow new research carefully. Whilst most areas in modern medicine are improving patient outcomes, the pain field is going backwards with many more people in the developed world reporting persistent pain than would have been the case in previous generations. There are many complex reasons for this but generally manual therapists have been using poor clinical assessment tools and outdated thinking. There are so many studies that are guiding us towards a change in our assessments and treatments to help improve our outcomes, but sadly the vast majority of pain specialists are using models that are stuck in the past.

As such, my aim is to give patients an evidenced based approach to treatment. Through my work, I have come to the understanding that a knowledge of the whole person in front of you, and not just the pain that they are suffering with, is vital to ensuring their recovery. This is especially the case when people have experienced pain for many months or years. That is why I developed a “Biopsychosocial” assessment form. This allows me to ask questions that guide me in the necessary approach that will maximise their outcomes. For example, insomnia has a strong correlation to pain as does stress and anxiety. Perhaps they have built fear or catastrophic thinking around their pain, or have become afraid of exercising, thinking it might be harmful. Once these risk factors have been identified, they can be treated with the necessary approach and may involve combinations of osteopathy, acupuncture, hypnotherapy or mindfulness/CFT. Interestingly the single best predictor of outcome in both psychotherapy and manual therapy is the relationship between the client and the practitioner. This “Therapeutic Alliance” is something that can be also worked upon and I give great attention to this aspect of my treatment as I know it will exert a strong influence on outcomes.

Therefore I try to give the correct amount of information and advice at each session, making sure I do not overload my patients with information and that they fully understand what is going on and feel supported. In addition, there is a great art in being a good listener and this is a fundamental tool in the therapeutic alliance. Very often people with persistent pain have been pushed from practitioner to practitioner and no one has spent time listening to their story, which can be fundamental to their recovery. It is also important to give hope and to instil the concept of treatment being a collaboration. I make clients understand that they will be required to be active in their treatment, helping to instil a feeling of self-control.

Looking ahead, I am keen to introduce Mindfulness more fully into my practise. I also hope to set up a company selling my services to the city, where I know there are many people that could benefit massively from my approach towards treatment of their mental and physical health. It is my ultimate ambition to operate exclusively from Kent, as well as selling my services to corporations in the City of London.

Business Excellence Awards 2016 / 29

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Best Software Development Company 2016 - UK

HeadChannel HeadChannel is a fast-growing software development company with a project team in London and programmers based in Poland, affording them an international reach. We spoke to Beata Green about the firm and how it strives to provide clients with the best possible products at all times.

Established ten years ago HeadChannel has grown and have built systems for a number of household names including At Your Service Group/FIFA, The William Pears Group, Smiley, NHS, Nestlé Purina, Help the Hospices, IPA, BBC Haymarket and many more. We provide user friendly solutions at an affordable price.

<HeadChannel> MAKING THE WEB WORK FOR YOU

Company: HeadChannel Ltd Name: Beata Green Email: admin@headchannel.net Web Address: www.headchannel.co.uk Address: 105 Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3BR Telephone: 020 7099 6399

During the past two years we have undertaken a number of projects which have significantly improved our reach, including building a new business intelligence platform for The William Pears Group that will greatly reduce the amount of time required to prepare complex financial reports and will provide an immediate overview of their business performance either in finance or HR. In addition, we built the stadium staffing recruitment and administration system used by FIFA during 2014’s World Cup event in Brazil and have been asked to build a new back-office administration system for a major Dutch employment agency that will be used by all of their many offices across Europe. This bespoke software platform handles every step of the recruitment process from application through to payroll and invoicing.

We are also experts at building software for resale i.e. software that is designed based on the needs of a specific market, not an individual client. The main reason we have moved into this area is the need to build in flexibility for future product changes - products need to be durable and yet flexible enough to absorb and embrace these changes with minimal impact on the business logic. We can offer any clients for whom we are building software for resale and who may be considering expansion into Eastern Europe, software redistribution services for their products.

Whilst the software industry is highly competitive, there are some great companies out there so we always strive to learn from our competition. We work on a hybrid basis, being able to offer local clients lower prices as a result of the relatively low overheads of our Polish office, but at the same time, we are here to meet with them during all stages of the project.

What sets HeadChannel apart is that many other UK-based companies are considerably more expensive, with daily rates often starting around £750 – more than double our standard rates. We are incredibly flexible. We can quickly react to new projects or work, something which many larger companies in this market are unable to do.

It can be difficult to gain new clients in this market and the sales cycles can be long, but I have found that patience and persistence are the key to success. Management of clients’ expectations is not easy, as building software is often not very measurable, hence good communication skills and methodologies is a priority for every company in this industry.

At the same time, increased adoption of cloud and mobile technologies, global expansion and growing concern about economic pressures are creating opportunities for the tech sector.

Another key challenge is that within the software industry there is a high staff turnover ratio, so firms always have to keep reviewing their core resources to ensure that they always have enough staff to meet clients’ expectations. As such we work hard to support our staff and strive to create a team in which everyone is happy, has a reasonable work/ life balance and is developing along a clear career path. We also believe our team and its knowledge are key to success hence passion for learning is a must. We have a very good team of talented people that have been with us on our journey for many years, and we are proud of everyone working with us currently, as they have all contributed to our success.

Looking ahead, our future plans focus on developing a network of partnerships in the UK, and to expand and grow into other markets – in particular the Scandinavian and U.S. markets. In May, we will be joining the Mayor’s International Business Programme, which aims to help 800 of London’s fastest growing companies break into international markets and become global success stories.

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Hamdallaye ACI 2000 Avenue of the National Library to place CAN, 10th Street on the left DOUCOURE Building 2nd Floor, A1 and A2 Offices BP 1450 Bamako (MALI) Website: http://www.hera-conseils.com Phone: (+223) 20 29 08 63 Fax: (+223) 20 29 08 65 Email: contact@hera-conseils.com

Best Legal Consultancy Firm in Mali

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Best Home Building Company 2016 - Cumbria

High Grange Developments Limited Company: High Grange Developments Limited Email: homes@highgrange.com

High Grange Developments Limited is a family owned business operating on the edge of the Lake district National Park in Cumbria. Ron Reed provides us with a fascinating insight into the firm and the housebuilding industry in the UK currently.

Established in 1998 High Grange has developed to establish itself as Cumbriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest house-builders. As business we nurture our own apprentices to learn mainly traditional skills under the watchful eye of experienced tradesmen and specialised agencies. By ensuring quality is never compromised High Grange has sustained a supreme reputation for the design and finish of the houses it builds.

As such our style is based around creating aesthetically pleasing designs which are combined with traditional building techniques. These homes are designed to harmonise with surroundings. This objective continues to meet and exceed the demands of a new generation of homeowners, with the emphasis being on producing exacting standards and attention to detail at every stage of the construction process. The results of this unique combination of principles have been rewarded with numerous prestigious consumer and industry awards over the years.

The largest current project we are working on is Keekle Meadows, a new mixed style housing development of up to 100 houses, is situated on the western outskirts of Cleator Moor, Cumbria. Formerly the hub of 19th & early 20th century iron and coal industry the locality is now predominantly a farming and rural area. The River Keekle runs nearby before it joins the River Ehen at Longlands Park. Many visitors pass through the area on the coast to coast route which starts a short distance away at St Bees. Concurrent with the construction project, the site is being landscaped which when complete will have restored the area to its natural state. Keekle Meadows is ideally located for access to the Lake District National Park also to the nearby towns of Whitehaven and Workington.

West Cumbria, where Keekle Meadows is situated, is the centre of High Grangesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; operations. The principal town of Whitehaven is enjoying a renaissance due to scholarly and tourism interest in its superb Georgian architecture and the development of the historic harbour which includes a flourishing marina. Paradoxically, the town hosts a considerable contingent of professionals employed on the design and construction of part of the next generation of nuclear powered electricity generating stations at Moorside, Sellafield. The town has historic links with George Washington, John Paul Jones (founder of the American navy) as well as the tobacco and rum trade. There are an abundance of pubs and restaurants in the town and around the harbour, providing our firm with an abundance of inspiration and a unique setting in which to create our masterpieces.

Within the house building industry there is a great deal of stagnation, and in my opinion the achieve is efficiency at all parts of the process, including land procurement, planning issues, dealing with officials, sales etc. The global recession has created a shortage of housing together with the lack of confidence for businesses to borrow and institutions to lend, and therefore there is still unease in the housing market, but this is slowly receding.

There are still a lot of companies out there providing poor quality services, and as such we always remain aware of this and take steps to mitigate against this wherever possible in order to ensure that confidence is retained within the wider industry.

Moving forward, the company will continue to adhere to the ethics of quality and consistency that have been recognised by these prestigious awards.

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Best Central Heating Consultancy - Tyne and Wear

Highly Efficient Heating Ltd Highly Efficient Heating Ltd was formed in October 2010 in Tyne and Wear. The firm is accredited with a PAS 2030 (Publicly Available Specification) and has since seen a vast growth in its client base over the past six years. The company has turned over two million pounds in the last two years. We spoke to the founder and MD of the company, Phil Hartley.

Highly Efficient Heating Ltd, are a customer focussed company who believe their customer service and quality of work are their priority. The company has a simple but effective approach that has helped them grow over recent years. Highly Efficient Heating Ltd work with a traditional approach, striving to ensure their customers’ needs are met and all their staff have a personal and friendly approach.

Phil Hartley spoke to us about the company. From the moment our customers first make contact with us either by telephone or by calling into the office in person, our office staff are warm and friendly. Whether customers are making enquiries about a new installation or a small repair, we try to offer the highest quality service possible, as a result of which we have built up a loyal customer base over recent years. We will often get a telephone call from one of our customers just to say hello and ask how everybody is and we all take a great pride in this.

To ensure our customers’ needs are met, we recognise that good communication is key. Our office staff are very thorough and ask a wide range of questions to make sure that we have a full understanding of their needs. We can reassure our customers that we are not only Worcester Bosch Accredited Installers to a Diamond standard, but also Checkatrade and Which Trusted Traders.

Our team of Engineers are fully qualified and undertake ongoing training to ensure that they can meet our high standards of service delivery and quality of workmanship. “We are very thorough and we try at all times to ensure that the customer is at ease, particularly in their own home, and can trust our engineers to carry out the work and deliver results, leaving the customer happy”.

As we frequently work with vulnerable customers such as Dementia patients, it is imperative that our engineers and office staff understand the circumstances and surroundings and therefore ensure the appropriate care is provided whilst giving them great service.

Phil started out his career at the age of 16; leaving school and starting a 4 year apprenticeship with the local authority, South Tyneside Council. At 20 years old, he worked for a local heating contracting firm for a year and gained invaluable experience, working on exclusive projects for the council, including his biggest project at the time, Wynyard Hall. Later in his career, Phil joined R Bland and worked as an engineer as part of that firm for a year.

Gaining practical experience in the industry gave Phil the opportunity to go self-employed, part-time at the age of 23 with a co-partner. This gave him a new perspective on his job role and also the industry at large. He soon realised how important it is to make sure all components of the business are working together in harmony to create a successful business. Phil had a vision and a business approach that pushed him to venture into starting up his own business as an individual in 2010, creating Highly Efficient Heating Ltd. Phil invested heavily in time and resources in order to achieve “GREEN DEAL INSTALLER” status for Highly Efficient Heating Ltd so they could operate in the new scheme, which was set up by the government but ultimately this scheme did not live up to expectations. However, this opportunity accredited the firm with the appropriate titles needed to be a safe and reliable consultancy. It also gave the firm a structure to take on a diverse range of work over Britain, including names like McMillan, Age UK, SSAFA and many more.

Our engineers have a 15 step rule when they are on the road and visit a customer, undertaking a variety of jobs, including installations and repairs. They follow this process while carrying out the job from start to completion to ensure the customer is given the quality of service promised.

Company: Highly Efficient Heating Ltd Address: Unit 218, South Shields Business Works, Henry Robson Way, South Shields, Tyne & Wear NE33 1RF Telephone No: 0191 4065300 Email: info@highlyefficientheating.com Web Address: www.highlyefficientheating.com

We are a very close-knit team and this has proven to be invaluable in the company’s recent growth and customer relations and we intend to build on this to continue to grow the company.

Phil also has plans to expand the sister company, Highly Efficient Homeplan, to a recognised brand in the northeast of England. He gave us a brief overview, “We currently offer our customers a choice of service plans after installing their boilers, offering peace of mind and personal care throughout the year. Our aim is to grow this business and reach out to a wider range of customers across the North East. We are also looking to provide this service to non-existing customers as right now this is only offered to existing customers who have had their boiler installed by Highly Efficient Heating Ltd”.

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Best Digital Label & Packaging Company - USA

Innovative Labelling Solutions ILS is a brand packaging expert with over 20 years’ experience in the package printing industry. The firm’s president, Jay Dollries, explains how the firm achieved its market leading position and the future plans it has to maintain it.

Established in 1996, ILS was initially founded as a family partnership that offered flexographically printed prime labels. In 2006 the company owners made the strategic decision to purchase its first HP Indigo digital press.

Since that time ILS has grown to become the North American market leader in digital print packaging with close to 90 employees.

As an early adopter of digital print technology ILS has become an industry thought-leader, remaining ahead of the digital printing curve by fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.

The firm serves mid-market and emerging brands as counsellors and collaborators that are invested in our client’s success, with some of the primary vertical markets served including craft beverage; distilled spirits; wine; beer; personal care and beauty; nutraceuticals; healthy and organic snacks; and household products.

As the firm’s president I am responsible for the major decisions that impact upon the firm, as well as the welfare and performance of my staff. One of the most important things I have learned along my professional journey is to be a decisive leader, being diligent in studying a market opportunity but not allowing for over analysis that leads to missed opportunities. It all comes down to being confident in what one knows, watching for emerging trends and acting on the opportunities.

Therefore I always keep a keen eye on the industry and remain alert to any emerging developments and trends.

The brand packaging industry is constantly evolving, as consumers demand greater relevancy in their brand experiences. Consumer brands need packaging solutions that give them the flexibility, creativity and speed to market, which allows them to disrupt consumer purchasing habits at the shelf. Thanks to the power of social media and digital advertising, consumer purchasing decisions are often made before the consumer even reaches the shelf.

These developments have made the brand packaging industry a competitive market to operate in, and standing out is therefore vital. ILS is differentiated from our competitors because of our experience in the CPG industry.

As a firm we understand what brands are up against at the shelf, and how the right package in the right hands can make a difference between the success or failure for a brand. We combine this with understanding package design, decoration, materials and finishes, and find ourselves defining digital print packaging conventions as a result.

To keep up with this constant evolution, firms such as ILS need to be as flexible and responsive as the market in which they operate. With the recent acquisition of our second HP Indigo 20000 digital press, ILS is equipped to develop and deliver solutions that meet the growing demand for flexible packaging and retain its position at the forefront of our industry.

Company: ILS - Innovative Labeling Solutions Name: Jay Dollries, President Email: information@ilslabels.com Web Address: www.ilslabels.com Address: 4000 Hamilton Middletown Rd. Hamilton, OH 45011 Telephone: 1-513-860-2457

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Ultimately, we are proud of our success as a business and are keen to continue to retain pioneering new and innovative ways to package products. Winning an AI Business Excellence Award is a genuine honour, and has impacted our company internally with a sense of pride and accomplishment. To be recognized on the international stage is something that lends additional credibility to the work that we do on behalf of great brands.

As a company that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration, we are hopeful this recognition will allow us to develop synergistic relationships on a much broader scale in the future.

Best for Bespoke Hardwood Kitchens & Fine Furniture - Denbighshire

Hothe Fine Kitchens & Furniture Based in North Wales, Hothe Fine Kitchens and Furniture make bespoke hardwood kitchens and fine furniture for their client base.

We moved to Wales in 2008 after purchasing a Welsh cottage to renovate. As we got to know more people in the area our workmanship was spotted and people began to commission Paul (who is currently Head of Design and Manufacture) to make kitchens from scratch after seeing our solid cherry handmade kitchen and free standing furniture pieces in our own home, a trend which has been happening for the last twenty three years.

I was in sales and marketing and I wanted to spend more time nearer to home as we had young children. As one thing led to another we set up a website in 2009 showcasing three handmade kitchens, furniture and other timber projects we had undertaken. After leaving my job in 2010 we then started to visit local architects which culminated in further kitchen commissions.

In May 2012 we opened our own showroom in Ruthin and since then our handmade furniture and kitchens have gone from strength to strength.

Each time we undertake a new client, we seek to treat the client how they would like to be treated and always aim to surpass their expectations. We listen to what is required and ask questions not only from a functional perspective but also from a whole picture perspective. Offering clients a service they can trust and assist them on every level, such as layout, furniture design, flooring and colour schemes. We focus on listening and highlighting important keys which allows us to get it right first time; and what happens most frequently is that our clients fall in love with their new addition which keeps our passion alive whilst we create it.

As we are certified by the CITB, our strategy is to establish a centre of excellence for woodworking.

We believe this is achievable by fully equipping our woodworkers so that we continue to build on our established reputation.

Experienced craftsmen are a rare breed these days in an increasingly automated world, by investing in their skillset we are concentrating on consistency of quality as well as ensuring longevity for what is currently a shrinking area of expertise. We have also implemented a new policy which is to plant a tree with the Woodland Trust for each new piece of furniture that we create. Trees are vital to a healthy environment and to our knowledge we are the only company actively doing this.

Company: Hothe Fine Kitchens & Furniture Name: Samantha Fowles Email: samanthafowles@gmail.com Web Address: www.hothefinekitchens.co.uk Address: 23 Clwyd Street, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1HH Telephone: 01824 707 047

The most valuable thing I have learned during my career is to listen to your client first and foremost.

Communicate regularly when embarking upon a project with them, update them with changes in timetables, which sometimes cannot be helped. What sets Hothe apart from the rest is that both business owners are at the top of their game in their respective fields which means that each influence the other culminating in a synergistic effect.

In terms of the impact winning this award might it will add credibility and build our strong brand identity and high street presence by reassuring clients that we are a wise investment for any hand built furniture needs.

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Business Solution Provider of the Year 2016

Merrill Corporation Merrill Corporation provides technology-enabled platforms for content sharing, regulated communications and compliance services. We spoke to Merlin Piscitelli, Head of Sales, DataSite EMEA to find out more about the company and what makes its products and services unique.

Company: Merrill Corporation Name: Merlin Piscitelli Email: Merlin.Piscitelli@merrillcorp.com Web Address: www.merrillcorp.com Address: 101 Finsbury Pavement, London, EC2A 1ER Telephone: +44 (0)20 7422 6100

Although we work in a highly competitive environment, we believe that the top standard of service we deliver is what separates us from our peers. Merrill Corporation offers the same dedicated service and support to each and every client, from day-one, no matter the size and complexity of the activity they’re engaged in. Ranging from support with due diligence on financial transactions to secure content sharing and contract management, we stand out from our competitors because our end-to-end solutions and project management service are second to none.

Furthermore, our team of highly driven professionals have years of combined experience and are able to guide each client and help them navigate a path through any complexity related to the process they’re working on. In this sense, we free our clients to focus on bigger opportunities and on their core business.

In total, Merrill Corp has more than 50 years of experience in supporting clients around the globe. As a result of our wealth of combined experience, our clients trust our innovative cloud-based solutions and subject matter expertise to successfully and securely share and deliver their most sensitive content. We work with corporations, their advisers and business leaders worldwide to support the events in their businesses lifecycle, including M&A, IPO, shareholder communications and filing services.

Looking further ahead, Merrill’s strategy for the near-term is to offer the best end-to-end solutions across three major international theatres – the Americas, APAC and EMEA. We have the breadth and depth of services to simplify complexity at every stage of the business lifecycle. Whether it’s a financial transaction, fillings with the SEC, managing contracts, or engaging and communicating with customers, we are dedicated to meeting and exceeding our clients’ needs. We plan to continue to expand into these global theatres to serve even more clients with complex content or regulated communications requirements.

In terms of my experience, I am a seasoned sales professional with over 15 years of experience growing companies, building teams and exceeding expectations. My experience is primarily with high growth software, SaaS, Cloud based (ASP) technologies and services with a strong client base of Fortune 500 companies, law firms and financial advisers throughout EMEA and North America. In each year I have been the top producer in the company worldwide and have lead my respective regional team/EMEA to the highest growth percentage top and bottom line in the organisation.

As for the award, we pride ourselves on being able to talk about our solutions as ‘award-winning’, and over the last eight years Merrill has been given more than 20 technology awards for excellence. From our perspective, it’s very important to us to continue to be recognised in this way, with external validation of our business excellence.

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Best for Educational Working Projects 2016

Motion Placements Ltd Motion Placements Ltd, which runs the project CityTravelReview, provide study working projects for young people ensuring they acquire valuable life skills such as learning a language, gaining an insight into a new culture and obtaining valuable and fun work experience which prepares them for the future. Jeremy Maki talks us through the firm and how it endeavours to support the young people of today.

Here at CityTravelReview our projects are a mixture of education and work experience, with the project members participating in a real life working project, creating an online published travel guide. Our projects take place throughout Europe and within cities such as Edinburgh, Berlin, Madrid, Lyon and Barcelona.

Each project incorporates a wide variety of experiences into one package, providing our customers with the chance to learn a foreign language, a culture, gain a super real world working experience, whilst simultaneously enjoying the best parts of a holiday. These factors are all combined to ensure that clients get the most out of their experience working with us. When the project members are learning a language and about culture they understand why and how this fits with creating a travel guide.

This company and project flow is very important because we are in a niche market and we want all of our customers within our niche to fully understand and comprehend the projects.

Our business has been growing at a rapid pace and we now have way more than 200 young people joining our projects for 1-3 months who leave us encouraging positive feedback. It is not unusual to have repeat customers, friends of past project members or acquaintances or even relatives of past project members joining our teams the following year.

Company: Motion Placements Ltd (CityTravelReview Projects) Name: Jeremy Maki Email: info@citytravelreview.co.uk Web Address: www.citytravelreview.co.uk Address: 14-15 Main Street, Longniddry, East Lothian, EH32 ONF, Scotland Telephone: 0131 208 2741

In order to support our growing client base, our staff have backgrounds in either recruitment, education, languages, culture, communications, history, geography, tourism, media, journalism and other creative areas.

Each day all of the skills within these industries help us in our day to day duties on a CityTravelReview project.

Working within such a fast paced industry means that we have to deal with a number of external issues, including travel problems, visa regulations, the weather, currency fluctuations and rule changes. Unfortunately, we have no or little control over many of the external factors mentioned, which can have a large impact on our projects. However we always endeavour to support our clients through any issues, and to stay ahead of industry developments so that we can deal with them as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Therefore, we believe that research is the key to offering a project which is as future proof as possible. There have been projects that we simply have not launched due to a possible negative uncertainty, when the negatives outweigh the positives or when we do not have enough knowledge or information, an unsure feeling that something can work or when the negative risks of the project are simply too high. We always must be confident in a project and we are not able to start a project until we know this is a project we definitely want to follow through with and are totally confident that we are able to run the project.

Collaboration within our industry is also vital to ensure the survival of businesses such as ours. We believe that the other people within our industry can work better together and not always strive in competition. There are many areas which can have a mutual benefit for all other industry players if some of the other firms shared ideas a little more. If we all came together, this would in turn open up the possibilities of more opportunities for all and also create a better experience for prospective customers when they are deciding which companies they would like to do business with.

Winning this award is very positive news; it is always nice to be recognised with any of our achievements. For us, it shows we are taking a step in the right direction and for the company this can only have a strong positive effect moving forward.

As such the future looks bright for the firm, and growth is key to our future plans. Although we are pleased to announce we grow considerably each year, we are always monitoring the rate and the growth to quality ratio.

We would like to partner with another organisation that is interested in a mutual benefit that can only catapult both organisations in an upward direction, so that we can expand our services whilst retaining our high quality service offering.

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Best Tangible Asset Management Advisors - USA

Pall Mall Art Advisors was established in 2010 to meet the changing demands to the collecting of Fine Art and other high-value assets. We spoke to Anita Heriot, President of Pall Mart Art Advisors in North America, to find out more about the company, and how its highly innovative approach has led it to grow and expand its services.

Company: Pall Mall Art Advisors Name: Anita Heriot Email: aheriot@pallmallartadvisors.com Web Address: www.pallmallartadvisors.com Address: 1150 First Avenue Suite 150, King of Prussia, PA, 19406 Telephone: +1 610 254 8400

Pall Mall Art Advisors At our company, we act as independent advisors for those wishing to buy or sell Fine Art, antiques, jewellery and high-value collectables. We also provide valuation services for the purposes of insurance, estate and tax planning and we are at the cutting edge of modern collections management.

Tangible asset management is the umbrella term describing the three key elements of our business – valuation, brokerage and collections management – that provide our clients with a 360 degree management of their assets.

As a company specialising in Fine Art, antiques, jewellery and high-value collectables, we understand their value to the owners, not just in the sense of conservation, display, storage and insurance, but also as repositories of significant monetary value. In order to achieve a balanced portfolio, there needs to be an awareness of current values, which is why we have over 40 specialist appraisers in the US and more than 20 in the UK and Europe who assist clients with their collections.

Our clients include established collectors, novice investors, trusts, businesses and institutions. However, we are experiencing more and more people who come to us as a way of broadening their investment portfolio and as an alternative to the traditional commodity and asset markets, which have experienced significant volatility in recent months and years.

When working with clients, we act in the strictest confidence, which is something that our clients really value. When a new client approaches us, or is referred to us, we will assess what art assets they possess and begin the process of valuing their collection. This will enable us to come up with a plan for the management of those assets, and we will then take a proactive approach to maintain and maximise the value of their entire collection.

During this process, clients will be assigned one of our directors, who will act as a trusted point of contact. At Pall Mall Art Advisors, we always provide a personal yet professional approach in everything that we do.

Many investors and collectors now realise that art collecting and investment can represent a relative safe haven compared to the often volatile markets associated with traditional investments. You only have to look at the price paid for works by the masters such as Monet, Picasso, Caravaggio and their peers to see that art represents a very stable and potentially profitable investment. Our job is to ensure that whether a client is purchasing a million dollar work or a five thousand dollar work, that the object holds its value over time.

As independent advisors, we serve as a firewall for dealers, auction houses and less experienced art advisors. When our clients need to downsize or sell their collections, we work to provide the highest revenue and the most professional service. We negotiate on behalf of the client with the auction houses and dealers to ensure a smooth and profitable transaction.

We also work with our clients to help them with other tangible assets ranging from jewellery to rare manuscripts. These and other tangible asset investments, such as vintage wine and prestige classic cars, have seen a significant increase in price in recent years.

One of our core missions is education. We conduct continuing education courses for insurance brokers, accountants, financial planners and the legal community. Much of what we are doing is educating those who manage our clients’ liquid assets in the strategies around managing the tangible assets.

Since our inception six years ago, Pall Mall Art Advisors has constantly sought to improve the quality and delivery of its services in order to meet the requirements of modern collectors and investors.

Transparency is one of the bedrocks of our service platform. Our fee structure is clearly spelled out. We charge an hourly fee for appraisals and charge a consistent commission for the acquisition and sale of our clients’ tangible assets.

Our particular approach has led the business to experience rapid growth and we now have offices in several US cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Atlanta.

However, we remain close to our roots as a company founded in the UK, which is why we recently moved our London headquarters to a new office in the heart of the Capital’s high-art district in St James’s Place, Pall Mall. Alongside this we have also launched another office in Amsterdam to meet the demand for our services in Europe.

At the moment, we are focusing on consolidating the gains we have made since our launch, while also trying to attract new clients from a broader audience. Looking to the future, our plan is to build upon our current success to ensure that our clients continue to receive a first-class service.

Our optimism for the future of our business is based upon the current condition of the art market and the changing attitudes of investors. The difficult years of the 2008 financial crisis are now somewhat behind us and while the markets are by no means stable, the situation left behind has helped us to strengthen our position in the investment sector.

Our goal is to become leaders in thought and practice in the management of tangible assets.

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Best Communication Training Company - UK

Partners With You Founded in 2000, Partners With You are a communication training company providing workshops focusing on confident presenting, leading others, excellence in service, increasing sales and building teams.

No matter how experienced a client is there are moments when they do not feel as confident as they would like to. It might be when standing in front of a camera or on a stage but it can just as easily be when having a difficult conversation with a colleague, speaking to an important client, trying to get their team to collaborate or dealing with a complaint. There are techniques out there that will help you be more confident and effective and many of them are from the world of theatre.

As such we offer a range of communication training for our clients to help them deal with situations such as this.

We take the techniques that actors learn at drama school to get them on the stage, in front of the cameras or into an audition and have adapted them for the business world. We help our clients sell more, manage better and collaborate more effectively by giving them the tools to look, sound and feel more confident and therefore come across as more competent. The business now, predominantly, utilises a multi-talented team of experienced actors to teach business people how to communicate more effectively.

Our clients range from solopreneurs to staff in large corporations; students just joining the workforce to senior leadership teams. We have run workshops for bus drivers, tour guides, financial managers, accountants, lawyers and teachers as well as architects, civil engineers and medical staff.

Company: Partners With You Ltd Name: Sally Hindmarch Email: sally@partnerswithyou.co.uk Web Address: www.partnerswithyou.co.uk Address: Tempus Court, Bellfield Road, High Wycombe, Bucks. HP13 5HA Telephone: 01494 453910

We run a variety of different workshops, both bespoke and public, with the aim to provide down-to-earth, fun and interactive training to enable delegates to get the most out of their time with us. Our strategy is to work hard to expand our new client base through networking, conferences/exhibitions and referrals while still retaining our long term clients and expanding our services to them.

Having spent the last few years growing our profile within the tourism sector we are now also expanding our programmes designed specifically for female executives at the start of their management careers.

The training marketplace is buoyant with more companies than ever seeing the need to support their staff. All the research I have read shows that the young people entering the marketplace expect their employers to provide the training they need to deliver their best. These young people have no concerns about upping sticks and moving on to another company that provides them with better training than their current one. There is also a better understanding and more research into the way that we learn and how long we remember so experiential courses such as ours are more in demand.

During my career one of the most important things I have learnt is that change is constant and it is important to take time out to review your successes and achievements as well as your goals. It is all too easy to forget how far you have come and only remember the things that you haven’t achieved. Concentrating on your achievements allows you to take more risks and ride the waves of change as they come towards you.

We still have clients that were with us when we ran our first Presentation & Confidence Building workshops and through everything our focus on Customer Service and being open to change has helped us weather the storms.

In regards to creating a productive working environment, I make sure that our staff are well trained. Having trained them I empower them to make the decisions that they need to, to get their jobs done. I think it is important that they understand that having the title “manager” or “director” doesn’t mean I know everything and that their opinion is as valid as my own. I want a team who ask questions and speak up if they think there is a better way of doing something.

Each time we take on a new client, I want to make sure that the approach we take suits their needs and that any adaptations are made to make the training deliver on all counts. It can be difficult to prove a return on investment on soft skills training as there are so many variables that we have no control over but we need to ensure that those we can control are addressed.

Once a client has given us the go-ahead we document the project so that they know exactly what we are doing for them and then keep them updated right up until and beyond the day of the training. Training is often only a tiny element of our client’s role and it’s important that we make it as simple as possible for them to work with us.

Looking ahead to the future, we will be looking to continue to grow our portfolio of programmes while maintaining our current level of customer service and adapting to whatever changes are around the corner. Our overall aim is to gain a reputation as the best communication training company in the country and this award is a step in the right direction!

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Best National Nail Studio - UK

Perfect Nails Studio & Academy Company: Perfect Nails Studio & Academy Name: Maria Sirokai & Robert Szabo Email: info@perfectnailslondon.co.uk Web Address: www.perfectnailsuk.com Address: 543 Green Lanes, London N80RL Telephone: 02083415378

Perfect Nails Studio & Academy is a dynamic and growing company which has existed in many European countries since 1992. We spoke to Maria Sirokai, to find out more about their business and to hear their thoughts on winning this award.

Perfect Nails Studio & Academy are a rapidly growing business, expanding throughout the UK by and attending every nail competition in the country, with huge success our students always bring home the gold medal in one of the categories. We deliver the same high standard in the salon too, competition style nails to every customer with affordable prices.

The Perfect Nails range of products has expanded each year since inception over twenty years ago, developing the latest trends and techniques to offer our technicians the best products possible. Our products are of good quality and can be used professionally which allows for individual or bulk product sales. These products are ideally suited for company owners, beauty salons, beauty schools, students and also customers as well.

The business began when I arrived to London in 2012 after receiving a fantastic opportunity from Perfect Nails Hungary to become the first Perfect Nails Academy in London, offering group and private courses to anyone who is passionate about becoming a nail technician.

Setting up the shop was a challenge, and took a lot of hard work and diligence. When everything was finally established it was beautiful, and well worth all the difficulties we have faced.

In order to ensure clients receive the best possible service, I always aim to ensure that their nails are perfect by examining every aspect of their style, as well as communicating with them to establish what they require.

After she decided the length and shape, I start do the nails. If the client has given me free reign to do whatever I choose then I know that I will give them something which is truly outstanding. I want them to say wow when it is finished.

This approach makes Perfect Nails one of the best and most innovative range in the nail industry, and our policy is to provide our experts with professional material with superior quality at a reasonable price. The quality of the Perfect Nails Product helps me to be successful in the competitions and spread the word about the business.

One of the biggest challenges the shop has faced since inception has been getting the staff to operate as a team. In order to achieve this I have cultivated a friendly atmosphere which fosters strong friendships so that staff can feel included and supported.

Over the next five years everyone in the industry will hear about Perfect Nails Studio & Academy success. All over England we are going to have distributors and training centres. Perfect Nails girls will attend nationwide beauty shows and nail competitions to build a good reputation.

With regards to my attendance at nail competitions, I will not be participating in any this year, as I have been honoured by an invitation from Denise Wright to act as a judge. Being asked to judge by such a renowned industry name is a genuine privilege and I was delighted to be able to say yes, and look forward to my time as judge.

Ultimately my vision for the firm is to operate nail academy, offering the chance for clients throughout the country to learn the techniques which can help them to offer superior quality nail art to their friends and family.

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Most Efficient Healthcare Start-Up Business Boutique - Europe

SCIENTEX SCIENTEX is an interim, advisory, transition management & sales agent company dedicated to the healthcare & life sciences sectors. We invited Tim Muller to provide us with an insight into his business and what it takes to reach success in this industry.

SCIENTEX are seen by many as a low cost and high value added competitive alternative to the recruitment of both a Chief Financial Officer and a Chief Business Officer. As a firm we are able to act as executive Sherpa for C-level managers by driving the operations of their corporate, financial and business affairs.

The company also offers a wide range of support including corporate development, corporate finance and corporate communications. Thanks to BIOTECHNEWS, our corporate communication platform, we have the tools to target 500,000 professionals and investors active across the biopharma and finance markets, from manager to C level.

In addition, we can also offer corporate intelligence support thanks to a huge in house database of 21, 000 market studies. This includes company coverage, a disease overview, pipeline and product forecasts, epidemiology, deals, treatment trees, stakeholder insights, trends & outlooks and an operation database.

This vast range of services enables us to support a wide client base, who are typically healthcare SMEs and private equity funds from across the healthcare and pharmaceuticals sectors.

In terms of our strategy, Scientex is acting globally and pragmatically on all aspects of corporate development and corporate finance. We are also able to offer support on strategic alliance and business communications.

Our objective is to allow its clients to enjoy its track record from science to stock exchange (+100 deals to date) and its network (+31 000 biopharma dealmakers) in order to act in the name and on behalf of them, the most effectively possible at corporate level.

In order to achieve this we employ a client centred approach to ensure we exactly meet their needs. Each time we undertake a new client we listen to their needs and deliver what is expected and propose more. The more we can help and the more we are used by our clients is our primary goal. In other words, we are not driven by the scalability in advisory and in earning more and more money but we are driven by adding the most value we can add, only

by Scientex’s associates only.

Our associates aim is to save time for its clients by being immediately operational. They are structured to be able to work effectively 60% more than the average working time in Europe. As an example, during the past 4 years, Scientex’s associates reached to have closed to 3 times more one to one meetings with pharmaceutical companies and investors during the BIOeurope, BIO convention. Last but not least, working with Scientex will allow you to reduce your labour costs thank to our low cost fees.

Operating in France has provided us with a number of exciting opportunities. Currently within the healthcare industry there is a limited skills pool, with the employment market displaying a lack of flexibility and the high cost. In order to support clients searching for the best talent we created SCIENTEX as a flexible and low cost alternative for biopharma companies.

Company: SCIENTEX Name: Tim Muller Email: tm@scientex.eu Web Address: www.scientex.eu Address: 5 avenue d’ouessant, 44500 La Baule Escoublac, France Telephone: +33 645 523 540

Throughout my career arguably the most important thing I have learnt is to make the most of the time you have. In regards to the challenges and opportunities we have faced, our goal is to maintain pragmatism and efficiency for our clients. We see our flexibility, hard-working attitude and low cost structure as a strong warranty for our loyal customers.

Instead of a staff of employees, SCIENTEX has two associates who are also partners in the firm, meaning that they have an agenda to ensure the firm’s survival. As such our clients always receive the very best services that we have to offer.

My goal is to remove the scalability in the consultancy business where lots of value is destroyed. Currently, a client is signing a contract for consultancy or transition management with a partner and then the job is done by a Junior Consultant on a day to day basis, only the reporting to the client is done by the Associate or partner level. With SCIENTEX, the job is done by the two Associates therefore SCIENTEX is offering and delivering the full value of its two Associates to its clients.

Looking ahead to the future, our plan is to support the growth of a biopharma company in Europe, from a business development and corporate finance development prospective. Since Scientex’s Associates have really been involved in +100 deals to date around the world, our ambition is to make something vast in term of step in value creation.

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Best Industrial Battery & Charging Company - East Midlands

Sec UK Industrial Battery Ltd SEC UK based in the East Midlands provides bespoke battery packs and designs for its customers. We spoke to Neil Turner to find out more about the company and to hear his thoughts on winning this award.

Company: SEC UK Industrial Battery Ltd Name: Neil Turner Email:secuk@live.co.uk Web Address: www.secukbattery.co.uk Address: The White Lodge, Leicester Road, Ravenstone, Leics, LE67 2AQ Telephone: 01283 215040

SEC UK is an independent battery company who work with a wide variety of clients: from golfers requiring a single unit to power their trolley to the large companies with pallet quantities for many applications. With an engineering degree and many yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience within the industry we are also very open to new clients with concept ideas who need guidance as to the power requirements of their ideas and how this can be made to work. With knowledge in all chemistries we can offer the Lead Acid AGM and gel to Lithium and NiCad so a solution can be found.

We specialise in industrial batteries to provide mobile power solutions along with sound engineering knowledge, our ongoing strategy will be to develop the market place to allow for new ideas through clients to supporting long term the requirements.

I have worked for many battery companies over the last thirty years and gained knowledge in many of the chemistries so I am not limited to just thinking a Lead Acid battery is the only solution. I can design and commission designs around the requirements of the product and offer a bespoke design package to meet the needs of the client.

Within the battery market there are a number of developments which will provide firms such as ours with exciting opportunities for growth. The majority of the time the right battery is selected for the project, but sometimes there is a tendency to use a battery technology just because it is trendy and state of the art. There may not be a true reason to use this chemistry as it may not be the best solution but it is marketed as the best product. The trend of selling batteries in this manner may lead to issues in the future, this is where engineering and knowledge of the batteries is so important so the correct long term solution is found. Over the next two-five years there will be some exciting new developments in the industry which will lead to new solutions and faster charging which will open up the mobile equipment market and energy storage applications.

The most important thing I have learnt in my career is to think outside the box and be open to new ideas, do not be limited by what is in front of you but use the experience to find a solution to satisfy the need. Having a sound knowledge is key when you have a customer who has a mind set for one option when others may be a better solution, so good people skills are obviously key.

There are so many chemistries and an in-depth knowledge is needed as they are so different, so being able to understand, adapt and apply the knowledge to achieve an end result for the customer and application can be a challenge.

Our approach to a new client remains consistent, we listen to the remit, do not get caught up in a selling culture and find the right solution for the client. This approach comes from being an Engineer knowing what is needed, not just trying to sell a battery because a sale is needed. Looking at something to see how it can be improved with cost implications is most important.

The problem within our industry is people try to chase price and not the correct solution which inherently gives batteries a poor reputation. People will always blame the battery for failing when the majority of the time it is a wrong battery or wrong charging issue or poor perception of what the battery can achieve. Usually people specialise in just one chemistry, I have the ability to look at all technologies with the ability to engineer a solution, I would like to think we can be considered to be a Design Point.

Looking ahead to the future it would be nice to see the business grow and also to have the opportunity to design more new products as this part is exciting and plays to my engineering strengths.

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Best Global Digital Sports Media Company

Sports Perfecta Sports Perfecta is a digital sports media company focusing on fantasy sports which is based in Marina Del Rey, California. The firm offers unique fantasy games for niche sports including horse racing, sumo wrestling and soccer.

Company: Sports Perfecta Inc Email: hiro@sportsperfecta.com Web Address: http://www.sportsperfecta.com Address: 4136 Del Rey Avenue, Marina del Ray California Telephone: 808-364-6344

Sports Perfecta is a U.S based subsidiary company of Grand Perfecta Inc, a successful Japan based horse racing and data analytics company. Hiro Watanabe, CEO of Sports Perfecta is highly thrilled and optimistic about breaking into the U.S market with such a fresh and innovative business. The firm offers fantasy sports technologies that covers daily, seasonal and commissioner based fantasy sports games on the web, mobile web, iOS and Android devices.

Hiro is an entrepreneurial executive with over 10 years of business experience in the international sales and business industry.

Hiro shares his thoughts on how he feels winning this honour will excel the company’s future in the U.S market: “Although we’re still barely known in the U.S, we envisage that this award could help inform the market that we’re a focused and committed bunch of people with undying love for sports, especially fantasy sports.”

With new U.S legislation facilitating the growth of Fantasy Sports across the U.S, Sports Perfecta hopes to progress and develop interesting contents that will broaden horizons and set new standards in fantasy sports.

Focusing on two main business strategies, B2C and B2B2C, Hiro shares his valued approach towards achieving successful results: “We reach out to end consumers via our FanXT brand and we strike partnership deals with other businesses that are keen to venture into fantasy sports market.”

Undertaking the responsibility of doing business across an international platform can be challenging, as there are many barriers that intervene between businesses. However, Hiro has not let this come in the way of creating opportunities for Sports Perfecta, and the firm looks set to flourish and become a successful name in the fantasy sports industry around the world.

Hoping to develop the company’s future in the U.S, Hiro shares his thoughts on what the future holds for FanXT. “We aspire to be the most recommended alternative fantasy sports provider in the U.S, reaching users through web, iOS and Android devices by providing innovative and niche apps and contents for the global audience.”

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Best for Weddings & Events - Northern Ireland

As one of the top 100 best wedding venues worldwide, The Carriage Rooms is perfect for weddings, conferences and special occasions in Northern Ireland.

The Carriage Rooms at Montalto We are a multi-purpose venue and can cater for almost anything from a small dinner party of 30 guests, to a twoday event for 10,000 people. Valued clients at The Carriage Rooms include Invest NI, KPMG, Circuit of Ireland Rally and Great Game Fairs of Ireland, as well as numerous individuals and bridal couples.

Our aim at The Carriage Rooms has always been to provide an exclusive venue and the highest standard of service, against a backdrop of magnificent, private and luxurious surroundings.

We have set ourselves a very high bar and our aim is to maintain these standards, and to constantly strive to improve upon them. We are proud to have built our wedding business mainly through word of mouth recommendation and although we feel that The Carriage Rooms is very unique and exclusive, we are aware that there is a lot of competition in the wedding market.

To help stay ahead, we are pro-active in continually making changes to our offering. Keeping our look fresh and innovative means that returning guests will always enjoy a completely new experience each time they visit.

On the events side of the business, we are currently looking at ways to build an infrastructure that will better service this market. We have found that, increasingly, companies booking a conference or an ‘away day’ are looking for on-site accommodation, so this is something we are giving serious thought to. We are also developing the estate grounds and liaising with local activity groups, to offer enhanced corporate packages.

As Venue Manager at The Carriage Rooms I play a pivotal role in the day to day running of the operation.

Whatever the task, I like to have everything well planned out and that helps give people confidence. Clients put a lot of trust in us to deliver the wedding of their dreams or a prestigious showcase event. The hard work comes from the preparation before, not the event itself.

You have to make sure and tune in as well as be sensitive to each client’s individual needs and to achieve the consistently high level of service that we offer. Our planning and event management must follow the same meticulous process whenever it comes to ensuring preparation is all that it should be. It may be a new experience for the client, but thanks to our expertise, we can provide the confidence that the event will run smoothly and to their expectations.

I take notes constantly and have forms and checklists for every stage of the process before an event as well as follow-up meetings along the way. That provides a great framework for everyone involved but you’ve still got to be flexible. The main thing is being able to listen to what your client wants but it’s crucial not to just say yes to everything. If I don’t think something is going to work or we can’t do it then I’ve got to say so. They may be disappointed for the moment but if it went wrong on the day it would be ten times worse.

Having the right team behind you is also essential in a business such as this, where staff interact with clients face to face. I think it’s vitally important to maintain a level of trust between management and staff. If I’m asking someone to do a particular job I have to have faith that they will do it to the best of their ability and, in return, I won’t ask anyone to do anything I wouldn’t do myself. It’s all about mutual respect.

We measure our success not in terms of sales volume but on customer satisfaction. Our reputation is everything to us and we take enormous pride in that. A great deal of thought goes into everything we do, for instance it took only 13 months to build The Carriage Rooms but that was after approximately 4 intense years of planning to ensure every last detail was just right.

Company: The Carriage Rooms at Montalto Name: Keith Reilly Email: info@thecarriagerooms.com Web Address: www.thecarriagerooms.com Address: The Carriage Rooms, Montalto Estate, Spa Road, Ballynahinch, Co Down, BT24 8PT Telephone: +44 (0)28 9756 6100

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The Carriage Rooms at Montalto Estate in Ballynahinch, County Down is delighted to have been named ‘Best for Weddings & Events - Northern Ireland’. For those who have booked an event with us, or who are considering doing so, this award offers additional reassurance that we have achieved success due to our dedication and passion for this industry and will continue to work hard to achieve more. It’s also satisfying that we have won the accolade not just as a top class wedding venue, for which we are most widely known, but also for our first-rate events facilities.

Our vision is to develop into a major tourist attraction in Northern Ireland and we have lots of ideas; the potential is huge, but we want to make sure we get it right. After extensive research, we have identified a number of key areas for development. We’re at the stage where planning permission has been submitted. We have met with a number of bodies and groups and all have given really positive feedback. We’re confident this development will be good for the local community too, encouraging more involvement in the estate and creating new jobs.

Best SME Business 2016 - UK

Treat Your Skin Limited In 2015 the TreatYourSkin team were overjoyed to be awarded Trethowan’s SME business of the year award. Since winning the award we have continued to grow and evolve as a team and company. So to win the AI SME business of the year in 2016 is very humbling and means a great deal to the whole team at TreatYourSkin.com.

Over the last 10 years TreatYourSkin. com has grown dramatically and now stands as one of the leading (online) hair and beauty retailers in the UK. Offering luxury hair and beauty products the world over at unbeatable value.

Company: Treat Your Skin Limited Name: Chris Rice Email: chris.rice@treatyourskin.com Web Address: www.treatyourskin.com Address: Unit 8 Downley Point, Downley Road, Havant, Hampshire PO92NA Telephone: 02392 415 032

It’s a great feeling to know we are being recognised by our peers for our achievements amidst such strong competition. We’d like to think of ourselves as a dynamic and forward thinking company. I believe one of our strengths is the ability to react quickly to market trends. We are constantly working to exceed the expectations of our customers and clients alike.

We have strong relationships with our brand partners and work hard to build mutually beneficial agreements. These partnerships help us offer better value to our customers and provide a richer and more rewarding experience in everything we do.

I first met Chris Hobbs (CEO of TreatYourSkin) at American Express back in 1999. We were both data analysts.

Chris launched TreatYourSkin back in 2006 after Susan Hobbs (mum) gave him the idea to start a business in skincare as a way to earn a bit more for his new family.

Chris set about starting his company in his spare time, focusing on online sales within niche skin care markets.

After just 2 years he had grown TreatYourSkin significantly, smashing the million pound turnover from the confines of his parent’s house.

Constantly striving to improve and focusing on long term ambitions, Chris worked to capitalise on his success. He reinvested the profits back in to the company and focused on bringing on board other niche brands.

TreatYourSkin eventually moved in to its first warehouse and in early 2010 I joined Chris and worked with him to push TreatYourSkin to new heights. Focusing on growth and further development of the business. During this time we were exceptionally driven. We decided to start focusing on more widely known brands to promote our online presence and to give TreatYourSkin a little more recognition.

By 2012 we had moved warehouse on 3 seperate occasions due to exponential growth. TreatYourSkin was becoming one of the key players online. In the same year we successfully launched TreatYourSkins’s 1st salon based in Havant. This enabled us to secure partnerships with key salon brands and became official stockists for GHD, Elemis, Decleor, Kerastase, Tigi, Redken and Skinceuticals, to name a few.

We then turned our attention to own brand development. We worked alongside a UK based manufacturer to help us with the creation and subsequent launch of Cellfade a premium skin enhancement product. We turned to a US company to help us create the luxury anti age skin care range Neon and Noble. Both were launched successfully and are now available internationally.

Our team has steadily increased in size and capability. We now have 16 employees to help the company run to its full potential and to help offer the level of service our customers have come to expect from us.

We could not have achieved what we have today without the full support, dedication and hard work of the TreatYourSkin team. This award is seen as a collective achievement for everyone here.

Equally the continued support from all our new and existing customers and loyal clients alike; They are what help motivate us and keep us developing as a business.

The hair and beauty industry is bursting with creativity and ever changing. It’s difficult to truly understand how things will evolve and move forward, but its clear brand development and overall sales strategies are heavily influenced by the consumer experience. Social media and related content channels have proven extremely powerful in offering valuable insight to what works and what doesn’t.

Today, whilst there are ingenious methods to help profile consumer behaviour, purchasing trends are not always predictable. This keeps things uniquely fresh and exciting for online businesses. The challenge for us is to ensure we are continually disrupting and setting new trends. It’s also imperative we remain responsive and continue to react to new market opportunities.

Looking ahead TreatYourSkin will continue to build and develop as a company. We have strong foundations and an experienced team. We will continue to listen to our customers and focus on improving their online / offline experiences.

We’d like to thank AI for this amazing award. It means a great deal.

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Best Handmande Canoe Company - UK

Valkyrie Craft Canoes and Classic Boats Valkyrie Craft is a small family operated business with a focus on making handmade traditional style canoes, kayaks and other paddled boats. We spoke to Founder John Wilkinson to find out more about the business and to hear his thoughts on winning this award.

Here at Valkyrie Craft our focus is on retaining very personal customer relations, allowing us build to order and thereby producing high quality individualised end products. Following recent sales abroad we aim to develop our export potential though a strong commitment to the above philosophy. This approach revolves around respect for the customer, the product and the environment within which we operate.

Therefore we employ time honoured processes and build boats only to order. Our clients are predominantly private individuals with an enthusiasm for paddle sport, but we have built boats for the National Trust, the Games of Thrones television drama, and other organisations and private companies. Our boats have been exported to Denmark, Norway and Cyprus.

Whenever we undertake a new client or project we treat this as a new opportunity to create a perfect boat. We follow up initial enquires with a broad discussion of the merits of our products with reference to alternatives. We then leave the customer to consider this input. When they re-engage with us we go through the process of determining their specific needs and desires, making recommendations and eventually taking a firm order; there have been occasions when the first contact to the first saw cut is over two years. We believe that the customer should have as much time as they wish to consider the details of their order, including the model, the choice of wood and the type and colour of the final finishes. This potentially long time span might seem arduous, but it offers us the ultimate opportunity to produce a truly unique product crafted to meet our client’s needs.

In addition to our work creating bespoke boats, we also work with schools and community groups where we focus on introducing young people and families to practical traditional skills, as we believe it is vital to support both our clients and the wider industry in which we operate. As the skills shortage continues, it is of vital importance that we encourage the continuation of our skills down to future generations.

Canoeing and boat building has always been an interest of mine, and I am an active canoeist and canoe coach and work with the Canoe Association of Northern Ireland as a member of their coach development committee and also in developing recreational canoe racing. I have been involved in the building, study and use of traditional boats for over fifteen years. Prior to establishing Valkyrie Craft I had a background in teaching, where I originally taught history before moving into senior management.

When I created Valkyrie Craft in 2005 there was no commercially viable wooden canoe building company in the UK, and this has not changed significantly in 2016. This is both a challenge and an opportunity since it means that we remain a very small niche product which can be seen as anachronistic, and we must continually rise to the challenge of justifying our product, yet is a significant opportunity since we therefore work within a sector with few competitors allowing us the luxury of focusing on quality.

Small scale specialist canoe building is currently undergoing a period of gentle growth with the development and expansion of paddle sports in the UK. However, specialist craft have an ongoing challenge to compete with mass produced cheaper products. The significant task within the industry is to effectively question the belief that specialist wooden and ‘skin-on-frame’ boats are less fit for purpose than plastic boats, and to take this further by expounding both their longevity and superiority in handling.

Company: Valkyrie Craft Name: John Wilkinson Email: info@valkyriecraft.com Web Address: www.valkyriecraft.com Address: Castlerock, Co Derry. Northern Ireland Telephone: 07722018457

In order to fight against the trend towards mass produced products, Valkyrie Craft is set apart by our focus on quality and the individual customer, not on to mass production for a faceless consumer market.

Ultimately specialist wooden boats are a small part of the growing array of paddle sport craft. Moving forward I would like the industry to shift its focus from ever changing models of plastic craft competing to win the public’s attention, to one in which the producers focus on developing and then retention of designs that are fit for specific paddling situations, and then focus on meeting needs. Less hype and more education are what is needed to bring the industry forward.

With regards to Valkyrie Craft, our future company aspirations are simply to continue to develop our markets, educating the paddling public as to the timeless excellence of wooden boats. This will help us to expand our customer base both at home and abroad, as will increasing our public exposure at events and festivals within the water sport calendar.

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Best Digital Content Provider 2016 - UK

Volume Ltd The agility, flexibility and speed of today’s businesses is leading us into a new world, which Volume Ltd, a global digital content provider, strives to be a part of.

We spoke to Chris Sykes, CEO of Volume, to find out more about the company and why its constant desire to innovate has led it to the forefront of its industry.

Company: Volume Ltd. Name: Chris Sykes Email: chris.sykes@volumeglobal.com Web Address: www.volumeglobal.com Address: Volume Ltd, Buckhurst Court, London Road, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 1PA Telephone: 01189 775800

At Volume, we deliver content in all its consumable forms, using a content strategy that has seen outstanding results. As experts in the atomisation of content, we ensure that relevant content is distributed at every stage of the customer journey. Today, both B2C and B2B content is read on mobile devices, so it’s more important than ever that we produce material that can compete. We are doing just that, and have the privilege of working with some of the world’s biggest brands, including Oracle, Dell, Castrol and Virgin Media Business.

As a company immersed in everything digital, innovation is at the heart of everything we do. Personally, I’ve always been a futurist, and an entrepreneur. My blend of creative mindedness and passion for technology has formed the foundations of my work. Moreover, I constantly network and interact with industry experts, including those within the business, to ensure Volume stays ahead of the game.

Remaining innovative is an ongoing process and we are always cautious of resting on our laurels or becoming too complacent. We achieved success long ago, and have been in partnership with some of our clients for almost 20 years. However, by continuously innovating, we’ve managed to stay ahead of the curve and achieve great results for those clients and newer ones too. The amount of data we generate every day is increasing exponentially, and extremely quickly, so by pushing forward and keeping innovation at the forefront of our mind we’re able to achieve bigger and better things as we celebrate how far we’ve already come.

As CEO of the company, I’m also always looking to better myself as a leader, as I’ve learnt that coaching is a fantastic way to get the best out of people. At Volume, we very much enjoy cultivating a mentoring culture, and boast entire teams of home-grown talent.

We are also firm believers that if you look after your staff, your staff will look after your customers. Through offering our employees myriad benefits, from health insurance and discounted gym memberships to free fruit and unlimited training, we keep them healthy and happy so they can remain productive. Our open-plan office environment is conducive to collaboration and teamwork, with creatives and technologists sitting alongside account managers. Furthermore, our flexible working facilities are second to none, allowing staff to move to quiet areas or connect from home when required, supporting remote working and empowering us to assist our clients around the clock.

Working alongside our clients is equally important. Our process is collaborative, as we listen to our clients’ pain points and then formulate the right recommendation, based on the experience and expertise of our skilled staff.

We work quickly and provide our clients with relevant, actionable, insightful information from day one, instead of simply presenting our portfolio and asking them to select a solution that may or may not fit their needs.

In spite of our success, there have been many obstacles that we have had to overcome throughout the years. My two biggest challenges have been growing our organisation to the global entity it’s become while still maintaining a small-business culture, and finding the people to support our future. Volume has managed to achieve both, thanks to, and as demonstrated by, our innovative careers website – Volume People (www.volumepeople.com) – which explores our ethos, values and benefits as well as listing current vacancies.

As for the award, we are incredibly proud of our win, and appreciate being acknowledged for the world-leading content we produce. Last year, we were named the ‘Most Innovative Digital Media Company’, and receiving this accolade proves that the content we create plays a large part in that, and in preparing our clients for the future.

What’s more, it reaffirms the fact that we’re experts in digital content marketing, and we’re pleased to have been recognised not only by our clients, but also by Acquisition International and its readers. Our approach to producing and delivering content is strategic, and winning the award bolsters our confidence that this is the best way to work.

Looking further into 2016 and beyond, we are optimistic that Volume will continue to grow and expand. In time, we hope to become the world’s leading cognitive-computing consulting practice. We’re already making headway, and have taken cognitive applications to market for several of our clients. To learn more about our journey into cognition, take a look at our iPaper series - at www.volumeglobal.com/xo.

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Most Intelligent Construction Company - UK

Whitescape Ventures Limited Company: Whitescape Ventures Limited Address: The Stone Barn, Brows Farm Business Park, Farnham Road, Liss, Hampshire GU33 6JG Phone: 01730 894776 Fax: 01730 894198 Email: info@whitescape.co.uk Website: www.whitescape.co.uk

Whitescape Ventures Limited works with private and public sector customers in the south of England, focusing on projects that present complex technical or operational challenges. We invited Andrew White to give us an in-depth insight into the company and its growth plans for the future.

Whitescape is a different kind of construction company, with a unique way of doing things. Construction is still a very traditional market, and we aim to challenge this with our fresh, intelligent approach. Excellence for us is not just about achieving the highest industry standards, but going beyond that to give customers a result that exceeds their expectations.

Intelligence is about understanding what our customers need, as well as having the technical capabilities to deliver buildings that work brilliantly now and will stand the test of time. It’s about bringing a ‘can-do’ attitude to challenges in the design or onsite, which enables us to take on complex projects and deliver them successfully.

We collaborate closely with our customers and plan our work around their requirements, not ours. This is especially vital if the project involves a ‘live’ operational environment.

So, if we are refurbishing or extending a school, we prioritise the needs of teachers and students to carry on teaching and learning without interruption. In hospitals or care homes, we minimise any impact on patients or residents, staff, and visitors. Communication with all stakeholders is key at every stage of the project, to ensure they feel supported and understand the work we are undertaking.

All this means we need to employ people who care about getting the best possible outcome for their customers, and will go way beyond the ‘call of duty’ to do that. We seek out new talent with the skills and drive to take themselves further, rather than people who have simply been in the industry for a long time. Experience is important, but it’s not everything.

This approach has brought us many creative insights that have helped to enrich our collective knowledge and experience. We like to give people the chance to develop their skills and go a long way in the industry. So we make a big investment in training - and it’s an investment in customer value and satisfaction, as well as our own future growth.

My aim is to grow the company into a £100 million business by 2024. At the same time, we want to stay close to our customers, and safeguard our intelligent, responsive approach. So our strategy is to create ten complementary businesses, each turning over up to £10m. Five of these businesses are already operating, including our core construction service, civil engineering and service engineering. They are all built around outstanding individual talent and each will be 49% owned by the employees working within it, which will galvanise them to work together as a team to achieve our collective target.

Whitescape provides the brand umbrella, ‘head office’ functions such as HR, marketing and accounts, rigorous standards on QHSE and framework qualifications. We are very focused on Health and Safety and keen to achieve a Gold award from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, developing our own bespoke processes to ensure that every project is undertaken to the highest possible safety standards.

Our aims are ambitious but I believe we have the right business model to achieve them. We are entrepreneurial in spirit, focused on our customers and a great environment for talented people. I think our future is very exciting.

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Best Graphic Design Agency 2016 - Scotland

Zero Design Ltd. Zero Design Limited offer a wide range of graphic design and marketing services, and are dedicated to ensuring clients receive the best possible service and outcome. We asked Lisa Jelley to talk us through the firm and the wide range of services it provides.

Zero Design Limited are a graphic design and marketing company, and as such we have, over the years, worked with just about every sector of business and industry. Our current client list includes both household names and niche businesses as well as government organisations. It doesn’t matter how big or small our clients are, we aim to build up relationships and treat everyone with the same level of professionalism time-after-time. Every year seems to bring some new clients as well as hopefully keeping us working with our existing ones. We look at client relations for the long-term, so try to build up friendships with them as each project progresses.

Like most design companies, we’re independently owned, and are small, but with a hugely successful track record behind us. We launched in early 1998, so have had the opportunity to excel at each new technological advance, as it has come along. We built our first websites in 1995 and launched Zero as the first design agency in Edinburgh to truly offer design for print and digital design on an equal footing. Since then we’ve made a point of keeping ahead of new trends and innovations, and we see that as being a strong part of our unique selling point. We are also keen to build more business outwith Scotland, and to this end have opened an office in Chester, so that we can service clients in both the North West and also the London area. All-in-all we are hoping 2016 to be a really great year for us.

As a firm we are creative, adaptable, highly-skilled, innovative, fun. We approach every project with zeal. We also like to do as much as possible in-house as that allows us to maintain the very high quality of service that we expect from ourselves. To allow us to do this we have, over the years, developed many skills and abilities usually only associated with much larger multi-disciplined agencies, but of course without their overheads and with more zest and enthusiasm.

From brochures and leaflets, to full branding projects, nothing is too large or too small for us. We have carried out high-profile branding projects for clients like the Bank of Scotland, but also developed websites and games for people like Weetabix, Duracell and Gillette. We have worked with breweries, whisky companies and banks, as well as start-ups and individual specialists. We have created packaging for several Boots brands, as well as small craft brewers, and technical documentation to sell everything from water filtration systems to cashless payments in schools.

As a design and marketing company we are truly flexible in our approach as well as our skill-set. We look at every project a fresh, as if starting with a blank sheet of paper. We don’t have a ‘house style’ and we don’t approach any project with preconceptions. Every job is different and has a different set of criteria to work within.

Last year alone we designed material to advertise and market the main summer exhibition at the National Gallery of Scotland for an 18th century artist called Jean Etienne Liotard, as well as creating all of the advertising for Edinburgh Castle Concerts, featuring Lionel Richie, Boyzone and The Vamps. We designed a new whisky especially bottled to commemorate a visit to Scotland last year by Prince Albert of Monaco, as well as designing three annual reports, one for a Swiss water company, another a children’s charity and the third for the Scottish aquaculture industry.

However we are not limited to print design, and have also create many documents and websites for use on screen. Well-designed presentations are becoming a big thing at the moment. Be they in Powerpoint or as an interactive PDF we can make a presentation really engaging.

Company: Zero Design Limited Name: Lisa Jelley Email: lisa@totallyzero.com Web Address: www.totallyzero.com Address: 13a Breadalbane Street, Edinburgh EH6 5JJ / 30 King Street, Chester, CH1 2AH Telephone: 0131 554 9930 / 01244 310012

Last year we also built websites for a shopping precinct in Newcastle, an engineering technology company in Middlesbrough and restaurant in Oban, as well as an interactive e-book for a stately home in Kinross, and a number of Powerpoint presentations for a very large American manufacturing company.

Overall Zero Design Limited are able to undertake all manner of marketing and promotional material across the board, with the exception of radio or TV advertising.

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Best Double Glazing Installation Company - Thames Valley Award for Innovation in Customer Service

Abbey Windows Company: Abbey Windows Name: Andrew Young Email: andy@abbeywindows.co.uk Web Address: www.abbeywindows.co.uk Address: 50a Portman Road, Reading RG30 1EA

Abbey Windows are a highly respected Thames Valley based double glazing supplier who for 30 years have specialised in supplying and installing a great range of windows, doors and conservatory designs. Andrew Young talks us through the firm and how it has obtained such a privileged position within its sector.

Abbey Windows have been offering value for money combined with innovative energy efficient quality double glazing since 1986. We provide outstanding aluminium and uPVC Windows, Doors and Conservatories throughout Reading whilst delivering fantastic value for money and exceptional service with every order.

Our portfolio of completed projects includes thousands of double glazing installations across Reading, Wokingham, Henley, the Thames Valley area and beyond. Much of our windows, doors and conservatory custom is received via recommendations; a testament to the high levels of customer satisfaction we achieve and highlighted by excellent customer reviews.

Much of this success can be attributed to our team, who have embraced new ideas and technology transforming Abbey over the last four years, turning it into a firm which we believe is the most forward thinking double glazing company in its region.

Best SME Accountant & Tax Advisor - London

Adroit Accountax is a team of accountants and professional advisors serving SMEs with a particular specialism in the contractor and freelancer market.

Adroit Accountax Ltd

We operate within a network of industry experts to bring our customers the best advice on their accountancy, tax and financial needs.

The traditional model of accountancy and tax advice is changing, partly because the way that individuals and smaller companies view their financial affairs has been influenced by new technology. The cloud in particular has changed the way that people view their finances, for example, keeping books in real time and having greater clarity of their accounts daily or weekly rather than each quarter or at year end. We have fully embraced this approach and in doing so have created a modern and forward thinking firm always open to change and improvement, both for us and our clients.

This strategy also enables us to have frequent discussions and regular contact with our customers, unlike the traditional model of yearly accounts and tax returns. It means we can foster mutually beneficial relationships, rather than simply providing services, and the end game is always to achieve successful outcomes. Customers and our relationships with them are the bedrock of our business and our focus is always on the long term mutual benefits, not short-term gains.

We always provide honest and unbiased advice to clients and take a holistic approach when offering solutions.

Flexibility is important and we are prompt to make changes to our working practices or teams if required by our clients. We always work on the observation points and feedback of our clients so that we can deliver what is expected out of us and this is how we have built trusted long lasting relationships.

Company: Adroit Accountax Ltd Name: Here Email: address here Web Address: here Address: Here Telephone: Number Here

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The team at Adroit Accountax is delighted to be recognised as Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best SME Accountant & Tax Advisor in the Acquisition International 2016 Business Excellence Awards. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a relatively young yet ambitious firm and we feel this award is testament to our ethos and vision of setting a benchmark for excellent customer service among SMEs and contractors.

Our hope is that the award is a sign to others that our work and our values have been independently validated and recognised as first class, especially when it comes to delivering what we say we will.

Best Fireproofing Product Distributors - UK

Anglian Intumescent Ltd

Anglian Intumescent Limited are one of the largest distributors of fireproof and fireproofing products in the UK. Passive fire protection products play a crucial role in any new buildings or listed refurbishment projects. By applying or installing the correct products specified, they help to allow a safer way to evacuate the building. Also to assist in the safety of the Fire & Rescue Services Fire Fighters to carry out their work in a safer and more controlled environment.

When installed correctly, products will form a “compart-mentation” to the rooms. This means to hold the fire and smoke within an area and allowing a minimum of half hour protection.

As one of the leading technical fire consultant companies for the whole of the United Kingdom, our focus is to ensure that every project receives a prompt service with full attention and achieve complete customer satisfaction.

Anglian Intumescent Ltd has been trading since 1987. It started off located on the outskirts of Cambridge, originally supplying passive fire protection products and advising the correct use of intumescent products.

We were one of the first suppliers of these products which came into Building regulation requirements BS 476 in 1987.

Shortly after this it became evident that there was also a market/requirement for the supply and installation of the products, as there was a lack of knowledge originally on where, how and when intumescent products are required and how to install them correctly. We have a very dedicated & knowledgeable team with experience to provide technical advice and support with solutions to fire stopping applications. We are also able to provide a specification service for Architects, Fire Officers and Building Control Officers. Due to an ever expanding company and growth within the fire prevention industry, the company was moved to a much larger property in Bedfordshire.

Company: Anglian Intumescent Limited Name: Jenny Hull AMIFPO NAPFIS (Managing Director & Technical Fire Consultant) Email: enquiries@anglianintumescent.com Web Address: www.anglianintumescent.com Address: 1st Floor Offices, Unit 30 Green End Industrial Estate, Gamlingay, Bedfordshire, SG19 3LF Telephone: 01767654117

Best Independant Private Equity & Real Estate Administrators

Augentius Company: Augentius Name: Ian Kelly Web Address: www.augentius.com Address: Two London Bridge , London, SE1 9RA, UK Email: ian@augentius.com Telephone: 0207 397 5450

We believe it is very important to provide a high level of service and a top quality range of passive fire prevention products, to help save lives and protect buildings against smoke and fire damage, and can overall reduce fire damage claims.

Our company has gained a very knowledgeable understanding of all intumescent fire prevention products from a wide variety of manufacturers.

All of our installers are fully trained by NAPFIS. This enables us to supply a NAPFIS certificate for installation services; this ensures all products installed are correct in accordance with the regulated standards.

We have held our membership with NAPFIS & IFPO for many years. Which guarantees competence in the service we offer for technical, site visits and installation works.

Augentius is one of the largest independent Private Equity and Real Estate Administrators in the world. With 8 international offices, Augentius is the only truly global player in the sector, responsible for the administration of 373 funds and servicing over 10,000 investors located across 101 countries.

We have built a global platform for the business, with operations throughout the US, Europe and Asia. Augentius is in the locations that our clients need and want us to be in. With six operational offices around the globe supported by two operational centres Augentius is positioned to continue to grow and deliver the levels of service that our clients expect from us. Similarly, throughout the year we continued to develop new solutions to meet our clients’ needs. We further expanded our solutions to provide Regulatory Compliance in the UK. Our business environment is changing quicker than ever. The needs and wants of our clients are changing. We have worked together with our clients, delivering the solutions that they need and want. The increasing number of clients moving from other fund administrators to Augentius is testament to the quality of service delivered.

People like doing business with people and Augentius’ clients are no different. It is imperative that we have some of the best people in the industry, or create some of the best people in the industry and that’s exactly what we do. Our management teams across the world are experienced professionals. They help and guide our clients through complex issues supported by our Technical Team, a group of industry experts, all originating from “big 4” firms and themselves with over 85 years of expertise.

Our Client Service teams are some of the best that there are in the industry. Specialised in Private Equity and Real Estate funds, their knowledge and expertise is second to none. But as an ever expanding business we are constantly growing our Client Service teams across the globe. The Augentius Training Team help and guide our staff through the complexities of Private Equity and Real Estate funds, supporting and enhancing the training delivered by our online training. Our proven training develops our staff into the experts that they become.

Successful business technology lies at the core of Augentius. During 2015 we completely restructured our infrastructure to accommodate our continued growth. Augentius doesn’t develop technology, we select the best in breed available. This enables us to integrate multiple solutions and provide a level of technological solutions not generally available to clients. As technology develops Augentius will continue to invest and develop solutions to meet the ever changing environment.

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US Tax Consultants of the Year

Bambridge Tax Services Company: Bambridge Tax Services Name: Alistair Bambridge Email: info@bambridgetax.com Web Address: www.bambridgetaxservices.com Address: 295 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Telephone: (212) 653-0081

Best for Residential Mortgage Compliance Assessments Massachusetts

Bankers Advisory

Bambridge Tax Services is a tax advisory service providing tax advice to the creative industries and US expat tax services to Americans living abroad.

For the US expats, we have highly trained staff qualified to practice in both the UK and the US. We can advise on the interaction of the tax rules for the UK and US and how to report your income in both countries. The main advantage is we know the tax reliefs and exemptions that apply to expats and how best to minimse your tax across both countries.

By focusing on two specific groups of clients, we have been able to develop highly specialised knowledge for those clients. Each client has a dedicated accountant, so you always know who you are dealing with.

In terms of managing our staff in order to form a productive working environment we are looking for excellence from our employees. We only employ exceptional individuals, we invest heavily in our staff; nurturing them, providing extensive training and development, so that they can reach their full potential whilst delivering the very best services to our clients.

We are delighted to have received this award and as we look ahead to the future this is definitely something we will look to build upon.

Bankers Advisory is an established firm which has grown into a compliance auditing practice, serving banks and mortgage lenders throughout the U.S by expanding its training bank personnel and the development of software tools.

In January 2014, Bankers Advisory was acquired by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA), the ninth largest public accounting firm in the United States. The acquisition has been highly successful due to CLA’s mentoring of the succession team. Having almost 100% customer and employee retention, the firm continues to receive referrals for new business from their existing clients, helping to grow the business further and attain a loyal client base.

Anna started off her career in the finance industry as a banker, leading a mortgage underwriting department.

Having been active in finance for many years, Anna has witnessed numerous changes taking place throughout the industry, including the shift in storing and processing data from paper to digital technology which has effected the way business is run.

Anna explains, “Compared to today’s technology and speed, our former processes appear pre-historic. However. I believe that if mortgage lenders were to utilize some of these slower methodologies, they would avoid risky loans.”

As such, the firm utilises a number of unique strategies in order to better support their clients.

“Throughout the years, Bankers Advisory has never had a sales and marketing team. We have relied on direct referrals and the testimonials from clients and the endorsements from publishers and awards such as the AI Business Award make a difference.

“We inform our clients that we provide services in accordance with the regulatory agency requirements. However, we demonstrate our true worth after we secure the contract by delivering services and report metrics that are ‘above the standard.’ Anna adds.

Company: Bankers Advisory, a CliftonLarsonAllen LLP Division Name: Anna DeSimone, Principal & Founder Email: anna@bankersadvisory.com Web Address: www.bankersadvisory.com Address: 131 Hartwell Avenue, Suite 300, Lexington MA 02421 Telephone: 781-402-6514

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Ultimately, the future for the firm lies firmly in educating and supporting its clients, according to Anna.

“As thought leader for Bankers Advisory I author a range of best practices guidebooks on a regular basis which we distribute to our clients in order to better support them. I also publish a weekly newsletter called the “Compliance Monitor.

“Moving forward I intend to continue to offer this innovative service, and we have a new book coming out soon, for the public genre named Housing Finance 2020, a guide for the “new generation of homebuyers”, which is due for publication in May 2016 in English and Spanish.”

Training Course Provider of the Year - UK

Barnard Training is a training consultancy with the key purpose of offering the best training products and business development services on the market to a wide ranging client base from individual entre-preneurs/SMEs to £multimillion businesses.

Barnard Training

Having developed a ‘never give in’ attitude during 20 years in the military, Managing Director Chris Barnard has experienced the highs and lows of business ownership during his 14 years in the training industry, learning many valuable lessons.

Alongside his business partners, Chris has developed a robust business strategy that utilises a network of highly skilled and qualified associate trainers and consultants, all of whom run their own businesses. Chris recognised the cost effectiveness of outsourcing certain areas of the business such as account-ancy, graphic/web design and printing to experts, thus allowing him to focus on the business itself.

Barnard Training’s key performance objective was always to convey their message about the im-portance of continuous professional development to as many people as possible. However, they found that classroom based training limits their potential audience.

Chris explained: “The answer was obvious so in December 2015 we decided to begin to research and develop our online training and social media strategy. The last 3 months has seen us on a very steep learning curve to understand how to market our products online and we are due to launch at the end of March.”

Delivering a high quality of service with added value will always remain a priority for Barnard Training. Chris recognises that maintaining an excellent reputation is essential particularly in an industry with minimal monitoring and accountability: “Anyone can set up a training business and call themselves consultants but many are soon found out, usually at the customers’ expense. Obviously those of us that earn our living as training consultants must continue to maintain high standards and self-monitor as we only have our reputations at the end of the day.”

Company: Barnard Training Name: Chris Barnard Email: chris@barnardtraining.co.uk Web Address: www.barnardtraining.com Address: 16 Kitchener Way, Shotley Gate, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 1RW Telephone: Office: 01473 858746 / Mobile: 07782 281288

The philosophy of ‘turnover is vanity, profit is sanity, cash is reality’ has helped Chris to avoid previous business mistakes while focusing on achieving profitable sales. “Even the best products fail if they can’t be sold so I’m a great believer in selling high end products and services on value and results to my customers and look to achieve excellent ROI for them too. So far we’ve achieved this and more!”

Best Biometric Security Products Provider - UAE

BioSis was established in September 1997 as a Security and Biometric Services business in UAE. The company are committed to providing the heist quality security products along with exceptional attention to customer service.

BioSis

Chris is delighted to have won this award: “Having never won a business award before, it’s extremely exciting and rewarding to be recognised by fellow business owners that have taken the time to vote. I’m still amazed that we received such a prestigious award. This will confirm to our customer’s both new and old that we are an award winning business that continues to deliver!”

BioSis offers a complete range of up to date security door access control solutions, specialising in biometric attendance and RFID Door Access Control systems. The company also offer long range distance with RFID systems for car parking systems.

The firm’s products suit small, medium and large companies, supplied by top leading manufactures from around the globe to international standards, combining excellent value and quality workmanship.

Company: BIOSIS SYSTEMS LLC Email: info@biosis.in Web Address: http://www.biosis.in Address: Hilal saeed building, Office.05, Karama, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Telephone: (24x7) 800-246747( 800-BIOSIS)

BioSis offers complete range of IP CCTV Surveilance, Analog CCTV, Wireless CCT V, ANPR LPR Cameras, Tursntiles Systems, Parking barriers, IP Video Door Phones, Smart Home Automations, with excellent quality to secure residences such as flats, villas and commercial offices.

BioSis also offer a Trunkey solution installing Servers, routers, switches, server racks from various reputed companies. Biosis is also a leading business partner for HP, ACER, IBM, Microsoft CISCO systems , APC , Intel, Linksys, and other primary brands. The firm has immense experience in installation and providing network supports solutions; becoming a growing success in its industry.

Despite this vast array of products and services, the firm is committed to quality, and always strives to provide clients with the very best solutions which exactly meet their needs.

Ultimately the firm’s 6000 satisfied corporate clients around the globe highlight this drive towards excellence and dedication to ensure customer satisfaction.

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Best Work Safety Solutions Company - Canada

Blackline Safety is a global leader that develops and manufactures leading solutions to monitor the safety of employees working alone. The firm’s CEO Cody Slater talks us through the company and its dedication to safety.

Blackline Safety

At Blackline Safety, we have worked hard to create the most comprehensive lone worker safety monitoring portfolio. Our lone worker monitoring technology empowers the emergency response process of any business where employees work alone—inside buildings, outside, at hazardous sites and in remote locations. We offer multiple methods of communication and location technologies and provide both dedicated monitoring devices and a smartphone app. All of our lone worker solutions are monitored by Blackline’s leading cloud-hosted monitoring web application.

This sector is growing rapidly, as every industry employs personnel who frequently work alone and ensuring the ongoing safety of lone workers is a critical need and the responsibility of every employer. Businesses in every industry are unique so there are no one-size-fits-all approaches, and as such our monitoring solutions are specially designed to ensure the ongoing safety of employees working alone and can be customised to fit the clients’ individual requirements.

Monitoring technology has emerged during the last several years and is now in a growth mode, however many organisations throughout the world are still unaware of this capability to monitor employees working alone.

Blackline is well-positioned as a leading vendor in this space and our broad portfolio of solutions is able to meet the needs of every industry, employee role, location and scenario.

Company: Blackline Safety Name: Cody Slater, CEO Email: cslater@blacklinesafety.com Web Address: www.blacklinesafety.com Address: Unit 101, 1215 13 Street SE, Calgary, AB, T2G 3J4, Canada Telephone: +1-403-451-0327

Our market focus includes every industry, with clients ranging from smaller businesses through to multi-national corporations. These clients include manufacturers; oil and gas producers; refineries; utility companies; labs as well as organisations employing mobile technicians and service personnel.

Looking ahead, Blackline Safety is ambitious and optimistic about the future of lone worker technology and services. We are highly motivated to make a difference for lone workers who have been injured, assaulted or suffered a health event. Through instant alerting and accurate mapping of an employee’s location, we can empower a positive outcome through the most efficient emergency response possible.

Best European Publishing Transaction: Seven/C3

The merger between two of Europe’s leading content marketing agencies has created the Continent’s biggest specialist agency, combining the creative and social media skills of Seven, based in London, with the digital capabilities and big-business might of Germany’s C3 (Creative, Code & Content).

C3 Creative Code and Content GmbH

The deal is a landmark in the fast-growing content marketing sector bringing unprecedented scale, reach and expertise in all the major verticals: motors, food, fashion, finance in both B2C and B2B markets. The combined group has 100 clients, €100m revenues and 600 staff, located in Munich, Berlin, London, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Zurich and Prague.

Prior to the merger, C3 worked with Seven for three years, and was therefore familiar with the firm’s practices and industry status. Seven’s previous shareholders included renowned industry names such as GMG and Caledonia Investments.

Three key factors which influenced C3’s decision to purchase the full complement of shares in Seven. The first was that the UK is a highly attractive market and is regarded as being one to two years ahead of the rest of Europe in terms of its approach to content marketing. Therefore by acquiring London based Seven C3 is able to break into this market and increase their overall market share throughout Europe.

Company: C3 Creative Code and Content GmbH Name: Stefan Fehm - Executive Director Business Development Email: Stefan.Fehm@c3.co Web Address: www.C3.co

In addition, C3’s previous work with Seven proved to them that the firm had business cultures, expertise and client portfolios that were complimentary to their own.

Finally, C3 believes that the firm will be a strong addition to its portfolio and provides an opportunity to create a unique new media network which will change the face of the industry for the better.

Ultimately the C3 acquisition of Seven is a milestone in an expansion program set to continue over the next two to three years and the first step in creating a new kind of specialist content network with creativity and technology at its core. This deal is about taking advantage of a big opportunity in the European market that requires scale, a wide range of capabilities and multi-territory presence expertise. As a combined agency, the two firms can also offer an authentic pan-European response to any brief, which gives them an opportunity to pitch for bigger clients in more territories, offering exciting future opportunities.

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Best Business Self-Catering Apartments - Caithness

Caithness Business Self Catering Homes provide quality fully furnished and equipped properties for companies needing somewhere clean, comfortable and central for their staff while working in Caithness on contracts. The company also offer all-inclusive accommodation packages for management and work teams with a one stop, one invoice basis for all users.

Caithness Business Self Catering - The Lorne Apartments

All of our properties are prepared to 4*+ standards but at affordable prices to ensure that people can stay and live happily while away from home. We aim to surpass expectations for our customers, which based on the great feedback saying that the properties and the level of service received are the best they have had I hope we are achieving this.

The family has been offering hospitality since the 70’s so the business is a progression from there with us now offering top standard self-cater homes and serviced apartments with tailored accommodation packages to suit most company and individual needs.

If we take a closer look at the industry the government cannot distinguish between scare stories of the very few bad accommodation providers and those of us who genuinely want to offer hotel standard services to the rental market.

Paperwork is killing off aspirations and some of the tax changes will restrict availability of the better properties as it will become less affordable.

Arguably the most important thing I have learnt during my career so far is to learn what your client really requires and do your very best to ensure they are happy and confident in what they receive.

In terms of the challenges I have faced during my time here, banks are a nightmare and it never changes, there is a lack of understanding of how the different services in accommodation are offered. They just do not fund expansion for small business in this arena.

In regards to managing our staff, we see them like family as all are treated with respect and in the way we would wish to be treated ourselves.

Company: Caithness Business Self Catering The Lorne Apartments Name: Anne Campbell Email: duncorann@icloud.com Web Address: www.visit-wick.co.uk Address: Duncorann House 37-38 Bank Row, Wick. Caithness. KW1 5EY Telephone: 01955 603500

Each time we undertake a new client, we keep everything friendly and chat to establish how we can help with their accommodation needs. Once we have properties which match the client’s needs we agree all the formalities and set up our one invoice monthly to cover the agreed package so that administration is kept to a minimum.

Best Business Transformation Consultancy Firm - UK

CappcoPartners is a firm of experienced sales and marketing executives who specialise in improving sales and marketing performance and executing corporate turnarounds where revenue growth and creation is essential.

CappcoPartners

Established in 2009, CappcoPartners and since then the firm have generated £75m in additional revenue for its clients. They have also completed 18 operational due diligence assignments in the last 12 months and managed eight turnaround situations where the value at exit was increased by a total of £300m.

Company: CappcoPartners Email: mcappell@cappcopartners.com Web Address: www.cappcopartners.com Address: Green Park House, Stratton Street London, W1J 8LQ Telephone: 01483 208133

The Cappco team manage and improve revenue generation processes by fine tuning the value proposition, implementing demand creation campaigns which drive quality leads and implement a consistent sales process in order to close deals more quickly and with less discounting.

We check in regularly with the companies and the management and work teams to ensure we are keeping everyone happy.

We do our best to stay on top of everything to ensure potential problems are dealt with and hope we never lose the great rapport we have with our clients. Receiving this award is a fantastic achievement for such a small rural business so we thank all concerned, we are just so delighted.

Looking ahead to the future we would like to grow the business over the next few years if the banks play fair. The demand is there as is our expertise so let’s hope that the recognition we receive will help with confidence in the business.

Rather than clients, the firm partners with those it serves, and currently they are strategic partners for numerous private equity firms looking to generate and accelerate portfolio company value creation through operational improvement initiatives.

These processes are implemented with experience by sales and marketing professionals who utilise the best of breed methodologies and tools.

The firm also operates a training practice which, so far, has trained over 300 sales staff, ensuring that they work effiecntly.

Moving forward, the firm are keen to continue providing top quality services which will meet their clients’ needs.

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Best Security & Investigations Company - UK

Cautela Security UK Ltd is a family run Welsh business with its headquarters in Swansea, offering their security services nationally. We profile this innovative business and explore the unique security services it offers.

Cautela Security UK Ltd

Cautela Security are a dedicated security firm providing a wide range of services, offering everyone from event security and stewarding to manned guarding, door supervision and even close protection officers.

Company: Cautela Security Uk Ltd Address: Phoenix House Llys Felin Newydd Enterprise Park Swansea SA7 9FG Phone: 01792 796581 Website: http://cautelasecurityukltd.co.uk

The firm’s staff are also subject to extensive vetting and screening procedures prior to being offered a post with us, ensuring that the firm has complete confidence in their background, behaviour and skills. It is recognised that all Cautela Security staff, as associates of their clients, will need to consistently present the highest standards of professionalism, and through their vigilant training programmes and vigorous recruitment process the firm is able to ensure this.

On an operational level the firm will ensure that all personnel have the relevant training to fulfil their roles in a competent manner and that they are fully supported by an experienced management team. The firm has a diligent recruitment procedures which ensures that staff are handpicked for their specific experience in delivering security services appropriate for the kind of security provision required.

Ultimately it is Cautela’s vision to bring a fresh and new approach to the security industry. In order to achieve this the firm is looking to work to develop a deep and lasting partnership with their clients and industry peers, and through this shared vision for excellence, innovation and continuous improvement will offer significant value benefits beyond mere cost savings.

Moving forward, the firm’s established organisational structure and capacity; professional expertise throughout all levels of the organisation; effective deployment of leading technologies in the fields of visual and audio security monitoring, through strategic partners and most importantly through the firm’s innovative culture will all contribute to the meeting of this goal. The firm’s conviction that this can be achieved is based upon their experience and track record of delivering innovative security solutions through their various partnerships.

Recognised Leader in Enterprise Cloud Computing

CloudOrigin Limited provide expert advice to end-user organisations, hyper growth technology providers, private equity investors and venture capital firms on the business impact of cloud computing. We spoke to Richard Hall, who talked us through this pioneering firm and the services it provides.

CloudOrigin Limited

CloudOrigin Limited provide award winning strategy, advisory and implementation services to end-users and providers to take advantage of this fundamental change in the business model of information technology brought about by cloud computing. This spans technology providers – from datacentre managers to software as a service firms – as well as intensive technology users across public and private sectors.

Based in London but operating globally, we have decades of experience designing, delivering and managing the most advanced business services, software solutions and infrastructure platforms worldwide.

Our reputation has grown within the Private Equity and Venture Capital community, which is keen to clearly understand technology trends in terms of market demand. We are equally pleased to have enabled first round funding for new start-ups as we are to have advised on multi-billion dollar acquisitions or pioneering cloud implementation projects for major brands, because ultimately every client is equally important.

As such, when undertaking a new client we always seek to demystify the technology component and focus on our client’s goals, be they business growth and international expansion, margin improvement, acquisition or exit. Once we have made the process clear, we explain the options technically and commercially in language they can understand and offer clear recommendations and a timeline to move forward.

While every VC, investor, Private Equity firm or technology leadership team clearly has much in common, they also have unique strategies, insights and goals which we look to understand first. Through this process we are able to focus our time and advice on the areas that matter most, especially when working on deal timelines measured in days.

Company: CloudOrigin Limited Name: Richard Hall Email: Info@CloudOrigin.com Web Address: www.CloudOrigin.com Telephone: +44 (203) 642 5715

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Best Double Glazing & Conservatory Build Company Scotland

Clyde Windows & Construction Ltd

Clyde Windows and Construction is a family run business that prides itself on the quality of its service and products. We profile this exciting and dedicated firm and explore the techniques it uses to provide the highest possible quality of service.

Clyde Windows and Construction offer a wide range of double glazing and construction services, from supplying and fitting one UPVC door to a full complement of double glazed windows or even a full conservatory build from planning stage right through to completion using normally around seven different trades during a normal construction, all of these differing tradesmen are fully employed by the firm to keep continuity of employees work quality on every job large or small rather than hiring in sub contracted labour.

Everything is built to the client’s exact design and specification, and the firm’s staff draw on many years of specialised experience and training to ensure each project is compliant with current health and safety and local building regulations and of the very best quality.

The firm also carry out maintenance and repair works on doors, windows and conservatories on behalf of other building companies and main insurance companies direct. Having a number of locations throughout Scotland, in Lanarkshire, Cumbernauld and Dundee, offers the firm the opportunity to serve a wide range of clients, as well as helping them to create their own unique distribution channel for materials and skills.

Company: Clyde Windows & Construction Ltd Name: Dax Duckett, Managing Director Email: info@clydewindows.com Web Address: http://www.clydewindows.com Telephone: 0800 068 8665

In order to make sure clients are always completely satisfied that they are receiving the very best quality service possible, the firm is certified as both a ‘Trusted Trader’ by WHICH ? Magazine group a consumers favourite as we all know and Clyde’s local Trading Standards office who have also recognised their quality and commitment to client satisfaction by awarding them with accreditation to Trading Standards own “Buy with Confidence” programme. Clients can therefore be assured that every service is of top quality and that every one of the firm’s staff are fully trained and experienced.

Ultimately, no matter what service you require, from bi-folding doors to home extensions and beyond, Clyde Windows and Construction are able to ensure you receive an energy efficient product you can be proud of for many years to come.

Global Leader in Assurance & Compliance Solutions

Comply Serve Limited

Comply Serve is the leading innovator in the field of Progressive Assurance on major infrastructure programmes and has been developing assurance and compliance solutions, primarily for the infrastructure market, for over 10 years.

We profile the firm and its core product offering, and gain some unique insight into its future developments from Steve Tosh.

Comply Serve was established following its founder, Chris Rollison’s experiences working with a number of large infrastructure programmes, where he saw the need to change how assurance was deployed and managed; to enable it to be done progressively and collaboratively. This led to the creation of Comply Serve in 2005 and the development of ComplyPro®.

ComplyPro® is the firm’s core product and also the solution of choice for global infrastructure programmes, used by more than 200 organisations globally with a strong presence in the UK & Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

The software-as-a-service platform is the industry standard for delivering progressive assurance on major infrastructure programmes and is used on some of the world’s largest projects including the Doha Metro in Qatar, the banedanmark Signalling & Electrification programmes in Denmark and London’s Crossrail Programme.

Moving forward, the company has a number of exciting developments in the pipeline which will provide the company with opportunities for growth. These include the establishment of a regional office in Dubai, to cover the Middle East region and further major project wins where their flagship products, ComplyPro® and ComplyPro Analytics, are the solutions of choice for project compliance and assurance.

Company: Comply Serve Limited Name: Steve Tosh, Managing Director Email: info@complyserve.com Web Address: www.complyserve.com Address: Number 1 The Courtyard , 707 Warwick Road, Solihull, West Midlands, United Kingdom, B91 3DA Telephone: +44 (0)121 711 2185

John Conmy has been appointed to the Comply Serve Main Board of Directors and will be the General Manager & Director based at the Dubai Office to lead the Comply Serve operation for the Middle East and Asia regions.

Commenting on the expansion, Steve stated: “Comply Serve is the market leader in progressive assurance on largescale infrastructure projects and has a world-class product in ComplyPro®, backed up by an incredibly strong and knowledgeable team of people for implementation and support, and I am delighted that John will be leading the team to continue our expansion. The Middle East is well known for the scale and complexity of the projects it undertakes and it is particularly pleasing to see the positive way in which the region has embraced progressive assurance.”

In addition, Comply Serve has recently secured contracts to supply the ComplyPro® solutions and consultancy in Malaysia, for an ambitious infrastructure programme. ComplyPro® will be deployed across the supply chain, as part of the corporate Progressive Assurance strategy. This significant win represents the largest single contract that Comply Serve has signed to date and is further testament to the success Comply Serve is enjoying across its international operations and the expected growth for the future.

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Best Luxury Holiday & Tour Operator 2016

Cox & Kings

Here at Cox & Kings we are dedicated to providing every client with authentic cultural experiences and wildlife encounters, ensuring that they enjoy a stimulating and eventful trip. Our core market is the over 50’s, as they tend to be travelling without the restrictions of young children.

Our business is built on expertise and personal service. In an age when people can easily book their own travel arrangements online, knowledge during the planning phase and expert support on the ground is the key to the service we offer.

As such each time we undertake a new project we draw together all the relevant stakeholders to share ideas at the outset, to pool the creative thinking and then pick out the best and most relevant ideas before embarking on the project development phase. The worst thing for a new project is to keep shifting the requirements, which inevitably causes delays and cost increases, therefore we always try to gather as much information as we can at the beginning.

The travel industry is never really stable as wars, terrorist atrocities, diseases, natural disasters and fluctuating oil prices can all impact on the industry, but this provides firms such as ours with exciting challenges and unique opportunities.

One key challenge for companies like Cox & Kings is how to develop viable means of displaying complex travel options for multi-centre holidays in a way that is both inspiring and simply presented. Future generations who are used to doing everything online will increasingly expect to make even the most complex plans and transactions online.

Company: Cox & Kings Travel Ltd Name: Philip Hamilton-Grierson Web Address: www.coxandkings.co.uk Address: 30 Millbank, London, SW1P 4EE

It is gratifying to have our company’s work recognised. Like most businesses we generally measure our success in growth and profitability, however, to have been recognised for all round business excellence is very pleasing. This award will reinforce the consumer’s trust in Cox & Kings and help us to attract new business.

As such we are keen to continue providing our exemplary service, and hope that this will help us in the future to expand and offer our services to a greater variety of clients. Our aspiration moving forward is to tap into the huge technological expertise and investment in the wider Cox & Kings group to enable us to gain the edge over our competitors.

Best Global Independent Financial Advisory Organisation 2016

deVere Group was founded in 2002. Since then they have experienced year on year growth due to ongoing and increasing demand for their specialist financial services from expatriates and international investors.

Today the company has 70 offices, operating in more than 100 countries and have $10bn under advice from more than 80,000 clients.

deVere Group

In terms of our strategy, our vision is simple: to continue to keep our clients at the heart of everything we do.

At present the international financial services industry is experiencing enormous growth as the world becomes ever-more globalised. As more people move around the world to live, to work, or to retire, they will require specialist financial advice.

Company: deVere Group Name: George Prior Email: george.prior@devere-group.com Web Address: www.deVere-group.com Telephone: +44 2071220925

If we take a closer look at the industry, besides growth, technology is of course, playing a greater role in our day to day dealings with clients and this will of course increase further.

In short, our industry, like many, is growing and is also in a constant state of change. But change is good and positive if you’re ahead of the curve like we are. It’s important to be future-focused and keep on delivering to the clients.

At the start of each client relationship we believe it is important to listen and to understand the client’s circumstances to fully understand their financial wants, needs and desires. This way we are best-placed to offer appropriate and suitable financial advice to help them achieve their goals. We will explain who is to be the main point of contact within our firm; what we are going to do for the client; when we are going to do it; and how much it will cost. We will then keep clients advised of progress.

It is a real honour and privilege to win the Best Global Independent Financial Advisory Organisation 2016 award. The award recognises and celebrates the dedication and commitment of our teams across the world who work tirelessly with clients to tailor workable financial strategies and to provide them with a results-driven service.

Winning the award helps to further showcase our impressive set of credentials. This kind of third party endorsement helps potential clients choose between different companies when looking for a financial advisory firm. It is like a recommendation or referral, which are always invaluable.

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Best Wedding Venue - North West Ireland

Diamond Coast Hotel

Diamond Coast Hotel a 4 star Hotel based in picturesque Enniscrone, Co Sligo on the West Coast of Ireland.

We invited Tomas Lynn to provide us with an overview of the services the establishment provides which have made it a revered wedding venue.

Diamond Coast Hotel is renowned as an exclusive wedding venue, and we are able to cater for large weddings all year round.

Each year we host around 90 weddings, and our couples come from all over the West of Ireland and further afield. We are also becoming very popular with couples for the UK who may have an Irish Heritage and are looking to celebrate their marriage in Ireland.

Although our business is prominently wedding based, as the wedding season is all year round, our beautiful setting means that we are also the perfect holiday destination.

Moving forward, our strategy is to continue to focus on the wedding market and improve our offerings to stay relevant and popular within that market. We are continually looking at new trends and seeing how we can develop new options for our clients so that we can continue to meet their ever evolving needs.

The management of rates will be crucial in the years to come as demand increases and hotel beds will not be able to keep up at peak times. It will take a while for new builds to become inhabitable so the current hotels need to be able to maximise rates, whilst at the same time not pricing out potential guests.

Company: Diamond Coast Hotel Name: Tomas Lynn Email: tlynn@diamondcoast.ie Web Address: www.diamondcoast.ie Address: Enniscrone, Co. Sligo, Ireland Telephone: +353 96 26000

Winning this award will have huge implications for us as it will give a tangible recognition for all the achievements of the team, and we are very honoured and excited to have been given this recognition.

It will give our future clients confidence in our level of service and provide us a base which we can grow future business. Having our business be recognised and awarded by an independent body is a wonderful achievement and something we are all very proud of.

Best Same Day Courier & Logistics Company - UK

Diamond Logistics Ltd is a specialist same day courier and logistic company providing a wide range of organisations with delivery and fulfilment solutions. We spoke to Kate Lester to find out more about the company itself and to hear her thoughts on winning this award.

Diamond Logistics

Diamond Logistics partners with businesses to deliver their promise and profits with a one stop logistics service.

With a network of twenty-five it’s the fastest growing courier company in the UK. It’s a non-asset based model which means it’s easy to scale and has experienced a double turnover in the last year. Our niche is very much working with the SME market, although we have a few of the best known quality blue chips amongst our clientele too.

When undertaking a new client, we very much position ourselves as trusted advisors, consulting rather than selling.

It’s an advisory role so it’s very low key and super interactive. This involves lots of fact finding, analysis, best routing and practice to fulfil our clients’ personal and business aims in order to provide them with a solution which exactly meets their needs.

Within the logistics industry the need and cost of an investment versus price perception of clientele is a key issue.

Key developments we have seen include the massive contraction with same day couriers, some key failures in the carrier market and a lot of industry disruption with break though technologies that old school transport companies just can’t compete with. All of these issues highlight the need for firms such as ours, which offer a radical new approach which is balanced with the pragmatism and practicality that our 24 years’ experience shows.

Many transport tech start-ups struggle because they do not consider their market, and ignore their competitors and the service offering they provide. We conducted market research prior to establishing Diamond and realised that there was no middle ground when it came to logistics firms- either companies were exceptionally technically focused, or they were very old fashioned. As such we created Diamond with a view to being the middle ground.

Ultimately we are very proud to have won this award. Diamond is all about excellence so this award really highlights the firm’s aims.

Company: Diamond Logistics Ltd Name: Kate Lester Email: kate@diamondlogistics.co.uk Web Address: www.diamondlogistics.co.uk Address: 9 The Pines Business Park, Guildford GU3 3BH Telephone: 01483 536888

Moving forward we have a growth strategy in place which will give us the opportunity to reach new clients in the future. We are due to open a further fifteen sites this year, with the rest of the UK rolling out in 2017. In 2017 we will launch our national coverage and in 2018 we will introduce our master franchises to Europe. Additionally, we have just published internally our Vision for Diamond 2020 which will indicate other plans we have for the future of the firm.

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Best Specialist Joinery & Construction Company - UK

Established in 1990, The EHA Group are renowned as one of the UK and Ireland’s leading Construction Companies, dedicated to delivering high quality projects built on time and to budget. Founder Edward Allingham provides us with a unique glimpse into the firm and the exciting developments it has ahead.

EHA Group

EHA Group is a diverse business and prides itself on its high quality construction schemes delivered both to the private and social sectors from private housing schemes to large modern and contemporary apartment blocks within the heart of London and large scope social housing schemes across the UK.

Company: EHA Group Name: Edward Allingham Email: edward@ehagroup.co.uk Web Address: www.ehagroup.co.uk Address: Allingham House, Campsie Industrial Estate, McLean Road, Eglinton, Co. Londonderry BT47 3XX Telephone: 02871 811 634

Additionally we also have a high spec joinery manufacturing workshop which delivers a bespoke and luxury touch to the housing projects.

This is of vital importance, as we are a driven company and thrive on providing constant client satisfaction, both with our process and the end result.

In order to achieve this EHA Group treats all our clients with the same level care and respect and professionalism. We like to offer all our services from design to build through our bespoke joinery package finishes. This proves that EHA Group will be on board from inception to completion. We always like to know exactly what the client wants as their end product and have a constant line of communication throughout the project to ensure all clients’ needs are met.

Moving forward we have a brand new bespoke office in NI that was created with staff engagement in mind, involving free spaces and open plan areas to allow free flowing atmosphere throughout office which allows staff to communicate openly and creates a productive enjoyable environment.

The new office/building has been a great success, and the level of commitment returned from the staff is very encouraging. I also feel that by listening to staff about their ideas/thoughts and letting them have some input is important when decision making. Although sometimes this can be harder to manage, people need to use their heads and must be allowed to make a lot of their own decisions. I think it helps them stay loyal and work more as a group hence a better output.

This new office helps the firm to achieve its long term goal: to build and diversify the company so that it will grow, develop and be recognised both nationally within the UK and Ireland to be one of the leading employers.

Personal Trainer of the Year 2016 - Cheshire

Empower Personal Training Limited

I am a Personal Trainer, Fitness Instructor and Swimming Coach working in the Macclesfield, Knutsford and Alderley Edge areas. I work with clients in various locations, including health clubs, gyms, their homes and the great outdoors.

My clients range in age from 13 years to 60 +years. Their goals vary from weight loss & management, rehabilitation, triathlon & running events to general wellbeing. For swimming lessons I teach from as young as 20 months all the way through to adult beginners and triathlon practice.

I am constantly looking to broaden my experience and qualifications in order to offer a wider range of services to my clients. I have always led and enjoyed an active lifestyle, from the age of 13 I assisted in swimming lessons after school. I undertook my first swimming instructor award at the age of 16, continuing to teach and carry this out as a part time job. I have been able to develop my skills and gain further qualifications in a broader range of fitness pursuits; these include as a Gym or Fitness Class Instructor with qualifications in indoor cycling, kettlebells, functional movement, core ball and boxercise. This in turn led me to qualify as a Personal Trainer in 2013.

Currently fitness is a high growth industry which I think will continue, however, there are a number of issues and aspects to keep on top of such as medical issues, CRB, new equipment and, of course, the latest trends.

People are individuals and value being treated as such. A big part of my service as a Personal Trainer is that I tailor each programme to my clients’ individual needs.

I have been very fortunate in the opportunities that have come my way through the organisations that I have worked for. As with any profession there are always hurdles, but I strive to overcome them with a smile on my face!

Currently I do not have any employees, but wherever I work, I try to create an environment that is positive and enjoyable.

In terms of the approach I take when taking on a new client. I meet first with them to discuss their particular wants and needs. Following this, I structure a programme individual to each client. Their “journey” will involve working closely with me on a ‘one-to-one’ basis, but I like to provide them with additional exercises, activities and, possibly, nutritional advice to further help them achieve their goals.

Company: Empower Personal Training Limited Name: Emily Victoria Lakin Email: empowertraining@outlook.com Web Address: www.empowerpt.co.uk

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I feel extremely honoured that my hard work and commitment has been recognised with this award. It is my hope that it will help to expand my client base further. I see this award as recognition of what I have achieved so far and hope it will further aid my company’s development.

I am thoroughly enjoying my journey at the moment and the path that Empower is currently on. I am passionate about continuing to develop myself, my business and welcome any opportunities that come my way.

Best International Tax Boutique - Cyprus

Epaminondou & Co Audit Services Limited

Since 1978 Epaminondou & Co Audit Services has been expanding its corporate profile, providing dedicated audit and accountancy services to a variety of clients. We invited Neoklis Epaminondou to talk us through the firm’s approach to supporting its clients and how this has led the firm to become the success it is today.

At Epaminondou & Co Audit Services we provide international tax advice as well as accounting, audit and assurance services in Cyprus and to clients based around the world. We take our clients’ requirements very seriously and we have the experience and knowledge to provide them with high quality services.

In order to achieve this we view every client as a different case and as such they must be assessed on its own merits.

I will design an approach where the new client will find it easy to communicate and describe their current position.

Understanding our clients is essential to understanding and meeting their needs.

This approach is the result of working in the industry for the past 15 years, which has provided me with a significant amount of knowledge and experience for me so far, although I am always looking to expand upon this. Primarily I have been working on the auditing and accounting side of the industry, where I have learned how to read and help build the anatomy of a business. The core facts, the controls, the performance and the ability to generate income.

Now as the firm expands its assurance and consultancy practice I have learned to study the psychology of a business.

There are a number of challenges inherent in expanding into this area, as the industry is so varied and complex.

Company: Epaminondou & Co Audit Services Limited Name: Neoklis Epaminondou Email: eneoklis@cytanet.com.cy Web Address: www.epaminondou.com Address: 121 Prodromou Street, Hadjikiriakos Building 7th floor, Offices 713-715, Strovolos 2064, Nicosia, Cyprus Telephone: 0035722662938

Most Innovative Website Design Agency - UK

Fifteen

Despite this, I have drawn on my own experience and that of my dedicated associates and staff to ensure that I am always offering clients the very best services possible. Many of my staff have worked with me for a long time and as such we have built up a good relationship founded on trust, and ultimately it is their support which has driven the firm to its current success and will help us to achieve continued good results moving forward.

Here at Fifteen we are a fresh, young and innovative web design and brand agency based in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.

We are a full service award-winning creative agency and the work we produce for our clients includes branding, design for print, exhibitions and signage, website design and development, UX design for apps and software, online and digital marketing, SEO and paid search services.

We work with a collection of clients across a broad range of industries and from all over the world. From large high street brands like Boots and Vision Express, to public sector councils including East Lindsey District Council and Broxtowe Borough Council all the way to smaller independent companies starting out in business.

Fifteen was established in 2003 and in that time we have seen our team grow from a one-man band to a strong team of 18 industry experts. Over the past 3 years we have seen the business evolve from a creative brand led agency to a full service digital leader. This change has come about due to the current trend in business marketing.

The online world is simply the place to be.

Our clients’ want online advertising that gets them noticed and more importantly achieves results, websites that grab attention by the calls…to action, grow enquiries and mobile applications that can help their users and change the way their businesses work altogether.

We have adapted and grown our team to suit this industry shift and have an on-going strategy to continue this due to our ever-increasing client numbers and larger project sizes. We will be investing heavily in intense training over the coming year to learn more about new technologies coming to market, expanding our skillset and knowledge base to better serve our clients.

Company: Fifteen Name: Kate Crowther Email: hello@fifteen.co.uk Web Address: www.fifteen.co.uk Address: Fifteen, Room 18, Armstrongs Mill, Middleton Street, Ilkeston, Derbyshire DE7 5TT Telephone: 0115 932 5151

It’s great to be recognised for the Business Excellence Awards 2016. The entire team here has a great buzz about them after hearing the news of our achievement. We’re thrilled to have our hard work rewarded, especially as we’re still a relatively small team in comparison with our local competitors.

Winning this award will be a great asset to our marketing and PR strategy for the upcoming year. We hope it will give us an opportunity to open doors to new ventures and audiences and to generate new enquiries as a result of our success; helping these new clients to achieve their business goals too. We often receive compliments on our business achievements, so we can’t wait to tell everyone about our latest win, especially our clients, as all the work we’ve done has been for them!

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Best Independant Dental Valuer & Sales Agent - UK

Frank Taylor & Associates are the UK’s leading independent valuer, sales agent and provider of business services to the dental profession. We profile this exciting firm and explore how they have come to win this prestigious accolade.

Frank Taylor & Associates Ltd

Frank Taylor & Associates specialises in providing practice valuations, sales, purchases and business improvement services for dental professionals in England and Wales. The company has been involved in the sale and valuation of thousands of dental practices nationwide, offering a transparent service which revolves around communication and quality.

The firm draws upon its unrivalled sector knowledge to match people with opportunities in the open market; guiding them from start to finish to achieve the best results whilst protecting their interests at all times.

In addition, every member of the firm’s management team has an extensive management background across a range of professional services, with the overall team complimenting each other and adding to the robust and positive way the business operates.

Transparency and integrity are the cornerstones of Frank Taylor & Associates, and the company prides itself on its high rate of word of mouth client referrals, which are a testament to the firm’s dedication to providing quality services.

Their high client retention rate also highlights the fact that each team within the business is truly committed to supporting its clients. The management team is integrated into these individual departments as part of their day-today roles, which helps to ensure strong leadership and cultivate a friendly and supporting corporate atmosphere.

Company: Frank Taylor & Associates Name: Lis Hughes (Managing Director) Email: team@ft-associates.com Web Address: www.ft-associates.com Address: 1-3 Bradmore Building, Bradmore Green, Brookmans Park, Herts AL9 7QR Telephone: 0330 088 11 56

Best Global Clinicians Network

GlobalCare Clinical Trials

Ultimately the firm believes that preparation is key, and are always generous with their time and knowledge, even before a client is secured, which proves to their potential customers that they are truly in safe hands.

It is this supportive atmosphere, combined with the firm’s vast sector knowledge that sets Frank Taylor & Associates apart from their competitors and has led them to win this exemplary accolade in the highly regarded 2016 Business Awards.

GlobalCare Clinical Trials, Ltd brings over 100 years of experience in the clinical trials and home healthcare industries supporting over 350 trials by effectively delivering high quality and convenient clinical trial services in the home or alternate-site setting.

GlobalCare Clinical Trials, Ltd is the leading global provider of ambulant health care services for clinical trials.

GlobalCare provides innovative, GCP-compliant services for biopharmaceutical and medical device companies by conducting selected study visits at locations convenient and comfortable for the patient (e.g., their home, workplace) when travel to the investigator site is not practical. The company maintains a global network of multilingual Country Coordinators and local traveling service providers (nurses and physicians).

GlobalCare’s network of high skilled nurses and physicians provide blood draws, ECGs, study drug administration, clinical assessments, questionnaires, training and data collection. GlobalCare’s traveling clinicians provide patients with a convenient way to participate in trials regardless of study duration, frequency of visits, their disease state or distance to the study site. GlobalCare also provides investigator site support personnel, patient cheperone service to investigate sites and central pharmacy services.

Additionally, this patient-centric approach helps to accelerate patient recruitment and improve study patient compliance and retention. Also helping clinical trials to speed up the delivery of new products to the marketplace.

The company goes by a model which provides innovative and cost-effective solutions for conducting traditional study visits in the home or an alternate location.

Company: GlobalCare Clinical Trials, Ltd Email: info@globalcarect.com Web Address: http://www.globalcarect.com/ Address: USA and Rest of World: 2201 Waukegan Road, Suite 180 Bannockburn, IL 60015, USA Telephone: +1 847 282 3280

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GlobalCare have a strong belief that providing quality and working together as a team will lead to positive results and success. The firm is very focused on providing their customers the best customer service.

GlobalCare currently provides service in approximately 50 countries worldwide, and is looking forward to continue on this growth and develop many more highlights in the future.

Best Music Entertainment Agency 2016 - Hampshire

Golden Groove Entertainment is a music agency which offers a unique approach to music entertainment solutions, creating a personalised soundtrack for our clients’ events and offering bespoke packages tailored to their requirements.

Golden Groove Entertainment

The company is run by professional musicians with many years of performance experience in the industry, allowing us to offer the signature attention to detail that many of our competitors cannot provide. Every performer that we represent has personally auditioned by one of the Directors and is expected to demonstrate the highest levels of professional conduct. As musicians we understand the needs of our performers and we appreciate how important it is to make sure that they have a good working environment in order to provide the best services. We believe that every performance is a unique experience and we are careful never to underestimate the impact that musical entertainment can have on an event.

Company: Golden Groove Enterprises Ltd Email: info@goldengroove.co.uk Website: http://goldengroove.co.uk/ Address: Golden Groove Entertainment Office 8, 11 Cumberland Place Southampton, SO15 2BH Telephone: +44(0)7840 395 978

Golden Groove Enterprises provides high end entertainment for anyone with a stylish event in mind, from corporate events and public shows to weddings and VIP private parties. We offer top quality session performers specialising in all genres from Classical music to Café Del Mar and from Mariachi music to Motown. Our musicians, singers and DJs are top industry professionals who have played for some of the world’s most prestigious venues, festivals, artists, companies and events.

Our clients include wedding couples, event managers, festival promoters, venue owners and anyone who wants to throw a party to remember. We look at every event as a unique project and we like to offer our clients a really personal service that lets them know they are being looked after. We hope that this award will help us to establish a bit more of a presence within the corporate community as well as reassuring existing and new customers of the quality of our services.

We like to make sure that we provide the best musicians and we offer honest advice to help people to make the right choice. This award is a fantastic honour and an acknowledgement of our dedication to our clients and their events.

The success of our branch in Hampshire has encouraged us to expand and we are now setting up an additional headquarters in Prague. From our new offices in Central Europe we hope to offer our services to a larger clientele across the continent. Auditions in Czech Republic are underway and we will have a lot of new talent joining the Golden Groove family when the new branch is launched in 2017.

Best Mobile Disco North Lincolnshire

Groove Travelling Discotheques Ltd is a professional mobile discotheque based in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire.

Groove Travelling Discotheques Ltd

Established in 1968 from the humble little town of Brigg in Lincolnshire, Groove Travelling Discotheques are a professional company that have been supplying mobile discos for over 45 years. Now based in Ashby, Scunthorpe in the heart of North Lincolnshire, having over 200 years combined DJ experience has allowed the firm to build a good reputation and become recommended entertainers by some of North Lincolnshire’s top venues.

Company: Groove Travelling Discotheques Ltd Address: 50 Smithfield Road, Ashby, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN16 2NH Phone: 08432 896315 Fax: 08432 896391 Email: info@groovedisco.co.uk Website: http://www.groovedisco.co.uk

This reputation for excellence is rooted in the firm’s dedication to offering a superior level of personal service to all of their clients. As such they always aim to respond to enquires within four hours, although during busy times it will be no more than 24.

Alongside discos, the firm are also able to offer bands, magicians, pianists and many other types of entertainment, catering for a wide variety of events including weddings, birthday parties and other special events.

By having a versatile entertainment offering the company differentiates themselves from other firms providing disco services. In addition, the company’s local knowledge and seven day a week working hours have seen the firm grow from strength to strength in recent years.

As members of the NADJ, the National Association of Disc Jokey’s, as well as the Mobile DJ Network Amp DJ, the firm has proved its worth and is able to offer quality services at an affordable price to suit the requirements of any event planner.

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Best Private Hire Car Company - UK

Havering Carriage Co Ltd. HCC are a family-owned, long-established chauffeurdriven executive car hire service who specialise in corporate events/airport transfers, road shows and celebrity transportation.

Our ever-growing client base consists mainly of large American ground transportation companies who contract us to provide service in the UK for their international business travellers. We also have numerous UK clients, ranging from individual business travellers to large corporations/banks, TV personalities, sportsmen and musicians.

In terms of the philosophy in place here at Havering Carriage you’re only as good as your last job. By striving for perfection on every transfer and paying attention to the finer details of all bookings, I ensure that every ‘last job’ is as good as the one before. Treating every client as if they are the most important client and every transfer as if it is the most financially rewarding is the solid foundation on which my business is built.

Prior to opening HCC I was in the British Army for 15 years. This instilled a certain discipline in me that I still adhere to today. Loyalty, honesty, self-respect and diligence are all important qualities that I both possess and actively seek in new employees.

The most important thing by far that I have learnt over the past 30 years is to employ the right people for the right job. It is not possible to provide an exceptional level of service without exceptional staff. My best intentions, ideas and business plans are only achievable if I have the right people to put them into practice.

The UK Private Hire industry is much larger than it was 10 years ago. It is a highly competitive sector and one that is hard to prosper in. Since the invention of mobile apps, like Uber and Hailo, which allow clients to book the nearest available vehicle to their current location, there is uproar in the industry.

It is felt by most licensed Chauffeurs that these app companies are not adhering to the same stringent regulations as everybody else within the industry and are therefore gaining an advantage in the field.

Company: Havering Carriage Co Ltd Name: Peter Turner Email: sales@haveringcarriage.com Web Address: www.haveringcarriage.com Address: 319A Hornchurch Road, Hornchurch, Essex, RM12 4TQ Telephone: + 44 (0) 1708 707744

Best Private Equity Company 2016 - India & Most Innovative in Exit Strategy Execution

ICICI Venture Funds Management Ltd ICICI Venture is one of India’s oldest and largest private equity investment management companies.

In regards to managing the staff here you have to employ the right people to begin with. I have a fabulous team, all of whom take pride in their work and inherently possess the qualities and values that I admire. Every member of staff comprehends and appreciates the necessity of my exacting standards and fulfils their duties accordingly.

Winning the award for Best Private Hire Car Company in the UK is very exciting and I feel genuinely privileged to receive such recognition. For over 30 years I have strived to make Havering Carriage Company the best in the business and it is fantastic that my efforts have not gone unnoticed. I anticipate that this award will generate more business leads for us in the UK market. Over the years we have evolved from our original roots as a service provider to UK companies to more of an International affiliate for the American market.

The future is looking bright for HCC. We are currently in the process of acquiring bigger business premises which will enable us to expand both the size of our fleet and our daily service capabilities.

Over the last two decades, they have established themselves as the market leader of the Indian Private Equity industry with assets under management / advisory services of above USD 2.5 billion. Having corresponded with the company, they have graciously provided us with some insights into their award winning ways.

ICICI Venture platform comprises four verticals: Private Equity (growth equity & buyouts), Real Estate, Special Situations and Infrastructure. The funds managed /advised by ICICI Venture have, over the years, invested across multiple sectors and across multiple economic cycles of the Indian economy, thereby giving ICICI Venture a competitive edge over other private equity firms.

ICICI Venture benefits from ICICI Bank’s proprietary deal flow by leveraging its sectoral network and expertise, and the relationships of ICICI Bank, in addition to its own relationships, which have been created through its twenty seven years of existence in India. Through this affiliation, ICICI Venture is now a trusted brand name with entrepreneurs and promoters across India, allowing a unique access to proprietary deal flow, frequently resulting in attractively priced acquisition multiples. This strong network of relationships across corporate India has provided ICICI Venture with unique insight within the sectors it covers, including close relationships with policy makers and promoters; providing support and leverage during due diligence. Deep sectoral expertise allows ICICI Venture to proactively identify, prioritise, track and pursue attractive investment themes.

ICICI Venture has initiated a number of new investment strategies in the Indian private equity industry. Among them are India’s first leveraged buy-out (Infomedia India), the first private equity real estate investment (Cyber Gateway), the first mezzanine financing for acquisition (Arch Pharmalabs), and the first royalty–based structured deal in pharmaceuticals research and development (I-Ven Pharma with Dr. Reddy’s Labs).

ICICI Venture has had a strong run of exits in the post 2008 GFC period. Across verticals and funds, ICICI Venture has concluded 51 exits (largely from unlisted companies) and realized over USD 1.3 billion since 2009 using diverse exit strategies including sale to strategics, sale to other PE funds, IPO, capital markets deals, buybacks and redemptions (in case of mezzanine investments).

Company: ICICI Venture Funds Management Ltd Name: Kundan Saran Email: kundan.saran@iciciventure.com Web Address: www.iciciventure.com

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Whereas most GPs in the Indian market have historically relied on taking private companies to IPO as a focal exit strategy, our diversification of exit strategies and relatively lower dependence on capital markets/IPO route was a big factor in our ability to conclude exits.

Best Soundproofing & Acoustic Insulation Supplier - UK

iKoustic Soundproofing are a leading UK supplier of Soundproofing solutions for the home and workplace, offering quality products and services that comply with relevant building regulations. We spoke to Founder & Director Rick Parsons about the company and the services it provides.

iKoustic Soundproofing

iKoustic Soundproofing started life at a party to celebrate the New Year, when we heard neighbours banging on the walls asking our hosts to keep the noise down. I realised that there must be a market for domestic soundproofing products, and after some market research and product development we started the business.

Company: iKoustic Soundproofing Website: http://www.ikoustic.co.uk/

As the housing market shifts and people choose to live in closer proximity to each other, in urban apartments for example, the need for soundproofing products is currently greater than ever. In addition, the portability of media technology, which is increasingly loud, has only enhanced the need for domestic sound insulation.

As a result, we have undertaken to provide quality soundproofing materials and installation services. Our globally sourced products are among the highest quality available in the markets we serve, and as such many architects and installers only use our products.

Often we did not have to invent a new product, merely repurpose a material from a different industry, but we always insist on the highest quality as this is vital to ensuring clients have a long lasting product that truly works. We often work with clients to test new materials or products, and we are always looking to grow our product offering.

My personal background is in blue chip companies, working in operations and marketing, and as such have been combining good operational practices with a focus on branding and online marketing in order to steer iKoustic to success.

The internet has been a particularly vital part in achieving our mission to de-mystify the world of soundproofing, ensuring that customers are fully aware of the options they have. Previously the market has been very sales led, with companies often not fully explaining the technology behind their products to clients. Here at iKoustic we are working hard to change this and ensure that clients fully understand in advance what we will do, the products we will use and why.

Ultimately transparency is key to this customer focused approach, and therefore we have created all of our products so that they can be installed either by the client themselves or by a member of our team. All of our prices and installation instructions are available on our website and we are always happy to explain any aspect to the client, ensuring that they are fully supported throughout the process.

Best Hair & Beauty Salon 2016 – Banbury

JH Hair and Beauty

JH Hair and Beauty are a unisex hair and beauty salon who have been operating in Banbury since 2011.

JH Hair and Beauty was set up in 2011 by Hitesh Ravrani and his wife Jaymeni Ravrani. The salon has since won ‘Salon of the Year’ award twice and has been recognised as a 5 star salon by the Good Salon Guide. The salon offers a range of beauty treatments designed for women and hair services for both men and women.

Delving into the aesthetics industry, the firm offers non-surgical treatments also.

The Salon has a strong work ethic and believe in providing all their clients the best quality service at all times. Knowing the importance of building a strong positive relationship between the stylist and client, Hitesh explains how he instils this value at the salon, “We believe in having open and honest communication with all our clients in order to develop a positive relationship. We always give all our clients more time during their consultation to understand what it is they require and would like to achieve.”

The salon has always used supreme quality products, giving clients the best possible long lasting result during their visit. The quality of service provided to clients is a reflection of the salon and its reputation. At JH Hair and Beauty, staff set a pleasant environment creating an ambience for clients to feel welcomed and valued.

This in turn provides the salon with loyal clients that will return again for a service that is not just 5 star but also genuine.

Prior to setting up the business, Hitesh has had experience working with industry insiders which gave him the opportunity to learn about the hair and beauty industry, improving skills he had already acquired, leading him to venture into opening up his own salon.

Company: JH Hair and Beauty Name: Hitesh Ravrani Email: jhhairandbeauty@hotmail.co.uk Web Address: wwwjhhairandbeauty.co.uk Address: 43-A Market place, Banbury, Oxfordshire, UK OX16 5NW Telephone: 01295257051

The Hair and Beauty industry is heavily competitive, experiencing competition has given the firm the confidence to strive in excellence as a salon. Leading the firm to win the Award of Salon of the Year twice. This only encourages Hitesh and his team to keep working hard and pushing the boundaries of brilliance.

In terms of the salons future, Hitesh shares the upcoming plans in progress, “As we look ahead to the future we are looking to open another branch as part of our business expansion plan in the near future and hope to share the same success we have attained with this salon.”

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Best Cross-Border Law Firm Germany

Jordan & Wagner Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft is a leading cross-border law specialist based in Germany. We invited Founder Helmuth Jordan to provide us with a unique insight into the company.

Jordan & Wagner Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH

Established in 2000, Jordan & Wagner is dedicated to providing quality service to clients, drawing on my vast experience within the legal sector. I was a partner in a Stuttgart law firm with around a dozen lawyers for 20 years, and gained valuable insight into the market and the work I know undertake in my own firm.

Through my previous work I gained connections with both clients and lawyers around the world. I have now established a cooperation with proven lawyers in those countries where legal problems regularly cannot be avoided as part of the export business, and my international experience and contacts has helped facilitate this.

Our clients are predominantly mid-size and large exporting companies, and as a business we strive to work personally with each client, ensuring that they receive a bespoke service which exactly meets their needs.

As a firm we view transparency as crucial, and we always make sure to ensure that we understand the culture of the businesses we are working with, as well as making sure that there are no language issues. We always try to make sure the client understands the risks involved before they work with us on a case, and endeavour to communicate with them throughout the process so that they are supported and understand the case fully.

Moving forward, we have an exciting project within the medical sector which will provide us with growth opportunities in this market. In addition, the project could change the healthcare system for the better, making the law surrounding medical treatment more effective for future generations.

Company: Jordan & Wagner Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH Email: helmuth.jordan@jordan-ra.com Web Address: www.jordan-ra.com Address: Kernerstrasse 28, DE-70182, Stuttgart Telephone: 49 {0) 7 11 -25 54 04-60 Fax: 49 {OJ 7 11 -25 54 04-70

Best On-Line Estate Agent South West

Kerb Appealz

My initial aim when starting Kerb Appealz was to create a new experience for clients when using an estate agent. I had a vision to create a hybrid of the online estate agent blending in with the traditional values of the high street agent, whilst reducing the cost to the client. This took me many years to perfect and I designed a model that eventually worked for everyone.

The USP of my firm is the free home staging advice and support that we give to all our clients. This is very Kerb Appealz is an innovative estate agent serving both beneficial as it helps client understand how they can present their homes in a more favourable manor to the public, in return gaining a higher net selling price without the added fees many other firms charge. Extra traditional and online business. Penny Whitaker talks products that are usually charged for by the high street agents are also free and included in the 1% selling fee. about the firm and how the idea came about.

At Kerb Appealz, we work with everyone who is selling a property and consider everyone a valued client. We consider great customer service an important part of our service offering, as this will help create a bond and put them at ease when making important decisions. Therefore we are always working on ways to improve our packaging and selling ideas and strive to create new and innovative business ideas.

As a business we have had to overcome issues within the housing market. Currently, with the Government surcharge coming in at 3%, investors have been buying properties from the lower price bracket. This has now lead the market to pick up once more and Kerb Appealz are doing everything possible to gain every instruction to replenish stocks.

Despite this challenge the firm has prospered thanks to our dedication to quality services and unrestrictive pricing strategies. In addition, having experienced poor service from Estate Agents in the past who have often provided poor advice, I have learned to keep myself constantly informed on the latest developments in the property industry. Winning this award is recognition of all this hard work and I am very proud to be awarded this prestigious accolade.

Company: Kerb Appealz Estate Agents Name: Penny Whitaker Email: fiestyfemale888@yahoo.co.uk Web Address: www.kerbappealz.co.uk Address: 13 Lansdowne Place, Alverton, Penzance, TR18 4QB

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Being in business over the years, the most important thing I have learnt is to listen to what clients want from you. I have built a very positive and happy relationship with my clients and I believe having such an outlook helps you succeed further in business, and moving forward I intend to continue to build upon my current success using this strategy.

Best Hotel Cleaning Contractors - London

KT&T Limited

KT&T Limited is an established Facilities Management company which specializes in providing outsourced staff for Hotel Cleaning and Support Services, and also offers Catering and Events Management, Commercial, and School Cleaning Services. Manuela Kostadinova, Director and Proprietor gives us a fascinating overview of the company and talks us through its rise in the hospitality sector.

As such the company aims to deliver a top quality environmentally friendly service with a consistently high standard, providing excellent customer service, and great value. We are on board to revolutionise the cleaning industry by providing clients with a unique service that uses 100% green and chemical free technology that is kind to customers, clients, employees and the environment.

We offer our customers reliable service because we understand the importance of delivering excellence which we achieve by maintaining close communication between customers, management and employees. Providing constant staff training, frequent on site visits by management, as well as staff incentive schemes, KT&T ensure their staff fully meet their objectives and the day to day business is efficiently run.

I have personally been in the hospitality sector for over 25 years, having gained experience in a range of businesses from managing hotels to restaurants, bars, events and entertainment. My experience and expertise has enabled me to establish KT&T firstly as a quality driven and cost effective organization which is able to adapt and overcome the ever-changing nature of the industry, including legislative impacts, and employment regulations. In order to manage these I task my head office to conduct monthly scans to anticipate all legislation and environmental impacts.

Manuela Kostadinova Company: KT & T Limited Web Address: www.kttgreencleaning.co.uk Email: info@kttgreencleaning.co.uk Phone: 020 7841 2715 Address: 88 Kingsway, WC2B 6AA London, United Kingdom

Window Cleaners of the Year Greater Manchester

Manchester Windows Cleaners

Overall employing quality staff is the key to the firm’s success, and I am assisted by a great management team, consisting of Business Development, Operations Manager, Area Managers, Human Resources Manager, Business Support Manager, Health and Safety Manager, Finance Manager, and Accounts team. On site Housekeepers or Site Supervisors manage housekeeping operatives on a day-to-day basis, assisted by trainers and by senior management conducting site visits. As part of the company induction programme, we train all our staff to a high standard and continue to develop their skills and knowledge through periodic refresher trainings. Our employees are regularly given opportunities to undergo a number of training sessions and to continue their professional development in Cleaning, Customer Care and Support Services to NVQ Level Two, through partnership with local Colleges.

Moving forward I am keen to take an organic approach to business growth that is sustainable, and benefits both us and our clients. We will look to expanding our interests in the future into providing total facilities management services, and other hospitality areas such as Event Management, and the wider facilities management sector.

Manchester Window Cleaners is a commercial window cleaning company, specialising in high-reach window cleaning. Having a wide range of clients, from small businesses, to ultra-modern office complexes, from small schools to universities. We had the chance to hear from Paul Johnson to find out first-hand how he has reached the heights he has.

I formed Manchester Window Cleaners, produced a really professional website. I invested in clean, professional, badged workwear and took any and all opportunities to clean windows. Though at the time I was spending more than I was earning to build my business, it was imperative for me to make a mark in the market. I knew I had to work hard for my venture to work.

I had to grow a business very quickly so I could live. My father had a small window cleaning round, and he was looking to retire. The business he had was very small and earned very little. My previous experience and qualifications helped me to grow the business by giving the impression it was large and professional but was actually just me, a car and a trailer.

Having and building a good team should be the number one priority in any business; I believe an organisation’s staff is its lifeblood. Each member should understand the business’ ethos and believe in it and I am proud to say we have a great team at Manchester Window Cleaners.

The first thing a new team member is taught when they join Manchester Window Cleaners is to believe that giving a high quality service is essential. I’m not interested how long a member of staff takes to be trained as long as they are willing to never compromise on quality. I wish to instill in them a pride in what they are doing. We all get on very well, and we are all excited about growing the business.

It is important to meet the decision-maker to get to know them and understand their needs. We think about each potential job, looking for ways to give the client more than they asked.

Company: Manchester Window Cleaners Name: Paul Johnson Email: paul@manchesterwindowcleaners.co.uk Web Address: www.manchesterwindowcleaners.co.uk Telephone: 0161 452 0518

I would like to see the business grow, but not at a speed where quality is compromised. I cannot afford to lose our reputation by taking on staff to fill roles before they are fully trained. It can take up to three months to train an individual to the point where they can be trusted to work to our quality expectations.

We are considering moving into office cleaning facilities. This is so we can offer a full portfolio of cleaning services to our clients. I am looking at this area cautiously as I don’t want us to switch our focus from our main objectives

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Best Global Solar Energy Solutions Firm

Martifer Solar is a leading fully-integrated player in the global photovoltaic market, focused on AFP (Asset Funding & Placement), Development, EPC, O&M Service and Trading.

Martifer Solar

Supported by a proven track record and true worldwide presence, the company provides 360º Business Model adapted to each customer’s individual needs.

Martifer Solar has built a global reputation by deploying outstanding price-performance ratio solar plants that usually exceed customer needs, transforming solar energy into green assets by maximizing value and mitigating risks.

The company’s recognized capabilities across the entire value chain enable us to manage all phases of the development cycle, from market and site identification to the grid connection and subsequent asset management services.

Martifer Solar is a Portuguese-based company with presence in more than 20 countries over 4 continents and has engineered and constructed more than 670 MW and managed more than 600 MW in O&M Service.

Company: Martifer Solar Email: solar.pt@martifer.com Web Address: http://www.martifersolar.com Address: Apartado 17, 3684-001 Oliveira de Frades Telephone: +351 232 811 381 Fax: +351 232 811 389

This vast experience ensures that every product and service they provide is of the highest possible quality and always fully compliant with the relevant regulations.

Best Ape & Monkey Sanctury - UK

Monkey World assists governments around the world to stop the smuggling of primates from the wild.

Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre

At Monkey World refugees of this illegal trade, as well as those that have suffered abuse or neglect, are rehabilitated into natural living groups. Monkey World is delighted to have won an AI Business Excellence Award for 2016, as this highlights the valuable work which the centre is conducting.

In addition, Martifer Solar believes in serving local communities via corporate citizenship, promoting a sustainable attitude, integration and education.

It is this unique approach that has brought the success since inception, and the base of these conquests and achievements.

With over 250 primates of 20 different species, Monkey World is the largest sanctuary of its kind in the world.

The monkeys and apes that live at the park are mainly there as a result of being abused or neglected in their previous circumstances. The expert team of primate care staff work around the clock to rehabilitate and integrate the animals into natural living groups.

The centre has grown rapidly since it first opened in 1987, as the need to provide a home for so many different primates has unfortunately not slowed down. This is still as much of an issue today as it was nearly 30 years ago. The team hopes that by educating visitors to the centre we can help prevent primates being smuggled from the wild in the future.

Combining fun with conservation and animal education, half-hourly talks by the dedicated Primate Care Staff explain all about man’s closest living relative. They love to share their knowledge of all the individuals in their care, and are happy to answer questions when the talk is over. Pre-bookable guided tours are also available.

Company: Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre Email: apes@monkeyworld.org Web Address: www.monkeyworld.org Address: Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre Longthorns, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 6HH Telephone: 01929 462537

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You can support Monkey World in continuing their rescue and rehabilitation work by taking part in the Adopt a Primate Scheme. Prices start from £25 for the year and include a photograph, certificate, three editions of the Ape Rescue Chronicle and free entry to the park for a year.

Best Affordable Housing Developer California

Ms. Warren was initially hired by the Housing Authority of the County of Monterey as the Director of Housing Development in January, 2002. In 2005 she was named President/CEO for the self-developing non-profit, the Monterey County Housing Authority Development Corporation (HDC)

Monterey County Housing Authority Development Corporation

The Monterey County Housing Authority Development Corporation (HDC), a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation, provides development consulting services to housing authorities and affordable housing developers. HDC has been the lead developer on mixed-use, mixed-income and redeveloped housing projects. Our proven success can be attributed to HDC’s ability to keenly identify and address the low-income and workforce families’ housing needs in Monterey County as well as in other jurisdictions, and the unique expertise of our consultants.

The HDC mission is to strengthen communities through the development of affordable housing, rehabilitation and repairs and to grow the economy, by working with the diverse people who live, work and invest in these communities. We are committed to enhance the quality of life for low and moderate income persons by developing decent and affordable housing. We create safe, well planned, attractive residential communities and enable families to become self-sufficient and communities to become stable

Company: Monterey County Housing Authority Development Corporation (HDC) Dominant sector: Affordable Housing Development Company age: 11 years Company size: $4 million/year Number of employees: 25 Name: Starla Warren Email: swarren@hdcmonterey.org Web Address: www.hdcmonterey.org Address: 123 Rico Street, Salinas, CA 93907 Telephone: (831) 796-4660

HUD application under Rental Assistance Demonstration Program (RAD) awarded in March 2015 for the conversion of the HA entire public housing portfolio. RAD conversion provides a more stable and predictable funding platform and allows owners to leverage additional funding for capital improvements.

Our HA can execute Joint Powers Agreements with local Housing Authorities effectively allowing our HA non-profit entity to develop in other jurisdictions, taking the initial step in identifying possible development opportunities such as potential RAD conversions The HDC will be the developer in the Housing Authority RAD conversion of 486 public housing units (35 addresses) into mixed-finance transaction. This transaction involves a full interior rehabilitation of half of the housing stock and full exterior rehab of its entire housing stock.

HDC has been a national leader in the development and deployment of innovative strategies to fund and build affordable housing developments. In addition to being the development arm for the Housing Authority of Monterey County, HDC offers their affordable housing financing, acquisition, entitlement and development expertise as a consultancy to other housing authorities and for-profit and non-profit developers of affordable housing. HDC’s expertise also includes project-based accounting, business process management and automation, and information technology systems.

Oracle Solutions Provider of the Year - UK

Project is an independent consultancy providing specialist business process and technology systems advice.

Founder Donna Butchart provides us with an exciting insight into how the firm came into being and how it will maintain its enviable success.

Project (EU) Ltd

Project EU work with clients from both the private and public sector across a range of industries including transport, construction, education, local government and telecommunications.

In addition we provide reporting and business analytics around IT Programme and Project Management, Project Portfolio Management (PPM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Business Analytics (BA), Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) and Business and Change Management.

As one of the UK’s leading Oracle niche consultancies, Project has a specific skill-set and expertise. We provide reporting and business analytics which means we are constantly innovating to help clients with their ever-changing scenarios.

Before setting up Project EU in 2000, my background was finance rather than IT. I qualified as a Chartered Accountant and began the traditional accountancy route. During this time I had the chance to work on an international Oracle implementation project from a user perspective and something just clicked. I was able to use my finance experience and expertise to see how the Oracle products could be used and adapted to help businesses at every level.

Company: Project (EU) Ltd Name: Donna Butchart Email: intouch@project.eu.com Web Address: www.project.eu.com Address: Strathallan House, Midland Road, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4LS Telephone: 0845 680 0193

Our team is made up of experts with unrivalled knowledge and expertise; each member is continually interested in the latest technology opportunities, understanding our clients’ needs and sharing their best practice with colleagues. We want to work with the best people in the industry, so our focus is not only on attracting people, but also retaining them. Ours is an environment where everyone has the opportunity to shape their own career and where ambition and results are rewarded.

Looking ahead, our key current project is developing bespoke modelling environments for clients. By providing clients with a tailored environment that has rapid installation to establish prototype test solutions, it means the system can be demonstrated back to the business and key stakeholders. A paramount benefit of a modelling environment is that the development timescale is significantly reduced, thus minimising cost and impact.

A paramount benefit of a modelling environment is that the development timescale is significantly reduced, thus minimising cost and impact.

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AI Local Excellence Award: Best for Boiler Services - London

Real Boiler Servicing & Maintenance

Real Boiler Servicing & Maintenance is a specialist business committed to developing sophisticated diagnostic techniques for the easy identification of faults, as well as providing superior servicing for systems. Ibrahim Tural talks us through how the firm has come to win this prestigious accolade.

Real Boiler Servicing & Maintenance is a dedicated boiler service firm that prides itself on offering a high standard of client service.

Customer evaluation shows 94% of our client base to be within the London Borough of Enfield. This focus gives us the means to deliver a high quality service, attending and resolving 90% of callouts within the same day. This ensures clients aren’t left without heating for a moment longer than necessary.

All our customer reviews are moderated and authenticated before publication by Which? Trusted Traders/Age UK London, which provide our core customer base.

Although a business, RBSM also enhances the local community. We’re actively involved in raising gas safety awareness by providing a free information and advice presence at major local events, improving the whole community’s safety.

Winning this prestigious award would be of great value to our business. The acknowledgment of our significant achievements would raise the profile of RBMS within the local community and give the business an opportunity for further publicity, supporting both future growth and local employment opportunities.

Our Mission Statement is: “Through professional conduct and exceptional workmanship we will improve domestic boiler servicing standards and be a market leader in our community.”

To this end, our goals for the next year include establishing a high street presence to offer our services and promote general gas safety. This will raise our profile and increase sales, allowing us to expand geographically into neighbouring boroughs.

Company: Real Boiler Servicing & Maintenance Name: Ibrahim Tural Address: 13 Landridge Dr, Enfield EN1 4LG Phone: 020 3727 7253

Best Tile & Mosaic Boutique 2016 - UK

R I M Tile & Mosaic Boutique

In the longer term, over the next five years the business will look to secure servicing and maintenance contracts from both the local authorities and other sources, guaranteeing a sustained projection of growth.

This will open the way to establishing an exclusive training centre, which will offer its services locally to both existing and new engineers.

“R.I.M Tile & Mosaic Boutique is a retail company which sells tiles, stone and mosaic as well as bathroom furniture and provides interior design services. We spoke to the Director Alena Agafonova, who also designs exclusive collections for the company and Managing Director Alla Romanenko to find out more about the business and the products and services it provides.”

Since the firm’s inception in 2008, R.I.M Tile & Mosaic Boutique has been dedicated to inspiring clients, creating beautiful pieces that will stand the test of time.

Our work is predominantly in the higher end of the market, dealing with major international manufacturers of high-class designer tiles, using a range of materials including ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, and mosaics.

Most of our clients are architects and designers, who are based in London but work with local and international clients. Having a background in architecture (Alena) and engineering plus graphics (Alla) is helping a lot when working with clients, as it gives an opportunity to understand the work they are doing and the results they need.

It is really invigorating to work with creative people who bring a different cultural background to the projects, as this leads to diversity of colours, patterns and material preferences, helping to make each project unique and exciting.

In order to provide the very best quality products to these clients we are always searching for the most beautiful and innovative products, and are always happy to put forward our own vision to combine different materials from different manufacturers, with the aim to inspire our clients to get the very most out of the project.

Company: UK Interior Design Specialists Limited (R.I.M Tile & Mosaic Boutique) Name: Alena Agafonova Email: enquiry@rimdesign.co.uk Web Address: www.rimdesign.co.uk Address: Unit 3/11, Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, London SW10 0XE Telephone: 02073765820

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Within our market, the demand has changed over recent years as consumer focus moves to products that are more affordable yet more luxurious in appearance. New technologies allow manufacturers to create porcelain imitations very close to natural products, making it possible to meet that demand, which provides firms such as ours with the opportunity to create luxurious designs at a lower cost.

Looking forward, we would like to work more with commercial clients to increase our ability showcase our beautiful products in public spaces for more people to enjoy and make tiles a fashion statement for the home as well as being practical.

Best International IP Law Firm California

Schlee IP International

Based in California, Schlee IP International, P.C. (SchleeIP) is a law firm primarily focused on international intellectual property, with a particular emphasis on serving US and German clients. We spoke to Alexander R. Schlee, Managing Partner of SchleeIP, to find out more about their company and how they cater for their highly diverse range of clients.

At the beginning of our firm, we initially operated as Viering, Jentschura & Partner’s (VJP) and then reconfigured into SchleeIP, although we still work in close cooperation with VJP. Having worked in VJP’s head office in Munich, Germany, for 13 years, I founded VJP’s Los Angeles office in 2000 and have been the office’s Managing Partner since its inception. The Los Angeles office was reconfigured as a California corporation in January of 2007 becoming Schlee Intellectual Property International P.C, and working in association with Viering, Jentschura & Partners.

From our experience, many US clients have a strong market presence in the German market, and vice versa. US clients operating in the Germany and vice versa is particularly prominent in California, which is the key U.S. State in research and development. In recognising this unique connection and the correlating demand for intellectual property protection both in the U.S. and Europe, we decided to open our Los Angeles Office.

In terms of our services, we offer expert knowledge to our clients, and we are always paying attention to their financial situation and working methods. As a result, we have a diverse client base including companies and law firms of all sizes. Its dual US and German backgrounds has made SchleeIP an expert in understanding the discrepancies and alignments between various intellectual property systems.

Furthermore, through our continued association with Viering, Jentschura & Partners (VJP) with its three German offices and three offices on the Asian continent, SchleeIP is easily able to access a broad spectrum of resources in order to provide its clients with quality international representation for all of their intellectual property needs.

Company: Schlee IP International, P.C. Name: Alexander R. Schlee Web: www.schleeip.com Address: 3770 Highland Ave # 203, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, United States Phone: +1 310-545-9851

Best Airport Transfer Company Australia

SkyBus

In terms of my background, I graduated from the Technical University in Darmstadt, Germany, as a mechanical engineer (Dipl.-Ing.) with an emphasis on the field of automotive engineering, machine tools and the mechanics of flight. While pursuing my college education, I also worked as a technical designer in the fields of laboratory fittings, machine tools and in the automotive industry.

With regards to IP, being licensed and practicing as a German, European and U.S. Patent Attorney, I have many years of experience in intellectual property rights includes domestic and foreign patents, utility models, trademarks and industrial designs. However, I deal mainly with international patent applications (PCT), European patents, German patents and utility models, and U.S. patents. Furthermore, I have been representing numerous clients before various National and International Authorities for more than 25 years.

SkyBus Melbourne provide dedicated 24/7 Melbourne Airport - City Transfers, and a Free City Hotel Shuttle connection service to passengers travelling to and from Melbourne Airport. Currently the firm serves around 3.5 million passengers.

In September 2014, SkyBus undertook new ownership and appointed Adam Begg and Michael Sewards as coCEOs and Directors.

Since that time the firm has implemented a number of initiatives to enhance the tourist/travellers journey to and from Melbourne Airport: • Introduction of Customer Concierges at Melbourne Airport to assist inbound passengers with information in respect to their journey into Melbourne; • Introduction of Free WiFi services on-board all SkyBus vehicles; • Introduction of Australian built Double Decker vehicles to both enhance capacity and provide an iconic experience upon arrival into Melbourne; • Replacement of entire City Hotel Shuttle Fleet with distinctive Optare vehicles; • Development of a SkyBus Airport Gateway at Southern Cross Station to future proof this facility for expected future Melbourne Airport growth; • Initiation of SkyBus St Kilda Express Service to provide this iconic tourist destination with a highly frequent and dedicated Airport connection service; • Delivery of six additional Double Decker vehicles to enable a full City Airport Express Double Decker fleet; • Increase in services to an average of 350 services daily, enabling a frequency of 4 minutes during peak to be consistently achieved:

Company: SkyBus Email: info@skybus.com.au Web Address: www.skybus.com.au Address: PO Box 44 Tullamarine VIC 3043 29 Francis Briggs Road, Melbourne Airport 3045, Australia Telephone: +61 (3) 9335 2811 Fax: +61 (3) 9338 5075

Current expectations are that SkyBus total Airport patronage in 2016 will grow to 3.75 million, and therefore the introduction of these initiatives seek to deliver upon the SkyBus commitment to customer experience and tourism excellence.

Our passenger feedback reflects the high opinion of our service amongst travellers, with SkyBus maintaining a consistent Trip Advisor 4.5 Star plus rating.

Importantly the SkyBus Melbourne service is now internationally respected with numerous Airports over the last 12 months inspecting Melbourne operations with a view to providing Mass Transit solutions to their own airports. The first of these was Auckland Airport, who have since partnered with SkyBus to introduce (in October 2015) SkyBus Auckland New Zealand operations to this fast growing airport.

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Best Landscape Contractors Scottish Highlands

Struan’s Landscaping & Groundworks Services Struan’s Landscaping & Groundworks Services are a family run business who operate landscaping and groundwork’s services throughout the Highlands. We spoke to them to find out more about the business and to hear their thoughts on winning this award.

Company: Struan’s Landscaping & groundworks Services Name: Struan Mackay Email: info@struan.eu Web Address: www.highlandlandscaping.co.uk Address: Little Lochna, by Fearn Aerodrome, Balintore, IV20 1XW Telephone: 01862 850375

Best Small Batch Distiller - UK

The Cotsworld Distilling Company Ltd Company: The Cotswold Distilling Company Ltd Email: info@cotswoldsdistillery.com Web Address: http://www.cotswoldsdistillery.com/ Address: Phillip’s Field, Whichford Road, Stourton, Shipston-on-Stour, CV36 5HG Telephone: Number +44 (0) 1608 238 533

At Struan’s Landscaping & Groundworks Services, we carry out a wide range of services, including de-stoning and seeding lawns, hydro seeding, tree surgery, lock block paving, tarmacking driveways, primary and secondary drainage and all types of hard landscaping. Our clientele focus is primarily based on private and commercial customers.

In regards to our approach, our strategy is too continually focus on customer satisfaction and to keep trying to improve on ways to effectively communicate our vision with them. Furthermore we are always looking for ways to improve and invest in modern machinery to allow us to carry out the work better and more efficiently than our competitors.

Before starting this business along with my wife in 2004, I previously worked with a landscaping company where I was able to gain practical experience and I learnt invaluable knowledge about the landscaping industry.

Throughout my career, one of the most important things I have learnt is to be very selective in which customers and clients to choose to work for. Cash flow is very important and if you work for the wrong people this will quickly be a big problem.

Because we are a family business, initially managing staff was not a problem, we started out with just myself and my Dad, who still works with us today and is a key member of the team, however since we have grown it is our priority to employ people who have the correct work ethic and a great personality, which we now have.

The landscaping industry is currently in a very good state and we are able to work on bigger, challenging projects which give us the opportunity to produce winning results and expand our expertise.

Each time we work with a new client, before starting work it is our aim to see if we are compatible with each other and to see if we share the same vision of the end goal.

We are very honoured to win the award as there are many great landscaping companies in the Highlands, so to win this award is fantastic, we are very grateful to God for the business He has intrusted us with and we look forward to the future opportunities that lie ahead.

In terms of the future, we are always looking to expand and employ more of the correct people to work with us, so we can offer our clients the best all round service. By winning this award we hope it will highlight to future customers the level of service we offer and our capabilities as a dynamic business.

The Cotswold Distilling Company was first-ever craft distillery in the Cotswolds, producing outstanding quality natural spirits, as well as offering distillery tours and a range of gifts and accessories. We profile this dedicated distillery and its quality product portfolio.

The Cotswold Distilling Company is the first-ever full-scale craft distillery operating within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The firm produce a range of “Outstanding Natural Spirits”, including the first-ever Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky and the award-winning Cotswolds Dry Gin. In addition, the firm offers tours of its beautiful rural facility, which has been designed with visitors in mind.

Situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty famous for its horticultural heritage and set in five acres of beautiful Cotswolds countryside, the firm’s state-of-the-art distillation equipment is perfectly poised for the creation of fine spirits, and as such the company is keen to show it off. Tours and tastings are arranged daily so guests can explore the distillery and learn about how the firm’s luxury spirits are created.

Visitors also have the opportunity to take home a souvenir, whether it be a piece of stunning glassware, a bottle of sumptuous spirit or a Cotswold Distillery accessory, which range from golfing umbrellas to cufflinks, flasks and beyond.

Being a supportive member of the local community is a vital aspect of the company’s ethos, and as such the firm is always looking for ways to ensure that it does not pollute the natural environment unnecessarily. The spent grains of barley from the mash used to make the spirits is made into feed for the firm’s Cotswold cattle, and the other co-products created by the distilling process will be turned into biogas at a nearby anaerobic digester.

Ultimately the firm offer a quality product and a luxury touring service, making The Cotswold Distilling Company the perfect location for an exciting trip and the perfect place to purchase a unique gift.

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Best Hair Salon Northumberland

The Salon Craig Bolam is a high quality hairdressing salon based in Northumberland. We spoke to Owner Craig Bolam about the services he offers and how he ensures that each client has the best experience possible.

The Salon Craig Bolam

Although The Salon Craig Bolam is only two year old it has already exceed expectations, and it now boasts a thriving clientele and an ever expanding team. Our clients range from men, women and children of all ages.

As a service company we strive to give the very best in all aspects of our business; hairdressing, customer service and education, to staff as well as clients.

Company: The Salon Craig Bolam Name: Craig Bolam Email: info@craigbolam.co.uk Web Address: www.craigbolam.co.uk Address: The Salon Craig Bolam, West Road, Mickley, Stocksfield, Northumberland, NE43 7BG Telephone: 01661 842 860

In the past 12 months, The Salon has undergone a full refurbishment, using tradesmen and crafters from local businesses. We feel the refurbishment represents our brand, giving an air of sophistication with a little quirkiness thrown in. Following this we had a write up in our local paper, ‘The Hexham Courant’ talking about the success of The Salon and the changes and improvements we have made.

Last year our senior stylist Georgia qualified as a Barber, bringing a new knowledge into the salon and enabling her to offer a higher quality of service to her male clientele.

Towards the back end of 2015, The Salon celebrated its two and a half year anniversary with a soirée for all clients existing and new to come along for a celebration, just a little something to give back to them for their love and support over the last few years.

Finally in December, our small team grew, adding a new stylist and an apprentice to the ‘TSCB Family’.

These exciting developments highlight the salon’s success. Our goal now is to become a brand, making the salon a well-known name whilst maintaining our impeccably high standards, our genuine love for our clients and a thorough understanding for their needs that lacks in so many big name salons. Ultimately business is booming, and as such we are busier than ever.

Looking ahead, our plan for the next 12 months is to work on further education for the whole team. We are currently working on standardising our high standard of our hairdressing craft, from the way we greet our clients to the way we stand whilst cutting. This also includes going on a number of courses locally and down the country as well as our own custom made training programme. We want to continue to build our team in order to eventually go on to open Salon number two.

Best Luxurious Skin Specialist Company - Northern Ireland

The Tranquil Rooms is a skincare specialist that utilises the finest organic skincare products on the market to ensure clients enjoy a relaxing experience.

The Tranquil Rooms

The Tranquil Rooms is dedicated to providing a tranquil, relaxing atmosphere that allows clients to unwind whilst enjoying a rejuvenating skincare regime. The salon offers a wide range of treatments, including massages, facials, hair removal and even semi-permanent make up. Services can be provided for both men and women, with a range of packages available for clients to choose from so they get the most out of their visit.

Company: The Tranquil Rooms Address: 41 High Street Holywood BT18 9AB Website: www.thetranquilrooms.co.uk Phone 02890424999

Listening is a key aspect of the firm’s process, whether it be to clients, looking to find out exactly what it is they want from their treatment to holding regular staff meetings to ensure that our staff are motivated and properly supported. This communicative approach ensures that everyone at The Tranquil Rooms is satisfied and enjoys their experience.

Ultimately beauty is all about the experience. When clients visit The Tranquil Rooms they receive not only the best products, but also a full service which aims to examine just what they require before producing a skincare regime which exactly meets their needs and enables them to leave feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

Moving forward, the firm intends to keep striving for the very best for its clients, undertaking increased staff training and exploring new technology and products so that it can provide the very highest quality services. The firm have recently acquired a New Caci synergy machine which will improve its skin care offering, and we are exploring new training in eyeliner and lip liner semi-permanent makeup in order to enhance our service offering.

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Best SME Bid Writing Company - UK

Think Tenders

Think Tenders Ltd, owned and run by Amanda Goode, offers a fully managed bid writing service to companies wishing to secure lucrative public sector contracts.

Think Tenders’ expert Bid Writers work in accordance with Shipley best practice guidelines, the leading recognised procedure for capture planning and bid writing. The writing team have extensive experience in responding to tenders, particularly public sector OJEU procedures, and winning a range of private and public sector contracts, consistently achieving high conversion rates.

“We are passionate about writing compelling bids and in facilitating growth for organisations”, explains Amanda.

“Our skilled Bid Writers excel at defining win themes to clearly articulate service offerings, how these meet and exceed the tender specification, and the ultimate benefits to the end buyer. The writing team particularly enjoy working on client site, working with in-house teams and learning first-hand about organisations, how they operate and how they provide services and products.“ By choosing Think Tenders to handle the tender process, organisations are able to achieve sustainable business success whilst eliminating the often daunting and overwhelming pressures and demands that tendering can place on their teams.

Think Tenders are keen for companies to take the plunge and enter the public sector arena, “The UK market still offers tremendous opportunities. With the government now pledging to increase its procurement budget with SMEs to 33% by 2020, there has never been a better time to tender to the public sector. If organisations are serious about growing their business and securing public sector contracts, now is the time to act and Think Tenders can help you every step of the way in winning some fantastic contracts”.

“Our bid writing service is as flexible as each client needs it to be and depends on how much assistance they need.

Although our support is often to write an organisation’s bid, for long-term sustainability this is combined with giving in-house staff the understanding, knowledge and skills to undertake the bid process themselves.”

Company: Think Tenders Ltd Name: Amanda Goode Email: amanda@thinktenders.co.uk Web Address: www.thinktenders.co.uk

Corporate Travel Payment Solutions Provider of the Year 2016

UATP

“We undertake an initial full diagnostic with each organisation to understand where our support would be best utilised, for example are they complete novices to the tender process and need to set up their internal bid procedures and understanding from scratch, or do they have experience in bidding for contracts but aren’t achieving the desired win rates and need to understand where they’re going wrong.”

“Winning this award is an amazing feeling, not only has it recognised our hard work, but it also demonstrates the benefits that tendering for public sector contracts can be achieved by organisations, no matter what their size. “ UATP is the airline owned global payment solution accepted by thousands of merchants for air, rail, and travel agency payments.

We provide a true low-cost alternative to the expensive cost of accepting credit card payments while building and maintaining customers’ loyalty to the airlines. UATP has sales in excess of USD 14 billion worldwide, which produces hundreds of millions of dollars in both savings and revenue for its owners. UATP lowers the cost of payment acceptance, typically 100 basis points less than other card brands.

UATP offers easy-to-use data tools such as DataStreamSM and DataMineSM which provide comprehensive account details to Issuers and Corporate Subscribers for accurate travel management.

DataStream is UATP’s innovative, web-based billing system. It effortlessly organizes information on a single, centralized system. With the ability to support multiple currencies and languages, DataStream allows airline Issuers to provide incomparable customer service to clients worldwide.

DataMine is UATP’s cutting edge transaction portal that provides comprehensive insight into Issuer and Corporate Subscriber accounts. Subscribers can access up to thirteen months of Level III data, and then effortlessly generate reports customized to their specific need.

DataMine gives users real-time access to credit limits, balances, and available funds for all UATP account types.

UATP’s data tools and solutions help make UATP the preferred form of payment for corporate travel throughout the world.

Company: UATP Name: Wendy Ward Email: Marketing@uatp.com Web Address: UATP.COM Address: 1425 K Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005 Telephone: 202-774-5017

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To add value to the network, UATP partners with new processing platforms that diversify UATP’s payment acceptance and channels for airfare payment. UATP’s alternative forms of payment include Alipay, Bitnet, eNett International, GiroSolution, Givex, Limonetik, PayPal, Paysafecard, SafetyPay, SVS and Wirecard.

UATP has also partnered with WEX, a leading provider of corporate payment solutions, to provide the WEX Virtual Card Number Solution (VCN) to the entire UATP Network. This relationship will allow UATP corporate account holders to pay for hotel and rental cars through the WEX VCN solution.

Best Fresh Produce Supplier California

Uesugi Farms, Inc has been in business for 37 years in the USA and sells its products throughout North America, Europe and Asia. In addition to its fruit and vegetable production operation, they also offer direct sales of fresh produce to local consumers and operate a pumpkin-themed amusement park.

Uesugi Farms, Inc

Uesugi Farms, Inc is an agricultural company that was formed in 1979 and is run by Joe Aiello and his son, Pete. It is headquartered in Gilroy, California. They take great pride in their farming heritage and have made their business a success in the produce industry. The company grow, pack and ship fresh vegetables and fruits all over the USA as well as export goods to Europe, Mexico, Canada and Southeast Asia via planes and boats. They produce a wide range of commodities, providing consumers near and far the opportunity to buy fresh fruit and vegetables on a year-round basis.

Uesugi Farms have a large clientele group based in the retail sector, ranging from big grocery retailers such as Whole Foods, Walmart, Trader Joe’s and Costco, to schools and wholesale businesses. The company also services several terminal markets in the USA and Canada. California has very strict laws pertaining to crop protection tools, and as such Uesugi Farms, Inc take health and safety very seriously and ensure all their products are safe for consumption. All crop protection tools are approved by the government and used in accordance with the label. All of Uesugi’s products are GMO free.

Company: Uesugi Farms, Inc. Name: Pete Aiello Email: pete@uesugifarms.com Web Address: www.uesugifarms.com Address: 1020 Highway 25, Gilroy, CA 95020 Telephone: (408) 842-1294

The company’s goal is to simply be the best in the industry when it comes to growing food of the very best quality, freshness and appearance. Pete Aiello, co-owner and the company’s general manager, spoke about the importance of growing produce safely. “We are aware people’s lives depend on the food we grow, so we ensure that we produce only the very best in terms of quality and safety”. The company are technologically efficient and encourage the contribution of ideas from employees, creating an environment where staff are able to work together as a team.

Pete and his father share a simple strategy: they outwork the competition, they take calculated risks, and they stay on track and up to date with technology and news regarding produce.

Excited about the direction the company is heading, Pete explains his future aspirations for Uesugi Farms, Inc. “We will be increasing acreage in all of our production areas, we will expand the solar power facility at our headquarters, we will increase the capacity of our packing and cold storage facilities, and we will be adding key positions to our staff. Also, given our precarious labour situation, we will be partnering with a couple of start-up companies to develop some mechanical harvesting technology.”

“I did not expect to get nominated or win the award, but I feel humbled and excited to see what it will do for our business.”

Best Independent Corporate Finance Advisory Firm - Austria

Vienna Capital Partners Vienna Capital Partners (VCP) is a leading independent corporate finance advisor and private equity investor in Central-Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.

Company: Vienna Capital Partners (VCP) Web Address: www.vcpag.com

With offices located in Vienna, Warsaw and Prague, we possess the critical local presence, knowledge and crosscultural understanding required to execute transactions in a goal-oriented, time efficient and thorough manner.

VCP’s regional focus is reinforced by a comprehensive network of cooperation partners, with particular footprint in the Hungarian, Slovak, Russian, Balkan and Baltic markets.

Corporate Finance Advisory Services Through our corporate finance advisory services, we support our clients in all their essential strategic and financial decisions including both M&A and capital raising processes. We advise firms in all industries with a special focus on medium-to-large-sized enterprises and companies with a high potential for growth and value appreciation.

Direct Investments Our investment activities combine the experience and network of VCP’s partners with the capabilities of our dedicated professional team to scrutinise and identify investment opportunities. We follow a flexible and opportunistic investment approach and take proprietary equity positions in undervalued companies that promise a significant increase in value, e.g. through balance sheet restructurings and growth initiatives.

Recent Highlights A remarkable achievement in VCP’s corporate finance advisory business during the past twelve months was our role as exclusive investment banking advisor to the Polish brewery Grupa Żywiec, part of Heineken Group, regarding the sale of an 80% stake in Distribev to the Croatian Orbico Group. With the aim to concentrate on its core business, Grupa Żywiec bundled its beer and spirits distribution business into the newly established Distribev and sold a majority stake of the company to Orbico, a leading distributor of branded food and non-food products in CEE. Another outstanding transaction we undertook was VCP’s role as advisor to Globe Trade Center S.A. (GTC), a major Polish real estate company listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, with its €140m capital increase. By defining GTC’s equity story and actively communicating it to the company’s shareholders, VCP was able to assist GTC in obtaining a positive shareholders’ approval and conducting the capital increase.

The firm is regularly engaged by private equity funds active in the CEE and SEE region. For example in 2015 we acted as sell-side-advisor to IK Investment Partners regarding the divestment of the non-carbonated beverages segment of its portfolio company Agros Nova to Polmlek Group, a leading Polish dairy business.

With our dedicated focus on the CEE and SEE countries, we are a preferred advisor and partner to our clients for M&A and investment projects in the region. To win the Business Excellence Award as Best Independent Corporate Finance Advisory Firm - Austria is a proof of this commitment and our success. The partners and the entire team of Vienna Capital Partners are proud to have been recognised, and view this award as encouragement to continue with our good work moving forward.

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Best Real Estate Investment Company - Vietnam

VINGROUP

Vingroup Joint Stock Company is one of the largest listed companies by market capitalization in Vietnam.

The Group has developed a diversified portfolio across six business segments: Property, including Vinhomes – Luxury Apartments & Villas, Vincom and Vincom Mega Mall – Vincom shopping malls, Vincom Office – offices for lease. Hospitality and entertainment, including Vinpearl Resort and Vinpearl Luxury – five-star resorts and upscale resorts, Vinpearl Land – amusement parks and family entertainment centers, Vinpearl Premium – premium resorts and villas, Vinpearl Golf Club. Retail, including VinMart – Supermarkets, VinMart+ – Convenience stores, VinFashion, VinDS – Chain of specialty retail stores, VinPro – Electronics and appliances, and Adayroi – Comprehensive E-commerce.

In addition to these three business segments, Vingroup participates in other segments aimed at improving the quality of life for the Vietnamese people. Among these segments are Healthcare: Vinmec – Quality healthcare services, education: Vinschool – Quality education, and agriculture: VinEco – Trusted source of quality food and Vingroup’s newest business sector.

Vingroup continues to pioneer and lead consumer trends in all its businesses through offering quality products and introducing a modern life-style experience to the Vietnamese consumers. The Group is proud to set the standard for private enterprises, built by Vietnamese people and marked by traditional Vietnamese characteristics of intelligence, daring and ambition.

Our industry strategy involves utilising our brand advantages and reputation in existing business sectors to build a solid foundation in property, hospitality and entertainment, retail, healthcare, education and agriculture to support long-term development. In addition we are keen to develop and expand high-potential businesses using decades-long time horizon and take advantage of the links between businesses to create an ecosystem of complementary products with comprehensive value to customers.

Our product strategy is to leverage the advantage of skill and experience to acquire prime locations for development of housing and hospitality projects.

Company: VINGROUP Web Address: www.vingroup.net Address: No 7 Bang Lang 1, Vinhomes Riverside, Long Bien District, wHanoi, Vietnam

Best Independent UK Travel Agent

Westoe Travel

As such we continually seek novel products and methods for development of high-end mixed-use projects that combine residential, retail, entertainment, and outdoor components to satisfy customer living requirements and offer exceptional value and develop amenity-rich resorts to meet growing demand of medium and high-end market segments.

Moving forward we hope to build upon this success and increase the products’ value to consumers through a combination of ecosystem links, complementary product brands, and quality services to realize the Group’s vision “to create a better life for the Vietnamese people.”

Westoe Travel is a family run Independent Travel Agency, with three generations of the Brett family involved in running the business. We spoke to Graeme Brett about the company and the techniques they employ to ensure clients receive the highest possible level of service.

Westoe Travel specialise in domestic holidays and long haul flights, particularly to the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. However we are versatile, and are able to book all travel from UK rail tickets to cruises, city breaks, short haul, hotel only or flight only.

Our client base is wide and we cater for both business and leisure travellers, and clients range from teenagers to pensioners and everyone in between.

The biggest challenge the firm has faced in recent years is the internet. Some people took the opportunity to book their own travel arrangements, however we have found that customers want the benefit of the full protection for their booking when using an ABTA Bonded Travel Agent. We also find that for quality holidays customers want the benefit of dealing with experienced travel agents who have contacts in those destinations.

Additionally we benefit from better rates at many properties that we use regularly for our clients Another key challenge for our firm is that we have to compete against multiple agencies and much larger organisations. We have dealt with this by ensuring our customer service and attention to detail is the best, and we rely on our customers recommending us to their friends.

Ultimately our clients are the most vital aspect of our business, and therefore moving forward we plan to extend our client base throughout the country through our websites, social media and regional advertising, whilst endeavouring to offer the same high quality level of service.

Company: Westoe Travel Name: Graeme Brett Email: sales@westoetravel.co.uk Web Address: www.westoetravel.co.uk Address: 120 Westoe Road, South Shields,Tyne Wear,NE33 3 PF Telephone: (0191) 4552292

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Best Global Elevator Components Manufacturer Best Manufacturing Growth Focused Acquisition 2016

Wittur Holding GmbH

Founded in 1968, Wittur Holding GmbH is one of the world’s leading independent elevator components manufacturers with an extensive global manufacturing footprint and sales network and a broad range of products.

Wittur is a development partner and supplier to the major international lift companies, as well as small and mediumsized manufacturers. Its product offering features a large range of elevator components for new elevator manufacturing and sourcing, for spare parts and for modernization and upgrades.

Components made by Wittur range from sophisticated mechatronic components for elevator cabin and landing doors (including the associated opening mechanisms) to other critical components such as gearless drives, slings, safety gears and cars. Installation of elevators and maintenance services are not part of the business. With the acquisition of Sematic in 2016, Wittur further expanded its global reach and its portfolio with a complementary product offering including complete elevator solutions, highly customized doors, electronic components and cabins.

The Sematic acquisition is an important milestone in Wittur’s growth history. The deal is expected to improve enhance Wittur’s customer and geographic diversification, including its access to the North American market via Sematic’s existing footprint. The acquisition also increases the presence in the recurring aftermarket and modernization business. Benefits are also expected from improved cross-selling opportunities and synergies arising primarily from procurement and efficiency gains. In addition, the combined entity is expected to profit from its large scale, the sharing of best practices across its global footprint and best-in-class innovation resulting from the merging of R&D expertise.

The newly-merged entity will continue to follow Wittur’s existing strategy which is built on the company’s established vision. Wittur aims to be the leading global strategic partner for eco-efficient components, modules, systems and solutions in the elevator industry and to be recognized by our customers as leader in safety, quality and technology.

Wittur Group generated estimated sales of approximately EUR 730 million in 2015 (combined pro forma IFRS). It has a work force of around over 4,500 employees and conducts business in more than 50 countries. Wittur is majority owned by funds managed by Bain Capital.

Company: Wittur Holding GmbH Website: www.wittur.com

Recent landmark projects undertaken by Wittur include the Isozaki Tower, Milan, is the highest building in Italy and the 6th in the EU, designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, the symbol of the new Citylife commercial and residential area in Milan, Italy. In addition Wittur supplied 14 Pegasus Skyline car doors and 339 Pegasus Skyline landing doors, featuring double skinned panels with glass coating during the past year.

Best Solder Production Equipment - UK

Zen Production Equipment Limited supply a range of manufacturing equipment for the electronics industry from suppliers such as Asscon, Heller Industries, EPM, Getech, PBT Works and Inertec. This range of equipment is supplied to contract manufacturing companies and original equipment manufacturers.

Zen Production Equipment Ltd.

The ethos at Zen is to provide service excellence, both directors have over thirty years’ experience in the electronics industry. Having worked in manufacturing myself we aim to increase upon the level of customer service and satisfaction that I expected from my suppliers.

Company: Zen Production Equipment Name: Peter Clarke Email: Peter.clarke@zpel.co.uk Web Address: www.zpel.co.uk Address: Unit C6, Business Centre Beeston, Technology Drive, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 2ND Telephone: 0115 9221378

The electronics industry in the United Kingdom is buoyant and many companies are investing in the latest technologies as they look to be ready for the future miniaturisation of many electronic products.

I feel the most important thing that I have learnt throughout my career so far is that customers deserve the best products at a competitive price with excellent ongoing service. We never sell a product that will not meet our customer’s requirements.

All of the team at Zen are offered training opportunities that can help their personal and business goals, whether this be IT training, customer service or personal wellbeing etc. We also offer an open door policy and are always available to listen to any problems our staff may have.

We are currently undergoing business growth training to enable us to grow the business to a much higher level over the next 3 years and beyond. All staff are being asked for their input on this as it is their future as well as ours.

We are delighted to have received this award and as we look ahead to the future it is definitely something we want to build upon.

We will celebrate 10 years supplying the electronics industry in September 2016 and are proud to have steadily grown from strength to strength during this time. Plans for the future include moving into larger premises and taking on both more sales and service staff as our customer base increases.

Business Excellence Awards 2016 / 77

www.acquisition-intl.com/business-excellence

78 / Business Excellence Awards 2016