TBE Awards 2024: Finalists Revealed
We are delighted to announce the finalists of the inaugural TBE Awards 2024 in partnership with headline sponsor, Thrings.
Across 14 categories the TBE Awards are designed to celebrate the innovation and entrepreneurship of our vibrant business community across Bath & Somerset and Swindon & Wiltshire.
With over 130 entries, judging the awards was a difficult task for our judging panel with much deliberation before their decisions were met. TBE Awards judge, Ali Hadavizadeh, said, “As a panel we were delighted and challenged to judge this year’s strong, compelling and worthy entries. It was a tough task choosing a winner amongst an exemplary bunch in each category.”
It gives us great pleasure to publish this list and we can’t wait to celebrate with all the finalists on awards night.
AND THE FINALISTS ARE…
Best Creative Campaign – Sponsored by The Workshed
TBE Awards judge Mirabelle Stobbs, The Workshed, said, “From a highly competitive and varied field of award applicants, we are delighted with the quality of campaigns across the category and are particularly impressed with the three finalists. The subject matter and purpose of the campaigns varied immensely. Each of the finalists demonstrated a sensitivity and understanding of the needs of both the audiences to be reached and the client’s aims and outputs for their campaigns. Amongst a strong field of entries, these three really stood out for their positive intentions and influence on their target audiences.”
Best Start-up – Sponsored by SVGC
TBE Awards judge, Paddy Bradley MBE, said, “It was fantastic to see entries from a diverse set of start-ups from tech to retail. What stood out was an ethical development route shown by all the entrants in this category, which is very reassuring.”
Best User Experience
- Digital Wonderlab
- Online Legal Services (Divorce Online)
- Resolution Design
TBE Awards judge, James Eades, Systemagic, said, “This was a tough category to judge because all the applicants had demonstrated a strong focus on the end user and how they can maximise experience. It was great to see various approaches to improving the user journey, from apps to software to website based solutions.”
TBE Awards judge, Kat Wellum-Kent, Fractional Finance, added, “Whatever business you work in, putting the end user at heart of your offering, is key to success. I loved seeing how the finalists demonstrated that they really understood their users and used this understanding as the starting point for their solution.”
Charity/ Not For Profit of the Year – Sponsored by Rural Hubs
TBE Awards judge, Fiona Scott, Scott Media, said, “It’s been wonderful to see so many charitable and not for profit organisations taking the time and trouble to enter this new awards opportunity celebrating all that’s good around business and the third sector in the South West. Even entering shows dedication and commitment to their various missions. The standard of entry was very high and, as judges, we had to make some hard decisions around a wealth of worthy causes where some are clearly saving and changing lives in our communities. Congratulations to those shortlisted, you are all winners.”
TBE Awards judge, Debbie Gilbert, Best Businesswomen Awards, added, “This was a tough category to judge as everyone who entered is clearly deserving of recognition. The finalists were selected for their outstanding impact which was all clearly evidenced in their entries which really showcased the difference they are making. I can’t wait to meet them all on the night.”
The Dream Team Award
TBE Awards judge Kate Westbrook, Thrings, said, “It’s an incredible honour to congratulate the finalists for the Dream Team Award: Gooding Accountants, Interaction, and Nine Feet Tall. These companies all have exceptional teams who are committed to each other and their respective businesses and set a really high bar for others.”
Eco Champion of the Year – Sponsored by Severn Wye
TBE Awards judge Paddy Bradley MBE, said, “Congratulations to Mogers Drewett, Reuben Digital and SMARTech Energy. Our area should be proud of what they are doing and other companies could learn a lot from them.”
Going for Growth Award – Sponsored by Milsted Langdon
Anita Jaynes, Founder of the TBE Awards, said, “Congratulations to The Floor Smith, The Pursuit Agency and The Tanning Room, three very different businesses all going for growth with great ambition.”
Going the Extra Mile
TBE Awards judge, Emma Carter, Business West, said, “With such a varied an interesting range of entries, many submissions demonstrating the brilliant ways they go the extra mile for their customers, along with fantastic measures of improvements and success, the judges had a challenge to determine the finalists.”
Innovation Award – Sponsored by Business West
TBE Awards judge, Emma Carter, Business West, said, “I was really pleased to see such a mix of organisations based in our region, coming up with inventive and creative ideas to drive change in their marketplace. Entries gave us innovation from software solutions, to service propositions, to unique products, and everything in between.”
Leader of the Year
- Esther McMorris, Nine Feet Tall
- Pippa Birch, Pipster Solutions
- Sam Gooding, Gooding Accounts
- Scott Gulliver, Fluff Software
Anita Jaynes, Founder of the TBE Awards, said, “The judges had such a tough time judging this category, with each finalist showcasing exemplary leadership skills.”
Positive Business Award – Sponsored by Richardson Swift
Anita Jaynes, Founder of the TBE Awards, said, “This award is all about recognising outstanding contribution to community. All our finalists are exemplary in their efforts to pay it forward and make a positive impact.”
Rising Star Award – Sponsored by University of Bath School of Management
Finalists:
- Belle Brookes, The Pursuit Agency
- Lara Ettel, Gooding Accounts
- Lewis Melluish, H2 Creative
- Molly Noble, Simple Recruitment
Commended:
- Emily Dinning, Bath Racecourse
- Jack Davies, Gooding Accounts
- Sajia Ahmed, Pipster Solutions
- Lucy Champion, Royal Bath & West
- Marsinta Pasai, Windsor Hill Mortgages
TBE Awards judge, Michelle Pow, University of Bath School of Management, said, “Wow! What an incredibly difficult category to judge. While we’ve had to find one winner, it would have been easy to pick all entrants. Across the board, everyone had been able to demonstrate proactivity, going the extra mile, commitment to customers and creativity. I’m genuinely blown away, and can see that each and every entrant has the most incredible career ahead of them.”
TBE Awards judge, James Eades, Systemagic, said, “I absolutely love reading entries from this category. Every single person entered is absolutely a rising star and it was extremely tough to choose between them. The entries demonstrated young people going over and above, embracing their development and thriving within their roles. The future of business in the area is clearly in safe hands!”
Using Tech to Transform Business – Sponsored by Fractional Finance
- Digital Wonderlab
- Fluff Software
- Online Legal Services (Divorce Online)
- Reuben Digital
- The Pursuit Agency
TBE Awards judge, Kat Wellum-Kent, Fractional Finance, said, “The businesses shortlisted for the Using Tech to Transform Business award, Digital Wonderlab, Fluff Software, Online Legal Services, The Pursuit Agency and Reuben Digital have each harnessed the power of technology to drive transformation and enhance business practices. It’s a real pleasure to celebrate their achievements, and I look forward to seeing where their ingenuity takes them next.”
Flying the Flag for the South West – Sponsored by Thrings
TBE Awards judge, Kate Westbrook, Thrings, said, “The South West is home to some incredible businesses, and the Flying the Flag award shines a spotlight on the very best of them, putting the South West on the national and international stage. It’s a privilege to see companies like A2Z Cloud, Nine Feet Tall, Second Mountain Comms, and Still Sisters making such a significant impact both within the region and beyond. At Thrings, we are proud to support an award that celebrates local innovation, entrepreneurship, and the drive to make the South West a hub of excellence in business.”
All finalists will be celebrated and the winners uncovered on Thursday 17th October at Cumberwell Park. Designed to bring the whole community together, the Awards night comes with an affordable ticket price, so that you can bring the entire team along.
Get your tickets here.
A big thank you to our judges and sponsors for their time and support, we couldn’t put on the awards without them.
