TBE Awards

TBE Awards – Meet the judges

June 28, 2024 Nick Batten

4 min read

Ahead of the inaugural TBE Awards this October, we’ve been chatting to some of the judges to find out more about them.

Today we hear from James Eades, Managing Director, Systemagic Ltd

Starting his first online business aged 17, James from Bradford-on-Avon’s IT support and cloud internet IT services firm Systemagic has always had a passion for technology and business.

Having grown a respected, successful company which works with over 400 local businesses, he is also an active mentor to young entrepreneurs and students, working with two local universities and the Institute of Directors to give advice and guidance to those wishing to follow an entrepreneurial path in the tech sector.

A long-time supporter of the TBE Awards’ predecessor, The Techies, James is continuing his association with The Business Exchange as a TBE Awards judge.

He shares his thoughts below…

What excites you about the TBE Awards?

It’s rare that an awards scheme is open to the wider area covered by TBE – usually, it’s just Bath, just Wiltshire, just Somerset etc., so the TBE awards will be great in bringing businesses together to celebrate with their peers for a wider area. It’s a real opportunity to bring the whole TBE community together to recognise our collective achievements.

Which award are you eagerly anticipating?

I’m really excited for the Rising Star Award. The next generation of superstars is crucial to the success of the economy here in the South West and I’ve spent most of my career championing the apprenticeship scheme, work experience and searching for rising stars. I can’t wait to learn more about the applicants in this category.

What do you like about the way TBE does awards?

Anita puts it best – “not just another black tie/chicken dinner”. It’s been great to be part of The Techies since the very beginning and the events are relaxed, informal and a fantastic chance to chat with people. Often at awards events you arrive, get sat at a table and that’s where you stay until the end; TBE awards are very different to that. The judging process is also very collaborative – so much time and effort is spent discussing each entry, learning about the business and coming to a decision that each entrant can be sure there’s no agenda or back-room pressure to ensure a certain winner.

What are you hoping to see from entrants this year?

The key is what makes you different – we have so many amazing businesses in our area that it’s the little things that often decide the winner. I’m hoping to read how businesses have managed during a difficult economic climate and see lots of reasons to celebrate success.

What makes a standout entry?

I’m from a tech background so I like data and information. It’s lovely to be told “We’re the leading company..” or “Our customer satisfaction is excellent” but the standout entries have facts and figures, examples and evidence to back everything up. The entries that supply supporting materials that give very clear and easy-to-understand evidence really help the judges.

What are you most looking forward to on Awards Night?

I always look forward to The Techies, and the TBE Awards are brand new so I’m excited to see both our usual Techies community and a much wider group of businesses.

How do you think winning a TBE award can impact individuals or organisations?

Lots of businesses focus on the PR and marketing benefits of winning an award, which are huge, but one of the best results of winning can be on your team. External recognition can give your whole team a boost and is great for retention and when recruiting new team members. If your business is nominated, please do bring as many of your team as you can to the awards – we’ve had entire teams storm the stage to celebrate and it’s a lovely moment.