Companies such as Feast, Absolute Hygiene, Drury Tea and Coffee Co and Smartpics UK have all had business gains in the two months since the awards ceremony took place at the InterContinental London - The O2.

Success stories

Success stories include:

• Plumstead Pantry, who were shortlisted for two awards, are now stocking Independent Retailer shortlist nominee Baj's Blazin' Hot Sauce
• Nick Hewer, who hosted the awards, visited Social Enterprise winner First Step Trust and filmed a YouTube video promoting its Trading Places scheme
• Ravensbourne student James Light, who filmed the video for the launch event with his production company Optical Media UK, has picked up further work with Social Enterprise category sponsor London City Airport, Davy's Wine, who provided wine at the ceremony, London South East Colleges, who sponsored the Employer of the Year category, and the Council
• MJ Rooney, winner of the Employer of the Year award, went on to win four awards at the 2018 Construction News Specialist Awards
• Mercy Dingwiza, CEO of London College of Health Care and Recruitment which was nominated for three awards, received a community award at the Civic Awards 2018 in recognition of her achievements
• Millennium Performing Arts College, who performed at the awards ceremony, received an arts and entertainment award at the Civic Awards 2018.

Sponsors, contributions in kind and ticket sales fully funded the Best of Royal Greenwich Business Awards ceremony on Friday 19 January. The event raised £1,200 for the Mayor's Charities through a raffle, with £5 from the sale of each ticket being divided between the two.

The awards also inspired regeneration company U+I to set up a junior Entrepreneur Programme in some of the Borough's schools.

Event feedback

Businesses can share their feedback on the event, whether they attended the ceremony or not, by taking part in a survey by 6 April.

'So many benefits to being involved'

Councillor Denise Hyland, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: "We wanted the Best of Royal Greenwich Business Awards to celebrate and support our diverse business sector and we have certainly achieved this as there have been so many positive knock on effects.

"I'm delighted that lots of companies have found new business as a direct result of attending the awards ceremony. The fact that lots of local businesses are choosing to work with and support each other is fantastic to see and I'm pleased that the Council's Business Support team are further building on this work.

"I hope businesses who didn't enter this year's awards will be encouraged to do so in 2019 as there's so many benefits to being involved."