The nominations for the Best of Royal Greenwich Business Awards 2020 are now open – and we want as many businesses as possible to apply!

The Awards are free to enter and businesses can enter as many of the 10 categories as they would like to where there is a business fit until nominations close on Friday 24 January 2020.

The categories celebrate all types of businesses from high street retailers to social enterprises. There are lots of new categories this year, focusing on all aspects of business including health and wellbeing, dedication to training and development opportunities and creativity and innovation.  A list of all the categories and a timeline of events can be found at royalgreenwich.gov.uk/businessawards.

Cllr Danny Thorpe, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: 

“Businesses play a vital role in delivering essential goods and services to residents and visitors, providing jobs and growing the economy and it’s important for us to celebrate their contribution.

“The Best of Royal Greenwich Business Awards are our way of recognising the great work that goes on, as well as about promoting businesses and providing great exposure for our business community, boosting networking opportunities and encouraging residents to shop local.”

The Best of Royal Greenwich Business Awards is an annual event in Royal Greenwich’s calendar to highlight and showcase the very best that the borough has to offer in terms of business and enterprise. Nominations were opened at official launch event last night which was well attended by the business community and gave prospective applicants an opportunity to find to more and meet the judges. 

This year’s judging panel includes: Cllr Denise Hyland, Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Apprenticeships, CEO of GCDA Claire Pritchard, Designer Emile Vidal Carr, Owner of Russell King Associates Kaan Azmi and Grace Olugbodi Founder of BeGenio, last years’ Micro to Small Business Award winner.

For a second year running, the Awards are being sponsored by U+I, a property regeneration company, and have the support of the South East London Chamber of Commerce. The award ceremony will be held at the InterContinental O2 Hotel on Friday 6 March 2020. Our guest presenter will be breakfast TV's Steph McGovern.

Richard Upton, Chief Development Officer at U+I said:

"Our earliest projects were in Plumstead and Greenwich and we have for 30 years always had a presence in the borough. And so , in a way we have built a business with the borough , almost from scratch. The Council have been with us the whole way . U+I is now a large business , listed on the London Stock Exchange with a pipeline of some £11bn of regeneration projects, and so it is natural for us to want to support these awards and to encourage others to grow creating a better, more inclusive and productive borough. The awards have gone from strength to strength and we wish all applicants the best of luck . "

Cllr Denise Hyland, Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Apprenticeships, said: 

“The Best of Royal Greenwich Business Awards has been a huge success over the last two years and this would not be possible if we didn’t have the backing of our sponsors – thank you. 
 
“We have had overwhelming numbers of businesses apply in previous years and we want to make this a record-breaking year so help us spread the word far and wide and encourage all types of businesses to nominate themselves.”

For more information on the awards, including a full list of categories and to nominate your business for an award, visit royalgreenwich.gov.uk/businessawards. If you have any questions, please contact business-awards@royalgreenwich.gov.uk

Key dates:

•  Friday 24 January 2020 – nominations close
• Thursday 20 February 2020 – shortlist announced
• Thursday 20 February 2020 – public vote opens
• Thursday 27 February 2020 – public vote closes
• Friday 6 March 2020 – awards ceremony at the InterContinental O2 Hotel.