Barking and Dagenham Business Awards Winners

And the winners are…… The results of the 2008 Barking & Dagenham Business Awards

Last night (Tuesday 8th July) over 250 guests from Barking & Dagenham businesses attended the Castle Green Conference Centre in Dagenham to find out the winner of the first-ever business awards.

The campaign, organised by Barking & Dagenham Enterprise (BDE) has been running since February this year and the top prize was £3,000 for Business of the Year. The winner Newton Equipment Ltd; was described by the judges as excelling in combining an innovative product with first-class marketing techniques. This set Newton Equipment apart as a beacon of excellence for manufacturing businesses which have faced severe challenges over the last 2 decades. Newton Equipment were the unanimous choice for overall business of the Year for 2008.

The results for all the categories in order of presentation were:
Business of the Year
Newton Equipment Ltd

Best New Business
Winner: Palmers Catering

Shortlisted:
The Body Factory
Docklands Furnishing

Innovation
Winner: Osborne Partnership

Shortlisted:
Newton Equipment Ltd
West & Coe

Growth Business of the Year
Winner: Kip McGrath Education Centre

Shortlisted:
DANIMAK Limited
Subway

Retailer of the Year
Winner: Five Elms Supermarket

Shortlisted:
West & Coe
Jack Bunney Ltd

Marketing Excellence
Winner: Newton Equipment Limited

Shortlisted:
The Silver Box
Piece of Cake

Training and Development
Winner: Carers of Barking & Dagenham

Shortlisted:
London Environmental Group Services Ltd
Advanced Heating Services

Special Recognition Award
Winner: Jack Bunney Ltd

Business Person of the Year
Winner: Jeremy West of West & Coe

Shortlisted:
Fred Patten, Access & Lock Ltd
Jenny Holloway, Fashion-Enter Limited

Speaking at the event, Chris Oliver, Chair of Barking & Dagenham Enterprise and a local businessman himself, said: “Not far from here in just four year’s time – the world’s best sports men and women will have the opportunity to compete for gold medals. I believe that’s what Barking and Dagenham offers – the opportunity, to go for gold. An inevitable momentum is in place, this journey of transformation that you are all here celebrating tonight is now unstoppable. This borough means business. Together, let’s make Barking & Dagenham THE place to do business.
Ends

For more information contact Magali Kazayi, Marketing Executive on 020 8724 8294 or email magali.kazayi@boldanddynamic.co.uk

Notes to editors:
Barking & Dagenham Enterprise manages more than 20 projects in the borough through the LEGI programme.

The special achievement award was presented by Barking and Dagenham Enterprise together with the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, as a mean to reward Jack Bunney for an outstanding contribution to the Business Community.

Newton Equipment Ltd design, develop and manufacture innovative tank filler caps for the automotive, motorsport, aerospace and defence industries. For more information about Newton Equipment please visit their website www.newton-equipment.com.

All entrants of the Barking and Dagenham Business Awards will be automatically entered at the Thames Gateway Business Awards, which is set to take place in November 2008

The sponsors of the 2008 Barking & Dagenham Business Awards are: Barking & Dagenham Small Business Centre, Rooff Ltd, Barking Power, Gateway to London, Germinate, AJC Wilson Bodyshop, SPX Rail Systems, The London Borough of Barking & Dagenham