Top tips on being an award winner

The search is on for Croydon’s best businesses – and Croydon Business Venture is hosting a special session on Tuesday, April 26 (8.30am) to encourge people to enter.

Businesses have until Friday, May 6 to get their entries in for this years Croydon Business Excellence Awards in association with Gatwick Airport.

Croydon Business Venture is one of the sponsors of the awards, once again backing the Best New Business category, and is hosting a special workshop at Weatherill House Business Centre to help businesses to make the most of their entry.

Some of last year’s award winners

Jo Gumb, director of awards organisers White Label Creative, will be giving a run-down of the entry criteria and process for this year’s awards, the second time they have been held, as well as providing some top tips on how to be among the winners in October.

More than 300 people attended last year’s inaugural gala dinner and charity ball and organisers say this year’s ceremony, taking place on October 6, will be the party of the year as well as raising funds for the Mayor of Croydon’s chosen chariites.

Alison Addy, head of community engagement for Gatwick Airport, said: “The awards are a great opportunity to celebrate success and recognise business excellence across Croydon.”

Categories to enter are: commitment to the community, best business for customer service, best new business, entrepreneur of the year, best business for food and hospitality, independent retailer of the year, apprentice employer of the year, best SME, best business for training and development, best charity or social enterprise, best green business, best business for marketing and social media, tech innovation of the year, best creative and media sector business.

There will be an overall business of the year. Last year’s winner was RISEgallery, an art gallery founded by Kevin Zuchowski-Morrison.

As well as Gatwick Airport and Croydon Business Venture, this year’s other awards partners are Allianz Global Assistance, Croydon Council, Wing Yip, Croydon Advertiser, Sussex Innovation Centre, Croydon Partnership, Platinum business magazine and Croydon Chamber of Commerce.

If you are interested in attending please come along to Weatherill House Business Centre before 8.30am. For more on the awards visit www.croydonawards.co.uk