Nigel Reeve (centre) of Marketing West Events, organiser of the Poole Business Awards, with sponsors, supporters and invited guests at the official launch at Poole's The Blue Boar. Picture: Paul Collins/PCVisuals.
Published: September 10, 2021 | Updated: 10th September 2021
Entries are pouring in for the first Poole Business Awards.
Organisers expect the number to reach 100, or more, by the closing date.
So far 50 entries have been received – and that was before the official launch on September 7.
But Nigel Reeve, of Marketing West Events, said experience had shown that the number was likely to at least double in the next few weeks.
Addressing supporters, sponsors and invited guests, he said: “The numbers so far give a feel for the interest being shown.
“Businesses love awards, people love awards, we all love awards.”
Entry is free and businesses can enter as many categories as they wish.
An easy-to-fill online form can be found at poolebusinessawards.co.uk.
The 15 categories are:
Supporters of the awards include Dorset Mind, Poole-based Hot Radio, NFU Mutual, Poole BID and Dorset Growth Hub.
Dorset Biz News is Media Partner.
Closing date for entries is Monday October 4.
The awards are to be held at a lunchtime ceremony on Tuesday, November 9, at Poole’s RNLI College.
The ceremony will also be live-streamed to maximise the number of people viewing the awards.
Judging will be carried out by an independent group of judges and is conducted via a secure online voting system.
Nigel said the aim of the awards was to boost business.
He said: “The Poole Business Awards will focus on the quality and range of local businesses.
“The focus will be on the entries and not a party.
“It’s a chance for local businesses to get-together, meet and network.”
Businesses and organisations represented at the official launch at Poole’s The Blue Boar also included Bournemouth University, Dutton Gregory, PKF Francis Clark, Saffery Champness, Trethowans, Wild Recruitment and Yellow Buses.
Speakers at the event included Poole BID’s Jacqui Rock, Kevin Scott of Hot Radio and Nick Gregory from Dorset Growth Hub.
Marketing West Events staged its first awards – the Bridport Business Awards 2020 – in March last year, a week before lockdown.
Last October it ran the the online-only Yeovil Business Awards 2020.
Since restrictions eased this May, and keeping within the guidelines, it’s organised:
Total entries to date across all the awards has been more than 600 while over 300 people have attended the various ceremonies.
The number would have been higher without the 50 per cent of capacity restrictions.
