28 May Businesses give thumbs-up to new categories
Two new entry categories in this year’s Croydon Business Excellence Awards are proving a big draw with the borough’s business community.
The Apprentice Employer of the Year and the Night Time Economy awards – both brand new for 2019 – reflect Croydon’s young and dynamic population and are attracting a lot of interest from local businesses.
HML Group, which currently employs 15 apprentices, was among the first firms to enter the new Apprentice Employer of the Year category.
HML Group Head of Human Resources Richard Scott commented: “Our apprentices are embedded within our culture as they play a vital role in closing the national skills gap, while helping to attract new talent into our ranks.”
HML Chairman Richard Smith (pictured above left) with ‘outstanding’ apprentices Rebecca Withers, Christopher Benjamin and Sophie Guarella.
Mr Scott added: “I am proud of how HML has embraced them. We love the energy and drive they bring into our business and their challenging questions on ‘why we do things this way’. We find apprentices to be very innovative and brimming with new ideas.”
The new Night Time Economy award category reflects the development of Croydon as a vibrant hub for people looking for entertainment or to drink and dine out.
Cocktail Embassy bar owners Anastasija Petrova and Deniss Petrovs (pictured above) – the first entrants to the new award – spotted a gap in the night time offer in the borough’s Crystal Palace area five years ago. Since opening the bar in 2014, they have seen it go from strength to strength.
“After researching many areas of London, we realised that Crystal Palace was an up and coming area with a lot of potential,” said Anastasija. “We believe the concept we wanted to bring to the town is truly unique – a place for everyone, whether you wish to party and dance all night or just casually lounge at the cozy, intimate cocktail bar. Entering this award is our chance to show that we are great in what we do and that the Night Time Economy is as challenging and worthy as any other category.”
The borough’s biggest and most prestigious business awards, delivered in association with Willmott Dixon, are currently inviting entries across all 14 categories. Free and easy to apply online, the awards have been designed to recognise and celebrate the achievements of all types and sizes of enterprise.
The closing date for awards entries is Friday, 21st June at 5pm. The applications from HML Group and Cocktail Embassy will go forward along with all other entries, to the first stage of independent judging. The winners – including the overall Business of the Year – will be announced exclusively at a glittering Gala Dinner and Charity Ball hosted by a celebrity presenter, in the Grand Sapphire Hotel & Banqueting Suites next October.
The Croydon Business Excellence Awards 2019 are sponsored by Willmott Dixon, London Borough of Croydon, Bluebird Care Croydon, Croydon College, Little Fish, Queen’s Square, Regent Land, and Sussex Innovation Croydon. They are supported by AMP House Serviced Offices, Catering by Justin, Chequers, Handelsbanken, Insight 6, Mobile Bar Hire, Grand Sapphire Hotel & Banqueting and Croydon Chamber. To sponsor the awards, please contact Vivien Newbould at vnewbould@wlcreative.org.uk
To enter visit the Home page of this website.