04 Oct Croydon’s 5th annual Awards Gala – A spectacular success!

Croydon’s businesses celebrated a year of outstanding achievement at the 5th Croydon Business Excellence Awards in association with Willmott Dixon.

The sparkling highlight of the awards programme – the Gala Dinner & Charity Ball – drew over 450 people to The Grand Sapphire Hotel Banqueting Hall on Thursday, 3rd October.

Excitement mounted as guests at the event, hosted by TV presenter Dan Lobb, heard inspiring speeches from business and political leaders, before learning which businesses had won the 14 sought-after category awards.

But it was the night’s premier prize, the title of Croydon Business of the Year, which went to Dexter Simms of Mula Cakes that attracted the biggest cheer.
He said: “I am humbled, I feel blessed and I thank everybody who has supported me on this journey.”

It was a double accolade occasion as the winner also picked up the Entrepreneur of the Year award, which was sponsored by Royal Russell. He added: “Winning these awards means a lot to me and it’s a great inspiration for others. I feel like winning these award shows everyone that I am leading by example.”

Praising the 2019 awards programme, Councillor Manju Shahul-Hameed, Croydon Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Jobs said it highlighted the strength of the borough’s business community.

She said: “Nights like this show how great Croydon’s vibrant business community is – and just like Croydon, they get bigger and better every year.

“These awards are a fantastic celebration of our borough’s businesses and their staff, who work so hard. Croydon really is open.

“We’re proud of our borough’s business community and we were once again proud to sponsor two of the awards – Love Your Local Trader, and Enterprising Young Person of the Year.

“I hope everyone has enjoyed their evening – especially the winners. I already can’t wait for next year!”

Two community awards, sponsored by London Borough of Croydon, were presented over the evening. They were won by Eva Poliszczuk from Sussex Innovation Centre in the Enterprising Young Person of the Year category and Love your Local Trader which went to Time Bomb.

Guests at the reception enjoyed a sparkling reception sponsored by Handelsbanken, a three-course dinner with wine, a fun photo booth, sponsored by Chequers, and dancing to live music.

Rosie Miller, New Business Manager at Willmott Dixon, headline partner for the awards, said it was fantastic to see the business community coming together to celebrate. She said: “Having been actively involved in Croydon for many years, it has been a pleasure to be part of these awards that recognise so many deserving businesses in the area.”

Some of the free to enter categories included the new Apprentice Employer of the Year award; a Night Time Economy award for dining, leisure and entertainment businesses; the Enterprising Young Person of the Year award for ambitious 18 to 25 year olds; and the Best Business for Digital, Data and Technology.

*The Croydon Business Excellence Awards 2019 organisers would like to thank our distinguished sponsors who make the programme possible. They are: Able Waste Services, Caridon Group, Capita, Willmott Dixon, London Borough of Croydon, Bluebird Care Croydon, Croydon College, Little Fish, Queen’s Square – R&F Properties, Regent Land, Royal Russell 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, Croydon Chamber. I See Media and Costco.