Caerphilly Business Awards

15 Nov 2006

Public acclaim: Local businesses and sponsors pictured at the launch of this year’s Caerphilly Business Awards in Association with Hugh James and Broomfield & Alexander


Quality Firms Flaunting Their Assets

Busy firms on the growth trail often spurn business award opportunities on the grounds because they can’t find the time to stake their claim.

However those who have made the time to put their names in the ring for industry accolades readily acknowledge that public acclaim for their achievements is good for business.

Whether as a finalist, a category winner or overall victor, they have discovered the value of the independent endorsement which comes from an award placing.

Apart from the huge motivational boost to staff, success in awards programmes can make customers or potential customers view an enterprise in a new and positive light.

Venture Wales, as a facilitator of hundreds of new business launches, sees the benefits of awards for fledgling and growing enterprises.

For example the organisation has been a key sponsor of Caerphilly Business Achiever Awards for the past three years and is supporting the programme again this year as it nears its closing date for entries on 29th September.

Said John Edney of Caerphilly Business Forum which organises the awards in association with Hugh James Solicitors and Broomfield & Alexander: “We’ve now got one of the largest regional award programmes in Wales and we’ve noticed in particular how small companies which have won in previous years have gone on to thrive commercially and become sponsors of the competition in their own right.

“It has boosted their prestige, their standing in the marketplace and their confidence in themselves. All of that eventually feeds through to the bottom line,” he added.

One of the previous Caerphilly winners which has gone on to become a sponsor of the awards was Isca UK, who make specialist chemicals for the manufacturing industry.

Director Keith Davies (check Harris) said: “Winning the award meant an awful lot to the company and our staff. It was good for our customers to see how well we are doing.”

A similar reaction came from hi-tech equipment testing company Blackwood EMC, who won Caerphilly New Business of the Year in 2004.

Managing director John Davies said: “For the local business community to see us as successful and showing the most potential for the future is an absolute thrill. It will spur us on to ensure we remain a successful company.”

Another local company, Mojo Suspensions, which assembles mountain bikes and specialises in making suspensions for these machines, has won an award category in two previous years. This year they have taken their place as one of the main sponsors, alongside, Hugh James Solicitors, Broomfield & Alexander, Venture Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government.

Since its award success, the firm has continued to go from strength to strength, tapping into the growing interest in mountain biking as a sport. It now has an annual turnover of £1.2million. Mojo is also helping the sport locally by facilitating the creation of permanent track at Cwmcarn and is a backer of the Young Enterprise scheme.

Phil Cooper, Managing Director of Venture Wales urged enterprises of all sizes across Wales to get involved in local, national and international award programmes. He said many firms are deterred from entering awards because they mistakenly believe success is only measured in bottom line results.

“Judges in most award programmes have a remit to examine many different criteria for success. Among other things they look at the challenge the individual entrepreneur faced, the quality of the idea behind the business, the positive impact on their community is terms of employment and many more yardsticks of achievement.

“It is a shame if a business with a genuine success story to tell doesn’t put itself forward and claim public credit for its achievements. By getting into the running they are not only raising their own profile in a potentially profitable way but they are acting as an inspiration to other local entrepreneurs, hopefully encouraging the growth of their businesses too,” he added.