We held our annual Festive BIG Dinner and Awards Ceremony on December 9th, to thank our clients for their support during the year and celebrate their successes. It’s also a chance for clients to get together with like minded business owners, share their experiences and make new networks, and new friends. And also have some fun, of course!
A fond farewell …
At the event, we said farewell to coach Colin Harding, who retired from the business at the end of November. Colin has been part of the ActionCOACH Solent team since 2011, when the Eastleigh office was established, and has always made the workplace a fun place to be!
Over the years, Colin has worked with hundreds of local business owners, helping them to solve their challenges and get better business results. We wish Colin and wife Jo every happiness and success in their future adventures!
This year’s BIG Awards Winners were:
Business Fundamentals
This award is to recognise businesses that have worked hard to get all the business fundamentals right and thereby build a firm foundation for future success.
Commended for the award were 418 Group and Semantic Limited, and the winners were A E Roberts Ltd.
Pictured left are Sabrina and John from A E Roberts, accepting their award from Kevin.
Business Growth
This award is to recognise businesses that have achieved the best growth in their sales and profits over the year.
Commended in 2019 were A E Roberts Ltd and new business Ava May Aromas, and the winner was R&B Industrial Ltd, who are on course to achieve an amazing 100% increase in turnover in two years.
Pictured right are members of the R&B Team receiving their trophy.
Business Efficiency
This award is for businesses that have used systems to best effect in order to save time and money.
Commended this year were Pure HR and Yau Brothers, and the winning company was IT Dev, for introducing an HR system that has helped them streamline their recruitment process.
Pictured left are Andy and Bruce (rocking a fabulous Christmas jumper) from IT Dev receiving their award.
Business Team
You can’t grow a great business without a great team. Our Team award is to recognise businesses that have achieved not just a growth in numbers, but a growth and improvement in team culture. Commended in this category were IT Dev and R&B Industrial, and the overall winner was Woodberry Day Nurseries, who bought a new nursery during 2019 and have worked hard to integrate the staff from that setting into the overall Woodberry team.
Pictured are Shane and Kelly from Woodberry Day Nurseries accepting their trophy.
Business Entrepreneur
This award is for the business owner who has had the greatest shift in their mindset and has focused on working ON the business rather than IN it.
Making some great changes this year and commended in this category were new ActionCOACH clients Alan Banks from Anglo Vapour Ltd, and Ranjeet Singh Shahi of R S Studios, both of whom have started to think BIG.
This year’s winner though was Steph Barnett, MD of Pure Human Resources, who has demonstrated a real shift to an entrepreneurial mindset in 2019. Unfortunately we didn’t get a picture of Steph accepting her award, but we are sharing her picture of the award itself!
BIG Business of the Year
Our overall award is intended to recognise the business that has shown the most improvements in all areas over the year, i.e. sales, marketing, finances, team, customer and leadership. The ActionCOACH Solent 2019 BIG Business of the Year was Yau Brothers.
The team at Yau Brothers, led by MD Chi Yau, have worked hard to grow and improve the business during a difficult year, with great results. Pictured iright s Chi accepting his award., together with team members Kevin and Jessica.
Other awards
We were delighted to make a Long Service Award to Paul from DebtCol, who has been a client of ours for 5 years now. We want to congratulate Paul for his ongoing commitment to improving himself and his business, and sticking with the coaching programme. Thanks Paul for your support over the years!
Our Best Festive Outfit winners were Nick from Green Light Electrical Installations Ltd with his understated Christmas suit, and Mark from Digi Toolbox Ltd (who had an amazing Christmas jumper with superb baubles!
Finally, our Bah, Humbug! award went to Clive, MD of R&B Industrial, (pictured left) for complete festive failure – not just for himself, but for the whole R&B Team!
MANY CONGRATULATIONS to all our winners, commended business and in fact all our clients, past and present, who have worked so hard to become better business owners and leaders, and build better businesses. You are so important to the local economy, providing not only the services your customers need, but opportunities for staff and suppliers to grow and flourish alongside you.
