Sussex Chamber Business Awards

The awards are the perfect opportunity for us to celebrate the achievements of our business communities, to take stock of the outstanding performances of UK businesses, and to encourage and inspire others to follow in their footsteps. This year we had entrants from organisations of all sizes and sectors. 

Businesses are the backbone and driving force of the UK economy. Even in the face of uncertain times, they continue to show their resilience and strength – creating opportunities for employment, investment and growth. 

Recognising and rewarding excellence in British business, the Chamber Awards is one of the UK’s most contested and prestigious business award programmes. Each year, organisations of all sizes and from all sectors compete for the coveted titles. It is fantastic news that four Sussex Chamber members have been recognised and we wish them all the very best in the finals.

The Planet Saver
Bola Lafe, Managing Director, Opus Innovations “Opus Innovations is a sustainable personal care and eco living company and our ethos is to only get involved in activities that are kind to People, Animals & the Planet. We do not deviate from this ethos and therefore stay focused on our priorities and mission. Due to Coronavirus, we were forced to pivot the business to survive, and in 2021 we launched 3 new sustainable products that challenge the status quo by using a lot less plastic or using 100% recycled plastic. Opus is a small certified Ethnic Minority Business and firmly believes that small and diverse companies can make a difference in the world, as it’s not only the responsibility of the large global companies to make the planet more sustainable. We are naturally (excuse the pun!) delighted to have won the Sussex Chamber Business Awards ‘Planet Saver (Green Business of the Year)’ and also the Regional Chamber Business Award in the same category for the South East region for 2021. We are now hoping to win the overall British Chamber Business Award for our category, and who knows, even the Winner of Winners award too!”

The Problem Solver
Jo Hunter, Managing Director, Piglets Pantry “We are delighted to have won both the Sussex Chamber’s Problem Solver along with Regional Award for the same. In March 2020, like many businesses, we were faced with game-changing, unprecedented challenges. It is to the credit of our dedicated, wonderful team that we were able to pivot our business direction, by delivering afternoon teas direct to homes in lockdown. We’re now enjoying serving our hot pies and sausage rolls at events across the country, including at the American Express Community Stadium, as well as delivering to homes – brightening the days of loved-ones and turning gatherings into memorable occasions. We’re excited for the next chapter and the next challenge!”

The Young Innovator
Anthony Mellor, Director, White2Label Manufacturing “We’re delighted to have been nominated and won the Young Innovator of the Year. This is a great piece of recognition to all the investment we have put into continuing to deliver our clients an amazing service throughout the global pandemic and alleviating teething issues after Brexit. We saw it as an opportunity to increase investment into our infrastructure, equipment and staff.”

The Equality Trailblazer
Marketing Team, ICS Industrial Construction (Sussex) Ltd “We are delighted to have won the Equality Trailblazer Award. We are pleased that our staff are from the Sussex area, 40% of the senior management team are female and 20% are under 30 years old. ICS are proud supporters of Women in Construction and have five amazing women in the team. Our staff are employed from various backgrounds which have many transferable skills. We are incredibly proud of every member of the ICS team, for their contributions to the success of the company.”

The Game Changer
Ryan Welmans, CEO, Sopro “Sopro are delighted to join the Sussex Chamber in congratulating Rob Harlow, Co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer for the Chamber Business Awards, South East Regional Winner for the 2021 Game Changer category.  Rob’s expert leadership and hugely positive impact on the world around him has been far reaching in the business community for years. The team at Sopro, wholeheartedly congratulate Rob and all the 2021 finalists on their success in gaining national recognition for their exceptional achievements. Bravo.”

The Global Player
Chris Willis, VP Marketing, Rayner Intraocular Lenses Ltd “Rayner designs and manufactures intraocular lenses (IOLs) as well as other ophthalmic solutions for use across the cataract patient clinical pathway. With over 70 years of continuous growth and experience, we remain at the forefront of innovation, focused on providing the best visual outcomes for clinicians and patients.”

Regional Chamber Award Winners
The winners from all categories were put forward to the British Chambers Awards which are in two parts, firstly the Regional Chamber Awards followed by the National Chamber Awards. Four Sussex based companies were successful in winning their category in the Regional Chamber Awards! They will join me in the prestigious showpiece event recognising and promoting the best of British business through a virtual Chamber Business Awards ceremony in December.