Business News By John Lamb


Eighty-two companies competed to be named Greater Birmingham’s top business in the region’s biggest online awards extravaganza. The awards, normally part of the UK’s largest business dinner at the ICC,


took place online in an evening of drama and entertainment. Supported by headline sponsors Aston Villa FC, Birmingham City


University, Elonex and HSBC, the free-to-watch ceremony was hosted on the Chamber’s website where the winners of 12 categories were named before the overall Business of the Year, Excitation, was revealed. President Steve Allen also unveiled the recipient of his President’s Award


as Jaguar Land Rover and he dedicated the evening to raising money for his Presidential charity, which continues to be the Woodland House Appeal at Birmingham Women’s Hospital. Awards proceedings were opened by compere Ed James, the host of Heartfm’s DriveTime Birmingham, and GBCC chief executive Paul Faulkner. Entertainment included appearances from the talented Aston Performing


Arts Academy, who have impressed Chamber audiences at the ICC in recent years, and Casey Bailey, a writer, poet and spoken word entertainer with thought-provoking views. Plans are already in place for the dinner and awards to return to the ICC next year on Thursday, 1 April.


Category winners


CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY Sponsors: National Express Winners: Gateley The law and professional services firm says people and communities are at the heart of their business. In Birmingham they have become involved in fundraising activities and supporting charities and community projects. They have raised funds for a


range of causes from a guide dog called Gateley to a place on the supporters’ wall at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The firm is also active in its communities, including roles as school governors, at sports clubs and mentoring programmes. They are also passionate about


promoting the benefits of their membership of Birmingham Civic Society and Birmingham Law Society.


CUSTOMER SERVICE Sponsors: SF Recruitment Winners: Selfridges Birmingham The luxury retailer keeps customer service central to its success in Birmingham. Since the landmark store opened in 2003, it has been committed to providing “superlative customer service”, which has been the ethos of the business since it was founded in 1909. It says the store has achieved


this through a myriad of ways, including continuous innovation and development and introducing new and exciting concepts that are not available elsewhere in the city. As part of its promise that


“everyone is welcome”, it introduced, in collaboration with the National Autistic Society, a quiet one-and-a-half hours every Thursday morning. It helps to accommodate autistic shoppers and their families who struggle with loud music in stores.


6 CHAMBERLINK August/September 2020 Winners all in an evening


HOSPITALITY Sponsors: NEC Group Winners: Moor Hall Hotel & Spa The Sutton Coldfield hotel, owned by the Webb family since 1961, has made widespread re-investment in many areas to ensure that the hotel retains its reputation for warm hospitality. Green initiatives have included investment in a bio mass boiler supplying heating and hot water for 32 bedrooms. Moor Hall is committed to investing


in its employees’ welfare and achieved bronze accreditation with Thrive to Work. It is also committed to supporting local charities. Investment in facilities has included £100,000 on a new gym for guests and local members and hotel staff took part in career fairs and school presentations, as well as promoting local suppliers and being a champion for the Sutton area.


INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Sponsors: Andalucia Tourism Board Won by Excitation Engineering Services Ltd, also named Business of the Year – see page 5


MANUFACTURING Sponsors: Crowe Winners: Evac+Chair International The Birmingham-based business is the world’s leading manufacturer and distributor of life safety products for emergency situations. It continually invests in


developing its team to achieve a new, more aspirational goals set out after a management buy-out in 2017. As a result, Evac+Chair is now the undisputed world-class leader in the design, development and manufacture of life safety products. They include the Evac+Chair, the world’s No 1 evacuation chair;


The judging panel (back row, left to right): Johnathan Dudley (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales’ manufacturing community chair), Paul Faulkner (chief executive, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce) and Douglas Wright (McDonald’s franchisee). Front row (left to right): Eileen Schofield (principal, Schofield & Associates and a director of Birmingham Law Society), Helen Bates (panel chair and chief financial officer, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce) and Fleur Robinson (Burton Albion FC commercial director)


Paraid, leading neo-natal, paediatric and patient-handling transport; Sigma Fire and Security – stops misuse of fire-safety equipment; Paraid Textiles, industrial textile company; and Paraid Powder Coating, powder coating and wet paint specialist.


PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT Sponsors: Aston University Winners: The Alexandra Plans were set in motion in 2016 to revolutionise The Alexandra’s place in the city with the appointment of Lisa Mart and Becky Peers as the new management team. Part of that initiative has been to


have staff members from a variety of departments undertake personal and professional growth through The Ambassador Theatre Group, of which The Alexandra is part. Rising Stars is a two-year programme for emerging


leadersfrom all over the business and includes a series of development workshops; personality profiling and coaching; group project work; and creation of a personalised leadership profile. Both Lisa, the theatre director, and Becky, theatre manager, were among several graduates of the scheme.


RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS Sponsors: Birmingham Business School at University of Birmingham Winners: First Mile The Oldbury-based recycling and waste management company set out in 2004 to revolutionise their sector. In doing so, they pioneered technology to deliver planet- friendly, hassle-free, reliable services for their customers. Their zero-waste vision means that only items that can’t currently


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