The 2021 Winners
Business of the Year
Sponsored by LSBU
Winner: Bodytonic Clinic
‘It has been fantastic to see the good in so many businesses. COVID has been tough for everyone but it has been inspiring the way in which businesses have supported each other and residents.’
James Gill, bodytonic clinic
Business Pivot Award
Winner: Bodytonic Clinic
‘We have learned many new things in COVID, including new software, systems and how to use PPE, but the challenges have sped up innovation and we will be keeping many of the changes which have helped our customers and staff as well as continuing to invest in an improved booking system, an app and new equipment.’
James Gill, bodytonic clinic
Highly Commended: The Brunel Museum
Commended: The Pizza Room
Community Collaboration in Response to COVID-19
Sponsored by Berkeley Homes (Capital) plc
Winner: Ballers Football Academy
‘Listening to what the other finalists had done, we all said, ‘they’re gonna win it, they should win it for what they’ve done’. So, to win it ourselves, it was quite a shock to be honest with you.’
Jamie Mehmet, Ballers Football Academy
Highly Commended: Oxo Tower Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie
Commended: Southwark Young Advisors
COVID-19 Business Resilience Award
Sponsored by Lendlease
Winner: SE22 Piano School
‘Winning the award means we’ve made I through lockdown, we survived, and we can move forward stronger. I’m really excited to tell everyone as soon as I can.
I’m just delighted to show a really small business can win an award – we were up against some really big companies. It’s not always about being the biggest company, sometimes you can be small to make a really great impact in the community, which is what I hope our piano school is doing.’
Lorraine Liyanage, SE22 Piano School
Highly Commended: Dr.Boo
Commended: Castro’s Barbershop
COVID-19 Business Commitment to Education, Training & Skills
Sponsored by Art Invest Real Estate
Winner: Theatre Peckham
‘To win feels incredible because it’s just been such a challenging time. You just keep doing what you’re doing and try to make the impact that you can, but to be recognised is wonderful.’
Suzann McLean, Theatre Peckham
Highly Commended: Bizzie Bodies
Commended: Southwark Construction Skills Centre
COVID-19 Start-Up
Winner: BB Pads
‘It’s fantastic to win, I wasn’t really expecting it as the other candidates were so impressive. I’m very happy. I hope the award will give some visibility to BB pads. I’ve already got some new followers from tonight.’
Zoë Miller, BB Pads
Highly Commended: Sollip
Commended: Barefoot Joe’s
Local Lockdown Hero
Sponsored by Elephant & Castle Town Centre
Winner: UK Homes 4 Heroes
‘Very emotional, I’m really shocked. I was very shocked to have found I’d been put through for the awards but I’m even more shocked that I’ve actually won it.
Winning the award means a lot because it’s recognition for the hard work everybody at the charity does.‘
Michelle Thorpe, UK Homes 4 Heroes
Highly Commended: Ballers Football Academy
Commended: Mountview
Outstanding Team Award
Sponsored by Hollybrook
Winner: Bodytonic Clinic
‘I am so proud, the team will be ecstatic when I tell them. I won Entrepreneur of the year a few years back, but for me it has always been about the team. I had quite a difficult start in my career working for other people and so when we started bodytonic clinic I wanted it be a business which invested in people and their careers, allowing them to grow, develop and gain experience – and have fun.’
James Gill, bodytonic clinic
Highly Commended: Adroit Accountax
Commended: CareTrade Charitable Trust
Sustainable Green Investment Award
Sponsored by Landsec
Winner: Plastic Free Peckham
‘It’s so nice to have the recognition. We – me and my team of volunteers – do a lot of work. We’re all doing it in our spare time and it’s really great to be recognised for the work we do. It’s really exciting.’
Laura Ford, Plastic Free Peckham
Highly Commended: The Scissors of Oz
Commended: Bluepatch.org
Young Persons Contribution
Sponsored by British Land
Winner: Sameer, Adroit Accountax
“We’ve never looked back since taking on Sameer as an apprentice. He’s really intelligent, he’s picked up things so quickly. The fact we’ve given the entire payroll department over to him to handle just kind of tells its own story to us. For someone of that age, 18/19, to come in as an apprentice and take these leaps and bounds, it’s been a brilliant decision and it’s definitely not one we will regret.”
Mario Has, on behalf of Sameer, Adriot Accountax
Highly Commended: Louis, Mack Metal
Commended: Lucy, Interact