08 Nov Southwark Business Resilience Awards – winners announced
The winners of the Southwark Business Resilience Awards in association with London South Bank University (LSBU) have been announced – with Bodytonic Clinic clinching Business of the Year.
TV presenter Fayon Dixon hosted the Awards Ceremony which was beamed live from a studio to a virtual audience of more than 200. It was the finale in a programme that recognised the successes of the borough’s businesses when faced with the challenges and opportunities presented by COVID-19.
A total of 52 businesses were listed as finalists across nine categories with winners, highly commended and commended, decided by the 8,436 votes cast.
Click here to view the winners.
Business of the Year, Bodytonic Clinic, was sponsored and chosen by London South Bank University for reasons including the way they pivoted their business model to include online information, blogs and an app. The international team, which represents the borough’s diversity, was also praised for their incredible impact in protecting people during the pandemic.
Bodytonic, an osteopathy, health, beauty and fitness clinic, also won two category awards: Business Pivot and Outstanding Team.
Company director, James Gill, said on the night: “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.”
He added: “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.
Sarah Moore-Williams, Dean of LSBU Business School, told businesses on the night: “London South Bank University is very proud to be the lead sponsor of these awards again this year; recognising the creativity, innovation and sheer grit of our local business community. These are attributes which we inculcate within our own LSBU students as we prepare them to find their place in the world of work. They are close to our heart.”
The awards are managed on behalf of Southwark Chamber and Southwark Council, and the programme’s sponsors include Art-Invest Real Estate Management UK Ltd, Berkeley Homes (Capital) plc, British Land, Hollybrook Homes, Elephant & Castle Town Centre, Landsec, Lendlease, with Southwark News and Southwark Stands Together as supporters.
Gafar Fashola, of British Land, said on the night: “I am proud to have presented the Young Person’s Contribution award on behalf of British Land to Sameer of Adroit Accountax. Being a young person, in the early stages of my career myself, I know the struggles young people have gone through in terms of starting new careers, attending training online or even postponing education.
“Fostering community, empowerment and resilience is so important, which is why we are delighted we can recognise and pay homage to all those who’ve won and been shortlisted.”
Local Lockdown Hero was sponsored by Elephant and Castle Town Centre whose team said: “Our winner UK Homes 4 Heroes have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic supporting UK Homes 4 Heroes local ex-service personnel to find permanent homes through private and social housing. Alongside this, their extensive outreach work has fed over 250 homeless people every week during the pandemic, with the team getting up at the crack of dawn to collect and deliver food to those who need it most.
“At a time when so many people have been struggling, UK Homes 4 Heroes have stepped up for Southwark and helped the Southwark community through this difficult time.
“We are so proud to be sponsoring this award, which is a very small way for us to say a very big thank you to all the local heroes who have helped our communities throughout the last 18 months.”
Robert Hume, Senior Development Director, Landsec, said: “We were proud to sponsor this category, for three reasons – firstly because of the sheer importance of arresting Climate Change, secondly because Sustainability is one of Landsec’s key core values, underpinning our approach to the development and operation of all our property assets. Thirdly because we are currently bringing forward three major new commercial schemes in the Borough, all of which aim to deliver highly sustainable, low or net zero carbon development.
“Given the reaction from Laura Ford and her team, it was clear that this award and the well-deserved recognition of Plastic Free Peckham’s achievements was hugely appreciated.”
COVID-19 Business Commitment to Education, Training & Skills was sponsored by Art Invest Real Estate. Ali Abbas, Managing Director Head of UK, said: “Congratulations to the finalists and our winner, Theatre Peckham, as well as the team behind the scenes that have put this occasion together. I have said before how it’s a pleasure for us to be sponsoring this great initiative. The Award for COVID-19 Business Commitment to Education, Training and Skills is a genuine testament to those local industry leaders that are placing opportunity and ambition at the forefront of their response to these unprecedented times. It perfectly resonates with our vision for Canada Water Dockside, one that focuses on supporting the Borough’s post-pandemic recovery through the provision of up to 10,000 jobs throughout the lifetime of the development.”
Berkeley Homes (SEL) Ltd sponsored Community Collaboration in Response, and said: “Berkeley has a long legacy in Southwark and we are committed to supporting our local communities. The past 12-18 months have been incredibly challenging for businesses large and small and as such we feel it is important to recognise the vital contribution these businesses make to the local community and beyond. This category champions those that have gone the extra mile in their local community, coming together to make a meaningful impact on the people and places of Southwark – big or small. We have been both impressed and inspired by the resilience and strong spirit of the local business community during this challenging year and look forward to showing our support and appreciation with these awards.
“We are delighted to be able to present this award to Ballers Academy for the unrelenting work they do in the community to improve the lives of young people and their families. They have been working incredibly hard to continue supporting the Southwark community during the pandemic and used their expertise to help families stay fit and healthy throughout lockdown. We are proud to support such a well deserving community centric charity who deserve to be awarded for their inspirational work.”
COVID-19 Business Resilience Award was sponsored by Lendlease and won by SE22 Piano School. Kirsty Lansdown, Lendlease Project Director at Elephant Park, said: “At Elephant Park we’re very proud of the resilience shown by our retail business community in adapting to the pandemic, and that many of them have also gone out of their way during lockdown to support others in the community in need, such as providing hot meals to NHS front line workers and local shelters. We are very pleased this year to be sponsoring the ‘Covid19 resilience’ award, and recognising those businesses that have met the challenges of the past 15 months with grit and determination.”
The finalists were announced after an initial call for entries in which businesses registered or were nominated through southwarkawards.co.uk in up to two, free-to-enter categories.
Members of the public and business community then voted in each category for their selected business. The voting system was made fair and robust through a range of measures, such as only permitting one vote from each IP address.