2017 Winners and Finalists

Business Leader of the Year

Greener Growth is dedicated to growing food and conserving nature. Working undeveloped areas of land, they help different groups and organisations to create high yielding, low maintenance gardens which enhance bio-diversity. Using permaculture principles, they teach sustainable food growing systems in fun, pro-active ways. Such initiatives include community kitchen garden schemes, farming, traditional orchards, flower meadows to attract wildlife, watercourses and ponds, beehives, recreational resources and footpaths.

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Contribution to the Community Award

The Ashtons Charitable Trust, set up in 2014, supports charitable causes and community groups in Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex by way of grants and donations. Twice yearly the Trust considers direct applications and recommendations from staff to fund charities and good causes in the region.

Ashtons support the local community, not to gain anything for themselves financially, but to give something back to their local community.  Many of their 340 staff has, and has reason to access the services of these local charities which is why the firm believes so strongly in helping to secure a future for those very worthwhile causes.

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Employee of the Year

Jamie took part in a Level 3 management qualification and has excelled from day one.  He has shown great commitment and desire right from the start and was the only person in the group to take on the challenge of the business studies project as opposed to simply answering questions.  His work is excellent and he has always been a vocal and important member of the group.  Jamie combines hard work with an aptitude for man management and he is a keen believer in delegation and personal development; skills he has used to great effect in the first six months of his new position.  He has also been a great advocate of the importance of learning – he has helped and supported many of his team to try and achieve their own work goals.

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Best New Startup Business

Bury St Edmunds Canine Creche offer the complete package of canine care, this type of facility is innovative, with service levels at an inspirational level and dedicated, fully trained staff.

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Apprentice Trainee of the Year

Abbie joined West Suffolk Physio in the summer of 2016. Her employers were impressed by her knowledge and understanding of administration processes, considering she had only been working previously in an administrative capacity for only one year. We felt she had the motivation and initiative of someone much more experienced.

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Green/Environment Award

Aponic Ltd have designed, developed and now manufacture a vertical soilless growing system that uses 90% less water than traditional growing methods. It can be used to grow low carbon, high yielding herbs, salad crops, flowers, fruit and vegetables.

Aponic are supplying a new generation of farmers and education facilities, who are very aware of the need to diversify into niche markets and create sustainable, secure growing methods to meet the global realities of modern food cultivation.

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Customer Service Award

Rachel has worked at the Bay Tree as head of Front of House for nearly 4 years and really has become one the Bay Tree’s greatest assets.  She has a wonderful way of looking after people and managing their needs and has developed an understanding of the way a small business runs what is required to help it continue on a successful path and to us as owners, she has been so supportive.  Above all though, she loves her job.

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The West Suffolk Award for Innovation

In the eyes of Herga Technology Ltd, “Innovation” is about the engagement of the whole team in the development process to provide the best application solution for our product.

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Business of the Year

Support our clients in the construction of sound financial plans for their families or their businesses alike; enabling them to make financial planning decisions based on the advice we have provided them.

So, whether you’re considering the options available to your business, or you are conscious of the need to secure your family’s financial future, we firmly believe we’re ideally placed to advise on a broad array of financial solutions.

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Lifetime Achievement Award

Jan has worked at the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (WSFT) for 25 years; her dynamism, expertise and knowledge has cemented her as a Suffolk businesswoman and made her a fundamental role model for women at the Trust and beyond.

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