Brighton has talent
Time to enter the sixth BAHBAs
Forget the recession. In these times of doom and gloom we need something to put a smile on our faces. And winning an award can certainly do that! 2009 marks the sixth year for the Brighton and Hove Business Awards (BAHBAs) and they promise it will be bigger and better than before with eight new sponsors and sixteen categories.
Sue Chandler (Hove Factually), Chris Warburton (Lucky Voice), Emma Ridley (Hove Factually)
The awards were officially launched at the Thistle Hotel on Tuesday 16 June at a party that was attended by many of the city’s leading business people including the Mayor, sponsors, judges and last year’s winners and finalists.
New sponsors this year include RedSeven, Kelta HR, Wired Sussex, Veolia Environmental Services, QED, Nido Marketing, Neilson Active Holidays and Absolute Brighton.
They join The Argus, University of Brighton, Hilton Brighton Metropole, MDhub, Brighton Primary Care Trust, Royal Mail and Nixon McInnes.
New awards include the Award for Innovation in Business, sponsored by the University of Brighton. This is open to any business based in, or operating from, the city of Brighton and Hove. The award recognises those businesses that have stolen a march on their competitors through the use of technological, operational or marketing innovations.
The search for the Best Place to Visit in Brighton and Hove is sponsored by QED. More than half of Brighton’s visitors are people who have been before and who love to come back for more! Is your place an undiscovered gem or one that attracts more and more visitors each year? Where is the place that most enriches the city and makes Brighton one of the UK’s most popular destinations?
Ian Lucas, MD of RedSeven, was last year’s winner of the Sussex Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year which takes a bow as a new BAHBA category. The combination of vision, creativity, acumen, dedication and energy that makes for a successful entrepreneur is a rare thing and this award celebrates those who have used those qualities to achieve outstanding commercial success and profitability.
Jon Barrenechea (Duke of York’s Picturehouse)
“The BAHBAs promise to be bigger and better than before”
Chairman of the judges, Tony Mernagh, executive director of the Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership (BHEP), said how much he was looking forward to reviewing the entries and meeting the potential winners and encouraged all those at the reception to get busy and enter.
Designed to raise awareness and celebrate the diversity and uniqueness of our growing 21st century city, the BAHBAs acknowledge and celebrate those companies, organisations and individuals who really build the Brighton brand.
The judges are looking for companies and organisations that really capture the spirit of Brighton and Hove. Innovation and leadership are considered more important than size or revenue. Visit the web site to find out more about each of the sixteen categories.
How to enter
Entering the awards could not be easier. It costs £50 (exc vat) for one entry and £75 (exc vat) to enter as many times as you like. Decide how many times you wish to enter. Address the criteria outlined, and click to pay. All finalists will receive a free place at the awards ceremony which takes place Friday, 9 October 2009 at the Brighton Hilton Metropole. MC for the evening will be announced at a later date.
www.bahbas.org.uk
