With 100 incredible local businesses in the running for 22 awards, all the guests invited to the second annual SoGlos Gloucestershire Business Awards will leave the University of Gloucestershire's Business School with a SGGBA goody bag, on Thursday 20 October 2022.
Working in collaboration with 19 local companies, the team at SoGlos has packed 300 goody bags to distribute at the end of the awards - and for those who just cannot wait to find out what's inside, here's what our guests can look forward to taking home on the night, with a huge thank you to all our contributors.
Coffee pods from ProCook
To help everyone get up the next morning, the hugely successful Gloucester-based ProCook - now the largest kitchenware brand in the UK - has generously given packs of 10 Nespresso-compatible coffee capsules to each of our guests this year.
Biscuits from The Village Cakery
Founder of The Village Cakery in Churchdown, Noushien Khazeni-Rad has been very busy making and icing an incredible 300 beautifully-branded biscuits for our goody bags this year. The rest of her time she spends making stunning celebration cakes, as well as biscuits and brownies, for all kinds of occasions.
Handy pens from Hartpury
Sponsoring our Most Innovative Business of the Year category are Hartpury University and Hartpury College - leading specialist education providers in agriculture, animal, equine, sport and veterinary nursing. Hands-on experience may be an important part of students' studies, but pens still have their place, which is why they're handing out 300 to our guests.
Water bottle from the University of Gloucestershire
Not content with simply providing us with a venue for the SGGBA 2022 and sponsoring our Entrepreneur of the Year award, the University of Gloucestershire has come up with a bundle of goodies for all our attendees, too - including a luxury soft-feel notebook, a set of sticky notes and a metal water bottle.
Power banks from ReformIT
Sponsors of our Team of the year award, Cheltenham-headquartered IT support specialist ReformIT wants to make all our SGGBA nominees' lives easier with technology, which is why it is giving all our guests power banks to extend the battery life of their mobiles and tablets.
Mints from HR Star
Among the ever-popular edible elements that go into making our goody bags so sought-after are some very handy little tins of mints, courtesy of HR Star, HR outsourcing specialists and sponsors of our Small Business of the Year category.
Moisturiser from SLG Brands
If it's good enough for one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time, it's (probably) good enough for our guests - as well as making cosmetic ranges for the likes of Superdry, Zoella and Little Mix, Cheltenham's SLG Brands produces British plant-based skincare brand Amie and the moisturiser in our goody bags.
Webcam covers from Optimising IT
Concerned about your online security? Gloucester-based Optimising IT can help - not only through its managed IT support services, but by distributing sliding webcam covers to all those attending SGGBA 2022.
Shortbread from Hazlewoods
While many of the goodies going home with our guests have been designed to last, some will soon be distant memories - specifically, the decadent millionaire's shortbread our guests can enjoy courtesy of SGGBA's headline co-sponsor, Hazlewoods independent business advisers and chartered accountants.
Seeds from Willans LLP solicitors
This year's co-headline sponsors, Willans LLP solicitors, keeps sustainability, growth and innovation front of mind, offering SGGBA guests green gifts in the form of mixed herb seeds to brighten up windowsills, as well as plates - and hopefully serve as a reminder to nurture your business all year round!
Gin from Fox's Kiln Distillery
Keen to ensure that everyone who attends our awards can enjoy a drink, even if they have to take it home with them, Fox's Kiln Distillery (created by the team at Gloucester Brewery) has slipped miniature bottles of its classic gin into every one of our goody bags. Hand crafted using natural ingredients, the company also offers flavoured varieties too.
Lozenges from LanesHealth
It's that time of year when sore throats and coughs start doing the rounds, but thanks to Jakemans soothing menthol lozenges - kindly gifted by LanesHealth in Gloucester - our guests will be firing on all cylinders again in no time. Available in seven flavours, which one will you get...?
Recycled pens from Gloucestershire College
Aiming to be carbon neutral by 2030 - an impressive 20 years ahead of the government's target - Gloucestershire College has topped up this year's goody bags with recycled pens for everyone! The college is also sponsoring our Apprentice of the Year award.
Cotton tote bags from Nimble Elearning
Still find yourself forgetting to pack your reusable bags when out shopping? Nimble Elearning has given us 300 cotton totes to help make sure our nominees never get caught out again. As well as creating engaging online courses for the likes of Soho Coffee Co and Go Ape, the company is also sponsoring our Customer Excellence Award.
Craft beer from Stroud Brewery
Adding weight to our SGGBA goody bags this year is Stroud Brewery, which has generously supplied us with 300 cans of craft beer, including best-selling organic pale ale, Budding. Founded in 2006, the taproom has since established itself as one of the town's most cherished local landmarks.
Bottles of cider from Weston's Cider
Keen to ensure our cider drinkers aren't left out, Weston's Cider has chosen to reward SGGBA guests by putting bottles of its Stowford Press cider in their goody bags. Not only is the medium dry cider one of the brand's best-sellers, it also produces an award-winning low alcohol version too.
Energy efficient lightbulbs from Ecotricity
Of course, one of the most useful gifts that anyone could give you right now would be something that could save you money on your energy bills - and as luck would have it, Stroud-based Ecotricity, Britain's greenest energy supplier, has come up trumps with energy efficient lightbulbs for everyone!
Eco pens from The Growth Hub
As well as helping Gloucestershire businesses to grow with help from its fully-funded business support scheme, The Growth Hub is doing its bit to make us all more environmentally-friendly, by providing our guests with pens made from recycled coffee grounds - and sponsoring our Growth Business of the Year award.
Highlighters from Hewer FM
Sponsoring our Heritage Business of the Year award is family-run Hewer Facilities Management, which started life in 1965. Today, it is one of the region's leading building services providers and here to brighten all our nominees' days by adding some handy highlighter pens to all their goody bags!
