The atmosphere was buzzing as almost 200 guests came together at Still Moving studios on Tuesday 18 July 2023, for an exciting new SoGlos Gloucestershire Business Awards occassion.
The exclusive event gave SGGBA shortlisted business and judges the chance meet each other in advance of a panel meeting later this year, when 2023 finalists and winners will be decided.
Guests gathered at the Cheltenham-based film and photography production company's impressive and cutting-edge studios in Bishop's Cleeve, which was proud to host the event as SoGlos's venue partner.
The evening allowed judges to speak directly to shortlisted business leaders about their noteworthy successes over recent years.
This new addition to the 2023 judging process ensures SGGBA continues as Gloucestershire's leading business awards, championing the very best fledgling start-ups right up to the most established businesses in the county.
With so many of Gloucestershire's business leaders under one roof, the occasion evolved into a fantastic networking opportunity, with new relationships forged and old ones rekindled.
'Being here is a perfect showcase of the calibre of businesses we have in this county. They're perhaps ones you haven’t visited before, but that punch well above their weight on a national and international scale representing Gloucestershire,' said SoGlos co-founder, James Fyrne, in his welcome address.
The guestlist included representatives from SGGBA 2023 headline co-sponsors, Hazlewoods and Willans LLP solicitors, as well as category sponsors - detailed below.
Food partner, Fabioni's (fabionis.co.uk), treated guests to wood-fired pizza using top quality Italian ingredients - highlighting its brilliant business event catering capabilities. And Cotswolds-based events caterer and drinks partner, The Drunken Mare (thedrunkenmare.co.uk), provided welcome drinks from its well stocked bar - showcasing memorable ways to serve drinks at any occasion.
The success of the event has created even more anticipation ahead of the next stages of the awards process and prestigious awards night itself, all of which are detailed on the central SGGBA page soglos.com/business-awards.
SGGBA 2023 categories and sponsors
New Business of the Year – Sponsored by Montrose Group – montrose-group.co.uk
Most Innovative Business of the Year – Sponsored by Hartpury University and Hartpury College – hartpury.ac.uk
Growth Business of the Year – Sponsored by GFirst LEP – gfirstlep.com
Family Business of the Year – Sponsored by QuoLux – quolux.com
Green Business of the Year – Sponsored by Ecotricity – ecotricity.co.uk
Best Place to Work of the Year – Sponsored by Six Property Consulting – sixpc.co.uk
Customer Excellence Award – Sponsored by MKM – mkm.com
International Business of the Year– Sponsored by Invest in Gloucestershire – investingloucestershire.com
Entrepreneur of the Year – Sponsored by University of Gloucestershire – glos.ac.uk
Employee of the Year – Sponsored by GB Solutions – gbsolutions.co.uk
Team of the Year – Sponsored by ReformIT – reformit.co.uk
Heritage Business of the Year – Sponsored by Hewer FM – hewerfm.co.uk
Business Leader Award – Sponsored by Gloucestershire County Council – gloucestershire.gov.uk
Young Business Leader Award – Sponsored by Ontic – ontic.com
Apprentice of the Year – Sponsored by Gloucestershire College – gloscol.ac.uk
Cyber Business of the Year – Sponsored by Cleevely Electric Vechicles – cleevelyev.co.uk
Charity of the Year – Sponsored by Nimble – nimble-elearning.com
Micro Business of the Year – Sponsored by 16i – 16i.co.uk
Small Business of the Year – Sponsored by HR Star – hr-star.co.uk
Medium Business of the Year – Workplace Interiors Co – workplaceco.co.uk
Large Business of the Year – Sponsored by Vitruvius – vitruviusms.co.uk
Business of the Year – Sponsored by headline co-sponsors Hazlewoods and Willans LLP – hazlewoods.co.uk / willans.co.uk
SGGBA 2023 key dates
Judges will meet for the final panel meeting at Malmaison in Cheltenham on Wednesday 13 September 2023 to decide on the SGGBA 2023 finalists and winners.
Finalists will be announced on Friday 15 September 2023.
The winners will be revealed at the SoGlos Gloucestershire Business Awards 2023 evening at Gloucester South Community Fire Station in Tuffley on Thursday 19 October 2023.
