Medway Business Awards 2010

It’s been a busy few weeks on the Medway Business Awards (MBA) front.  Judges, Tim Levey of Reeves, Trevor Shave of Lloyds and I had a tricky time whittling the entrants, which exceeded 40, down to 12 finalists.

This year, although it’s been tough given the economy, we were delighted to still have a broad range of businesses to consider.  From clever designs, manufacture and retail, through to providing services such as IT consultancy, health and safety or how to make changes to improve corporate responsibility – Medway has some talent!

We spent two days visiting the finalists and are grateful to them for their hospitality and sparing their time to be interrogated.

It is a privilege to be a judge for the MBA and I enjoyed meeting all 12 finalists.  We had some difficulty in deciding the overall winner as competition was fierce and we couldn’t all agree – it didn’t quite reach handbags at dawn, but was a close call thing!

The finalists and general public don’t find out who we have given an award to until the gala dinner at Priestfield Stadium on Friday, 19 November 2010 when the awards are presented.  It is always a great evening where the audience learns about the skills and expertise the finalists have which represent the business community in Medway.  The odd glass of wine is consumed and the less reserved amongst us even make it onto the dance floor!!

Tickets for the dinner can be obtained from the Thames Gateway (Kent) Chamber of Commerce (www.tgcoc.co.uk) and we hope the sponsors, finalists, their staff, family and friends, and anyone interested in the diversity we have in Medway in terms of business sectors, will come along, support the event and have a great time.

I hope to see you on the 19 November.  As to the winners – my lips are sealed!