Business Awards - RBWM Community and Business Excellence Awards 2006

Wednesday, 29th November, will see the culmination of one of The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead's most prestigious annual events, the Community and Business Excellence Awards, when over 300 representatives from the district's most successful businesses and community organisations gather at Ascot Racecourse for this prestigious Gala Awards evening.

The competition, an initiative of The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, is now in its third year and is widely recognised as the area's foremost event for the business sector and community at large.

The climax of the event will be the presentation of the awards by special guests and representatives from all of the key partners, including Principal Sponsor, The Royal Bank of Scotland (“RBS”).

Finalists will receive free tickets to the event, where an added highlight will be a charity auction with all proceeds going to The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Roger Fenwick, Senior Director of Commercial Banking South, RBS said: “We are very excited to be playing a significant part in recognising the achievements of organisations in the Royal Borough. The quality of entrants, the standard of performance and the innovation shown this year, are extremely impressive and I know that the judges had a difficult time concluding their decisions.”

The chair of this year's judging panel, Jon Fisher, General Manager of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, who will also attend the gala evening, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed chairing the judging of this year's Awards. I was impressed - and in some cases inspired - by the entries. We live in a highly competitive world, shaped by changing technology, global markets and growing expectations in terms of levels of quality and service. The only winners are going to be those that are innovative, energetic and enterprising and I was delighted to see so many examples of these qualities amongst this year's entrants. It speaks very highly of the Royal Borough as a great place to live and do business."

Joanna Read, Director of Morpheus, who is this year’s Gala Evening sponsor said: “We are delighted to be supporting the awards ceremony this year. This prestigious occasion provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate the Royal Borough’s enterprise, energy and imagination. Following their successful launch three years ago, this event has gone from strength to strength with extensive media coverage raising the profile of the wealth of talent within the district.”

RBS is this year’s Principal Sponsor. Other Main Category Sponsors include Ascot Racecourse, Morpheus, The Chartered Institute of Marketing, First Group, Business in Berkshire, The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Learning and Skills Partnership, Business Link, Hitachi Europe Ltd and Pharmalink Consulting Ltd.

This year's awards, sponsors and finalists are:

Company of the Year (sponsored by RBS):
Shorts Group
Langland
FAST Group
Golfbreaks

Small Business of the Year (sponsored by Business Link):
Wanderlust Publications
InSpirit Ltd
Softalk

Commitment to Learning, Skills and Development Award (sponsored by The RBWM Learning and Skills Partnership):
Army Welfare Service
Kirk Rice Accountants
Windsor Girls’ School

Commitment to Diversity (sponsored by GROW):
Day Opportunities RBWM Community Care
Slough/Windsor Marriott Hotel
Windsor & Maidenhead Community Forum

Healthy Communities (sponsored by Windsor Housing):
Courthouse Junior School
Knowl Hill CE Primary School
Lowbrook School

Environmental Sustainability Award (sponsored by Ascot Racecourse):
System Associates
Cardinal Clinic
eefos

Service Excellence Award ((sponsored by Hitachi Europe Ltd);
Cooks Ltd
E Sargeant Ltd
Windsor Housing

Charitable Organisation of the Year (sponsored by The Maidenhead Advertiser):
The Bridge Trust
The Lions Club of Maidenhead
National Rheumatoid Arthritis Association
People to Places

Contribution to the Community Award (sponsored by Pharmalink Consulting Ltd):
South Ascot Village School
Windsor Arts Centre
Old Windsor Community Partnership

Young Entrepreneur of the Year (sponsored by The Express Series):
Now Group UK
Recruitment Revolution
Stephen Phillips Interiors

The Royal Borough Ambassador Award (sponsored by First Group and Business in Berkshire):
Paul Thomas, Editor - Slough Express Series
Martin Denny, Director - Windsor Festival
RBWM Registration Service
Windsor & Maidenhead Symphony Orchestra

For further information please call SARAH GILL, Blink PR, on 01628 485101, email sarah.gill@blinkgroup.co.uk