About our sponsors...

Bournemouth's economy is characterised by its diverse and dynamic service sector, which has seen rapid development over the past twenty years. Capitalising on the trends in modern business activity has made the town one of the most prosperous areas of the UK. A number of world-class firms have seen the advantages in recent years of relocating to an area which combines a large pool of skilled workers with a high quality of life for their employees. The region's prosperity means that potential demand is high, and businesses in the town have access to a local market of some 435,000 residents.

Bournemouth Borough Council and the Borough of Poole are sponsoring the 'Linking to Schools' Award because we are committed to the importance of embedding a culture of learning, understanding and support between local schools and businesses across Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole. These productive partnerships are enabling our young people to develop an understanding of the business world at large and what it has to offer.

The Linking with Schools Award celebrates evidence of successful partnership working between schools and businesses which is essential in developing a number of mutual benefits:

• assisting with recruitment and work experience;
• addressing the needs of young people when they are accessing work or further education;
• encouraging a spirit of entrepreneurship across Dorset.

We are keen to hear from any business or school who is working in such a productive relationship. Nominations will be accepted by both the business or the school involved in the partnership.

Throughout its life, Bournemouth University has developed a strong reputation for offering a wide range of opportunities and support for enterprise activity within the region. Inspired by a clear vision for the future, we continue to develop new initiatives and programmes to help realise the potential of tomorrow’s employees and business leaders.

Working with the local community and encouraging entrepreneurial activity allows BU to harness its strengths in adding value to new ventures. From employer engagement and the graduate placement service, through to consultancy and training, Bournemouth University offers a range of opportunities and resources that can give your business the competitive edge. Why not go to www.bournemouth.ac.uk to see the range of possibilities available to you or alternatively call 01202 961961?

"In these uncertain times, Bournemouth University is proud to be supporting the local business community through the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, made to an exceptional individual or company considered by the judges to be at the forefront of business innovation" Professor Nick Petford, Pro-Vice Chancellor Research & Enterprise.

Poole already has a buoyant and diverse economy but making Poole a better place to do business is essential for its future prosperity, that's why 'Developing a Dynamic Economy' is a priority for the Council. Over £1 billion of new investment is planned for central Poole alone and we have a commitment to work with partners to further improve Poole's competitiveness as a business location.

With the largest natural harbour in Europe and award-winning beaches, Poole's residents and visitors enjoy the very best the South Coast can offer. With “Summertime in the South” providing a programme of events on Poole Quay and Sandbanks starting in May until September this gives residents and tourists free access to live music, beach sports and much, much more!

Bournemouth Borough Council and the Borough of Poole are sponsoring the 'Linking to Schools' Award because we are committed to the importance of embedding a culture of learning, understanding and support between local schools and businesses across Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole. These productive partnerships are enabling our young people to develop an understanding of the business world at large and what it has to offer.

The Linking with Schools Award celebrates evidence of successful partnership working between schools and businesses which is essential in developing a number of mutual benefits:

• assisting with recruitment and work experience;
• addressing the needs of young people when they are accessing work or further education;
• encouraging a spirit of entrepreneurship across Dorset.

We are keen to hear from any business or school who is working in such a productive relationship. Nominations will be accepted by both the business or the school involved in the partnership.

 

IF ever a newspaper epitomised the notion of a ‘People’s Paper’ it’s the Bournemouth Daily Echo. Since 1900 it has been as much a part of the local community landscape as the miles of golden sands that fringe this beautiful Dorset coastline.

The Daily Echo is the first port of call for local news, sport and business news across its large circulation area, which includes the main conurbations of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch and stretches west across Purbeck, east to the New Forest and north to Sherborne.

Whether it’s the Echo, with its daily business coverage and Tuesday’s Dorset Business section, the Echo’s 24-hour news and information website bournemouthecho.co.uk and dorsetbusiness.co.uk website, or the monthly Dorset Business magazine, there’s no more reliable source of news and information about the Dorset business community.

But it’s not just the first stop for local news and business. You will also find everything from a weekly food and drink guide –Taste every Monday – to the bright Saturday Magazine that provides TV listings for all the week plus local features. Add to that the must-read What’s On and review section on Fridays, hundreds of homes every Wednesday and pages of local jobs on Thursdays and Saturday and it makes sense to keep close to the news with the Daily Echo.

Founded in 1949, Dorset Business (the Chamber of Commerce & Industry) is Dorset’s leading private sector business support organisation. Building on six decades of serving the business community in Dorset, we work to further the interests of our 950+ Members of all sizes, in all sectors, through a wide range of activities, including:

• Networking events ranging from thematic to social, and from small groups to large-scale high-profile Business Awards;
• Marketing and PR opportunities (including editorial space in the well-respected magazine, “Dorset Business”);
• Business-to-Business services, such as discounted rates on goods and services provided by Members for Members;
• An international documentation service, and our market development programme in conjunction with UK Trade & Investment and the Council of British Chambers of Commerce in Europe (COBCOE);
• Access to tender alerts; and affinity benefits such as legal and commercial advice, discounted insurance, and HR support services, which we are able to offer as part of our Membership of the British Chambers of Commerce (Dorset Business is currently the only Chamber of Commerce in the South West that meets the BCC’s stringent accreditation standards);
• Community-based initiatives to better integrate businesses and the communities within which they are located;
• And we act on behalf of our Members as “the voice of business in Dorset”. We provide a lobbying forum to influence key policy/decision makers, and we are the primary representative of business interests on all of the key local forums including skills & learning, transport, and the environment.

 

Team Dorset is the brand under which organisations, both public, private and voluntary, are working together to deliver a discernable and lasting legacy for Dorset by using the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games as a catalyst for and accelerant of change.

All of the Olympic and Paralympic sailing events being hosted at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy offers considerable possibilities for Dorset. There will also be test events and training camps as well as increased visitors and infrastructure improvements. The 2012 Games are a ‘once-in-a-life-time' opportunity and Team Dorset is working to ensure that Dorset’s businesses use it as a platform for sustainable growth and development.

Whether you are an individual, a business, from a community group or the public sector, being part of Team Dorset means that you want to make a difference. Team Dorset members can enjoy all the latest info and updates relating to 2012 opportunities and developments as well as the forum to communicate and do business with like minded people.

Be a part of these exciting and unique times; sign up and join Team Dorset - it's quick, it's easy and it's free!

KPMG LLP, a UK limited liability partnership, operates across the UK with over 11,000 partners and staff based in 22 offices.

It is part of a global network of member firms which provide audit, tax and advisory services. Along with KPMG in Belgium, Germany, Spain and Switzerland, KPMG in the UK forms part of KPMG Europe, the largest integrated accounting firm in Europe.

The firm’s purpose is to turn knowledge into value for the benefit of KPMG’s clients, its people and the capital markets. The quality of the advice and the independence with which it is offered is greatly valued in the investor and business community.

On the South Coast, KPMG’s office employs 120 people who work with clients ranging from growing private and entrepreneurial businesses to major international corporations across a wide range of different industrial sectors.

KPMG’s values and the principles on which it works are widely respected and lead to its people working in an environment where they can learn and develop whatever their particular backgrounds, skills or ambitions. KPMG was proud to be named Best Big Company to Work For in the prestigious Sunday Times Best Companies awards this year for an unprecedented third time.

Liz Lean PR Ltd is a proactive and results driven public relations and marketing consultancy with some of the most heavyweight clients in the South Coast region. It consists of a team of academic and highly experienced professionals with a creative approach to marketing and public relations. They forge close links with clients, becoming a part of their team to deliver thorough and effective campaigns on both a local and national level.

Liz Lean PR enjoys an enviable location in Sandbanks, Poole and was founded by Liz Willingham (nee Lean) in 1998. It has a strong portfolio of clients, serving business to business and business to consumer clients across a wide range of sectors including the professional services, tourism, retail, leisure, charity, arts, hotel and catering, care, sports, local government, health and fitness, logistics, design, telecommunications, healthcare, new media, IT, print, and marine.

The company offers more than pure public relations activity; providing tangible advice and assistance on general marketing activities, event management, and is renowned for its networking skills, regularly bringing organisations together for mutual benefit. Liz Lean PR has undeniably some of the best contacts with business leaders across the region and beyond.

Natwest aims to offer you something different. We appreciate that no two businesses are exactly alike, and so, our service must be tailored accordingly, supporting customers through both prosperous and more challenging times. Being able to help you with what you need, when you need it, is at the heart of what we do. Our relationship managers have a personal desire to see your business prosper, and are empowered to make decisions quickly to meet with your deadline.

Our association with the Dorset Business Awards, supporting the ‘NatWest Excellence in Customer Service Award' is an important strategic decision for us. As a business we applaud the achievement of excellence, and are delighted to demonstrate and reinforce our commitment and presence in the County. Our locally-based team in Bournemouth understands local issues and collectively can offer many years of experience and advice across the region, as well as sector specialisms in healthcare and property, supporting our customers to meet their business ambitions.

P H Warr plc delivers Property & Construction Surveying services from offices covering Southern England and London. The company has an emphasis on offering a solution led, client focused service and has grown every year since being established in 1992.

P H Warr plc provides Quantity Surveying, Building Surveying, Environmental and Health and Safety services to clients across the commercial, lifestyle, public, education and residential sectors.

P H Warr plc's diverse client list includes international financial institutions, world renowned hotels, major public sector bodies and leading educational institutions such as The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, Claridge's Hotel, The Police Federation, the leading global financial services company Citigroup and several London Universities.

In Dorset P H Warr plc has played a key role in the successful development of numerous hotel and restaurant projects including The Captains Club Hotel, Kings Rhodes, Rhodes South, Christchurch Harbour Hotel, Travelodge Bournemouth, Aruba, The Print Room & Ink Bar and Mezza Luna Restaurant.

Princecroft Willis is the largest independent firm of chartered accountants and business advisers in Dorset and West Hampshire. Our size means that, in addition to providing the usual compliance services, we have a dedicated team of specialists who cover such areas as corporate Finance, estate planning, corporate tax planning, IT services and VAT planning.

As members of a worldwide association of leading independent accountancy practices, we are able to provide advice on international business and taxation matters.

Our business is owned by the partners who all actively participate in the provision of advice and services. Being partner-led means that each client is looked after by a lead partner who is dedicated to ensuring that the services we provide are focused, relevant and delivered in a co-ordinated way. Our partners are here for the long-term and therefore develop long-standing relationships with our clients.

We recognise that we are a people business and invest heavily in our team. Our team members are friendly and approachable, and recognise that our success can only be achieved through delivering quality services to our clients.

We believe that family businesses form the cornerstone of local industry so, as you might expect, a large proportion of our client base is made up of family enterprises. Our specialist services and proactive involvement focuses on helping them to grow and develop, building on the success of the founder while structuring innovative ways to hand that success on to future generations.

Refreshed Media is one of the top 5 digital marketing agencies in the South West according to NMA magazine. As a full service agency, under one roof Refreshed deliver websites, interactive games, analytics, conversion consultancy plus search engine and email marketing - basically all pieces of the puzzle to effectively generate business online.

Winners of multiple international awards for web design and digital marketing work, Refreshed Media have an enviable client list including The BBC, Peugeot and local companies Flexxilease and McCarthy & Stone.

As producers of the Dorset Business Awards website again, Bournemouth based Refreshed are proud to demonstrate their ongoing commitment to working within the Dorset community

Sunseeker International is the world’s largest privately-owned yacht builder and the largest producer of motoryachts over 80 feet, exporting 99% of its product range and employing over 2,300 highly trained staff in their shipyards on Britain’s South Coast. With a range of 24 models up to 46 metres, Sunseeker International is widely recognised as the pre-eminent marine brand in the world today.

The Arts University College at Bournemouth has recently gained the status of University College in recognition of our academic achievements and progress. We remain one of the most successful and most popular higher education specialists, with an excellent national and international reputation, committed to providing the highest quality, industry-relevant creative degrees. We now offer over 20 degrees in arts, design and media, as well as a range of short courses, a unique postgraduate programme, and bespoke services to business.

We are committed to enhancing the development of businesses within the creative industries and their contribution to the economy, working with both existing companies and new businesses to promote and support creativity.

In addition to our range of industry-relevant short courses, we also offer more intensive professional practice courses, development opportunities and consultancy packages, all designed to enhance the creativity of business staff and their working environment.

We are proud to support and work alongside Dorset Business, and are sponsoring the Creative Company/Project of the Year Award to encourage and support new and developing creative businesses in the region.

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the government organisation that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy. We also help overseas companies bring their high quality investment to the UK’s economy – acknowledged as Europe’s best place from which to succeed in global business.

UKTI offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK, and in British embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world.

We are able to provide tailored services to these businesses, especially those who are considering international trade for the first time or those that are looking at new markets. A growing number of companies across the South West are taking advantage of UKTI’s Passport programme which offers a wealth of options including training workshops and access to our international network of business experts.

We are also able to help companies get to key overseas contacts and local intelligence, saving South West exporters time and money and equipping them with all the tools they require to enter new markets with confidence and to be competitive on the world stage.

For more information please visit www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk or telephone 0800 60 60 969.

Wave 105 has made something more akin to a deluge than a splash since breaking onto the central South’s airwaves in 1998.

Wave 105’s reach is vast; it talks to its audience via FM, DAB and on line, it appeals to an upmarket, mature audience enjoying a quality lifestyle and complements a marketplace where the majority are employed in professional, managerial and highly skilled industry sectors. Advertisers can communicate with an audience predominantly aged over 25 enjoying a high standard of living and typically classified as the head of household. Geographically and demographically, Wave 105 is perfectly positioned to offer a total business solution.

Listeners enjoy the South’s Best Variety of Hits, a selection of favourites from the past 40 years featuring rock, pop, dance, soul and easy listening, comprehensive news and traffic coverage and topical what’s on items, all compiled by exceptionally loyal and talented staff, many of whom have been with the business since it’s launch.

Wave 105 can plan a total radio solution, on air, on line, sponsorship, promotions or events campaign for clients, from an initial creative concept to the final on air delivery. When promoting an organisation, brand or business, it is crucial to get the message across in a cost-effective manner. This is where Wave 105’s finely tuned business acumen comes to the forefront. Wave 105 itself is a hugely successful professional organisation and customers who pursue a marketing initiative with it recognise that their message will be delivered.

Wave 105 is a fresh opportunity for advertisers, offering a refreshing approach all about partnership, communication and discussion because nowadays everything in business is about flexibility. For more information call Wave 105 Sales on 01489 481057 or visit www.wave105.com