Dorset family businesses given chance to shine
Companies that exemplify the family spirit of doing business are set to be acknowledged in the 20th annual Dorset Business Awards, in association with the Daily Echo and Dorset Echo. The Princecroft Willis Family Business Award will highlight and celebrate the contribution family businesses have made to the county’s economy, history and culture.
The category promotes and recognises some of the great achievements gained by Dorset-based, family-owned businesses. Entry is open to all family-run companies which are based in Dorset with a BH or DT postcode.
After scooping this Award in 2013, managing director of D Stewart & Son Limited (Stewarts) in Christchurch, Martin Stewart, is encouraging others to put themselves forward as entering is free and becoming a finalist or a winner offers a great sense of pride.
Established more than 270 years ago, Stewarts is a multi-site garden centre now in the hands of the eighth generation of the Stewart family. “We were immensely proud to win a Dorset Business Award,” says Martin Stewart. “We would certainly advise all companies in the region to enter this year and benefit from an increased level of recognition amongst the local community.”
He adds: “There is a vast array of benefits to becoming a winner but two of the key advantages we found was the external recognition we achieved when shouting about our success to our customer database of 35,000 people as well as the sense of pride our staff had in knowing that they are working for an award-winning firm.
“I would recommend any Dorset business to enter the competition as there is every good chance of winning. Even if you don’t win the first time, it is a great experience and even being picked as a finalist is an achievement. We certainly were proud winners.”
Judges of this category will be looking to recognise a family firm that is innovative, adaptable and has a healthy culture in place.
Princecroft Willis Family Business Award checklist
Entrants should include:
- Longevity
- Number of generations the business has survived
- Family involvement in the business in terms of numbers and generations
- Involvement in the local community
- Family succession plan
- Financial performance in the last three years
Nick Love, Family Business Partner at Princecroft Willis, comments: “If you are proud of your family business then you owe it to yourself, family and employees to put yourself forward for this Award. The award ceremony is a celebration of all that is good about business in Dorset and this category is recognition of the important part family businesses play in the life of the Dorset business community.”
The Awards are also backed by the south’s leading radio station Wave 105 and are free to enter. Entrants can submit an entry via www.dorsetbusinessawards.co.uk or print off an entry form and submit a paper-based entry. The closing date for entry is Friday September 12. Entrants do not need to be a member of Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
For further information about the Awards, sponsorship opportunities or to reserve tickets for the Gala Dinner which will take place at the Bournemouth International Centre on Thursday November 27 please contact Shirley Ewart on 01202 714812.
Sponsor profile – Princecroft Willis
Chartered accountants and business advisers Princecroft Willis offer a real alternative for entrepreneurial businesses. Based in Dorset and Hampshire, Princecroft Willis believes that family businesses form the cornerstone of local industry and a large proportion of its client base are family enterprises. Its specialist services focus on helping these firms to grow and develop, building on the success of the founder while structuring innovative ways to hand that success on to future generations.