Thames Valley: Business Magazine Awards focus on social responsibility

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TBM Team

Two new awards – the Workplace Mental Health and the Community Legacy categories – reflecting attitudes at the heart of today’s local businesses - were introduced at this year’s Thames Valley Business Magazine Awards 2017.

“Business nowadays is not just about profits and turnover, it’s about social responsibility and giving something back. Both these awards recognise and applaud the corporate world’s increasing desire to do good work,” media broadcaster Louise Hulland, the event’s guest host, told a 380-strong audience at the Royal Berkshire Conference Centre in Reading.

As the longest-running business awards in the region, the Thames Valley Business Magazine Awards (TVBMA) was again adapting to reflect today's business community, as it has done throughout its 23 years, added David Murray, founding TVBMA chairman, MD and publisher of The Business Magazine.

This slightly different ‘voice’ of the vibrant and successful Thames Valley was reflected through the two new categories – covering projects, campaigns and initiatives that focus on employee wellbeing, workforce engagement, and business’ provision of charity and community resources.

Several other 'voices’ - from Donald Trump to Ed Miliband - were heard on the evening thanks to the vocal skills of guest speaker and impressionist Jon Culshaw, who also helped present all nine of the prestigious and much-coveted business awards.

Murray wholeheartedly thanked the TVBMA judges and sponsors – ActionCOACH, Brighter Berkshire, BtL, Cardinal Clinic, CityFibre, Gateley plc, Hays, Institute of Directors, James Cowper Kreston, NatWest, Peter Brett Associates, and Reading Audi – without whom the gala evening of business excellence awards “simply would not take place”.

Once again, over 50 more finalists on the night would be joining the 700 already recognised within “the TVBMA hall of fame,” explained Hulland.

“You are here because your company or organisation has proved itself one of the very finest, best-run, fastest-growing and/or community-focused businesses in the Thames Valley. Whether you leave here with First Place or Highly Commended, you are all winners – and you should be proud of your successes over the past year.”

The chosen charity for the evening was the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service, last year’s Charity of the Year award-winner. The charity, supported by BBC Children in Need, and with Theresa May and Sir Michael Parkinson as two of its patrons, is currently building near Maidenhead, Berkshire’s first children’s hospice. Donations from the TVBMA guests raised an impressive £3,438.

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THAMES VALLEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE AWARDS 2017

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