Business awards/Jurassic Business Awards

Marketing West Events promoting and supporting local businesses with grassroots business awards in Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Wimborne, Dorchester, Weymouth, Bridport, Shaftesbury, Sherborne, Axminster, Lyme/Charmouth and Seaton/Sidmouth.

Awards Information

Background

After the success of the 2021 Lyme Business Awards and Axminster Business Awards, we have expanded. We have launched the Jurassic Business Awards that cover Lyme/Charmouth, Axminster and Seaton/Sidmouth.

Each area will have its own entries covering that area and its own awards ceremony. Each will have its own distinct character focusing on that area.

This website has three sections, one for each area. Specific sections will have the key dates for that area and the entry and nomination forms.

Our Ethos for Each Area

Our focus is on the quality and range of local businesses giving them a chance to gain recognition and promote themselves.

The awards are not an excuse for a party. The focus is on the entries and not the event. It's a chance for local businesses to network while the awards presentation will also be live-streamed to reach the maximum number of people.

Our Six Point Promise

The role of the awards is to promote the range and quality of local businesses.
Entry is free.
Judging will be independent and online with no outside influence.
There will be a category for every business.
Local businesses will have a chance to be involved by sponsoring a category at a fair price, not an exorbitant price.
The awards ceremony will be open to all. The cost to attend will just be the cost to us.

Entries

Entry is free and businesses can enter as many categories as they wish. People can also nominate businesses they believe deserve an award. Please read the entry guidelines before entering or nominating. Online entry and nomination forms are in the relevant section for each of the awards. Please note that entries and nominations can only be accepted via this website.

Feedback on our Awards

We have run business awards in Bridport, Sherborne, Dorchester/Poundbury, Weymouth, Wimborne, Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch. Below are just some of the comments businesses have made. A copy of each one is available to view if required.

"The Dorchester Business Awards are a significant marker of our local post-Covid recovery, a really encouraging and optimistic event that I was honoured to be part of."

Lord Fellowes of West Stafford

“The Business Awards are the best thing to happen in Dorset for many years. It is so rewarding to see how businesses across the County recognise their value and have responded by entering the various categories. Onwards and upwards!”

Barry White, Humphreys Kirk

"I am really honoured and hugely proud to have won this Overall Business Award. I'm so pleased for the Barker staff members, who have worked so hard, pulling together brilliantly as a team, particularly over the last two years to come through such difficult times."

Matthew Barker, The Barker Group, Poole

“Being recognised as the best by guests who dine in our restaurant week in, week out is what Weymouth and Portland are all about! Keep it local. A great boost for business.”

Chef Eric, Les Enfants Terrible, Weymouth

You could tell the businesses were genuinely moved to receive awards, and that it meant more to them because as the Wimborne Business Awards, it was ours as a town.

We were really happy with the way we were kept in the loop and kept in touch throughout the whole process. Communication and clarity were terrific with a constant supply of updates and information."

Tammy Sleet, Manager, Wimborne BID

“It was wonderful to win last year – Overall winner and Best Customer Service too - which I was particularly pleased about for the team who really do look after our customers. Such a thrill for us all and our customers were pleased too!”

Caroline Parkin, Leakers Bakery, Bridport

“We entered the Dorchester and Poundbury Awards thinking nothing ventured nothing gained. It was so nice to see businesses networking together during the awards. Not only did we win our category, but the overall best business as well! We could not believe it, We would like to say to all the businesses out there enter as you have a lot to gain!”

Neil Strudwick, Goldcrest Jewellers, Dorchester

“I wanted to write and thank you for our wonderful award. It was a real boost for morale to be recognised as a new business after what has been such a challenging year to open and operate in. It was lovely to meet fellow local businesses and also for the awards to be so fair. Please pass on my thanks to all those who organised such a wonderful event. It was hugely appreciated.”

Doune Mackenzie Edwards, The Queen’s Arms, Corton Denham, Sherborne

2022 Awards Categories

Below are the categories for each of the individual awards.

Start-up Business of the Year

Best Place to Work

Café, Pub, Casual Dining

Family Business of the Year

Excellence in Customer Service

Green Business of The Year

Independent Business

Employee of the Year

Restaurant of the Year

Tourism/Leisure Business of the Year

Overall Business of the Year

Shortlisted entrants are notified 2 weeks before the awards ceremony

Lyme Awards Information and Entries

Entries

Entries are now open for businesses in the Lyme Regis and Charmouth areas. Entries and Nominations close on Friday, 19th August 2022. To enter or nominate a business click on the below.

Awards Ceremony

We will be announcing the winners are our awards lunch on Thursday, 9th October. Details will be announced at the beginning of August 2022.

Sponsors and Supporters

We would like to thank our Category Sponsors and Supporters for making these awards possible. The full list to follow - if you would like to join them as either a headline sponsor or supporter get in touch.