Balmer Lawn launch for 2023 New Forest Brilliance in Business Awards, run by New Forest Business Partnership

Nominations are now open to find the New Forest’s best in the business.

Now in its 18th year, the 2023 New Forest Brilliance in Business Awards were officially unveiled at a launch event hosted by Balmer Lawn Hotel.

The event is run by the New Forest Business Partnership (NFBP) and celebrates local individuals and businesses that have demonstrate outstanding achievements in the past 12 months.

Matthew Lawson, chair of NFBP, said: “This very special event is about commemorating the successes of local businesses, recognising their achievements, and celebrating what they have accomplished over the past year.

“We look forward to receiving a record number of entries this year – all local businesses can apply or be nominated.”

The awards event will take place on 30th November at Brockenhurst College. For more information and to make a nomination visit www.nfbp.org.uk/awards.

The closing date for nominations is 1st October.

There are 18 categories this year, as well as the overall Business of the Year award:

• The Brockenhurst College Award for Training and Development – for businesses offering outstanding career opportunities to their employees including training, career development and mentoring.
• The Hampshire County Council Award for Contribution to the Community – for businesses which recognise the importance of a real commitment to the local New Forest community.
• The Solent University Award for Innovation – for businesses which successfully apply any form of innovation in the way they do business, the way they work with their people or customers, or in product and service development.
• The New Forest Marque Award for Food and Drink – for businesses which celebrate the very best in food and drink production in the New Forest.
• The Balmer Lawn Hotel Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Visitor Economy – for businesses who lead the way in providing high quality New Forest visitor experiences, which protect and enhance the local environment, benefit residents and support the local economy.
• The Escape Yachting Award for Entrepreneur of the Year – for a dynamic, creative and visionary leader who has achieved sustained levels of growth for their business.
• The New Forest Enterprise Centre Award for Best New Business – for businesses created since 1 October 2020 which have exceeded their initial targets for growth and already show significant product/service development and leadership within their sector or industry.
• The Forest Foodie Award for Outstanding Customer Care – for businesses which recognise the importance of the customer in growing their business.
• The Southampton Business School Award for Young Person in Business – for an individual aged under 30 years on 1st October 2022 who has made a significant contribution to a business.
• The New Forest National Park Authority Award for Sustainable Business of the Year – for businesses thatwho understand their social responsibility to drive environmental improvements within their industry, creating a greener, more sustainable product or service.
• The Forest Foot and Health Clinic Award for Health and Wellbeing – for businesses which recognise the importance of creating an environment for their staff where health and wellbeing is of the highest priority.
• The New Forest District Council Award for Best New Forest Micro Business – for businesses with fewer than 5 employees who are demonstrating both sustainable growth and a product or service that is standing tall amongst their competitors.
• The GetSet Solent Award for Business Growth – for businesses that can demonstrate a clear business growth strategy that has taken their business to the next level.
• The Scott Bailey Award for Professional Services – for businesses that demonstrate excellence and are innovative in their approach to the services they provide.
• The New Milton Advertiser & Lymington Times Award for Not For Profit Organisation of the Year – for charities, social enterprises and other not for profit organisations that are innovative and delivering sustainable benefit to New Forest society.
• The Simpson Hilder Associates Award for Personal Achievement – for an individual within the New Forest business community who is recognised as having made an outstanding contribution to the local economy.
• The Country Inns Award for Apprentice of the Year – for the outstanding achievement of an apprentice who has successfully applied their learning in the workplace to advance themselves and their employer.
• The Royal Lymington Yacht Club Award for Marine and Maritime – for businesses that demonstrate a commitment to excellence, innovation and sustainability in this key sector in the New Forest.
• The overall New Forest Business of the Year, sponsored this year by Solent Local Enterprise Partnership, is selected from the winners of the individual categories.