Havering Small Business Awards

Havering Small Business of the Year

Havering’s Small Business of the Year award is selected from the category winners by the judging panel.

• Winner - Folly London Millinery

Best Small or Independent Business

Sponsor

• Oakleafe Claims

• Winner – Wags and Scruffs Dog Services, 477 votes
• Finalist – Haute Panini, 414 cotes
• Finalist – Speak the World, 345 votes

Best Beauty or Service Business

Sponsor

• The Havering Daily

• Winner – The Hair Lounge, 661 votes
• Finalist – Gent and Co, 408 votes
• Finalist – Utopia Beauty, 581 votes

Best Take Away 

Sponsor

• The Havering Daily

• Winner – The Fat Pizza, Elm Park, 990 votes
• Finalist – Mandie’s Munchies, 733 votes
• Finalist – Wholeslice, 563 votes

Best Newcomer (less than a year old) 

Sponsor

• Havering Chamber of Commerce and Industry

• Winner – Jungle Hair and Beauty, 426 votes
• Finalist – Elsie Brown Make Up, 342 votes
• Finalist – The Business Mum’s Club, 400 votes

Best Sustainable Business

Sponsor

HaveringWorks with Levelling Up, Mayor of London and HM Government.

• Winner – Folly London Millinery, 784 votes
• Finalist – Fusion Blu Ltd, 701 votes

Best Hospitality Business

Sponsor

• Hills Prospect

• Winner – The Hop Inn, 714 votes 
• Finalist - Lakeview Palace, 620 votes
• Finalist – Ped’s Pizza, 712 votes

Best Shopfront

Sponsor

• K and T Heating

• Winner – Flower Perfections, 1180 votes
• Finalist – Storky, 268 votes
• Finalist – Ellie’s Finishing Touches, 746 votes

Best Social Enterprise or CIC

Sponsor

• Jax Sun Services

• Winner – Thames Chase Community Forest, 598 votes
• Finalist – Tapestry Care, 323 votes
• Finalist – The Baby Bank HQ, 457 votes

Best Tradesperson

Sponsor

• Essex Service Group

• Winner – Paul Perfect Heating Ltd, 548 votes
• Finalist – BPS Building Services, 343 votes
• Finalist – Paul’s Heating Service, 464 votes

Best Customer Experience

Sponsor

• Oakleafe Claims

• Winner – Maa Eyecare, 946 votes
• Finalist – Flowers by Tracy, 483 votes
• Finalist – The Vanilla Room, 492 votes

Give yourself plenty of time to enter

Although the process is simple this year, we’re asking businesses to nominate themselves, so please still remember to give yourself ample time to consider your entry.

What have been the highlights over the past year? What have you achieved that has exceeded expectations or sets you apart from other businesses? 

You’ll need to have the following information ready for your application, much of which is easy to complete.

• Business Name
• Business VAT or Company number (if applicable)
• Business owners full name
• Business address
• Contact telephone number
• Contact email
• Business Website (if applicable)
• Social media accounts
• Award entry - explanation on why they believe they deserve to win that particular award/key achievements for 2023/24 (maximum 300 words).

Choose the category that’s right for you

The nomination format has changed this year and asks businesses themselves to nominate for one category only.

Therefore it’s vital that you pick the category that you think is your strongest opportunity to win.

Stick to the category criteria

Judges (made up of Council Officers, Cabinet Members and sponsors) will be looking at how to score the entries in each category so you need to make sure you follow the guidelines and match the criteria in your application.

Try and provide some examples

If you've had record sales growth this year then make sure you include the figures.

Taken on new staff? Say how many.

The judges need more than general statements, they will be looking for details on exactly how you've achieved success this year against the criteria and how that sets you apart from your rivals.

It's one thing for you to say that your customers are really happy with your service, but how about including some testimonials from them, too?

Final checks

When you have completed your application, check it over and ask yourself if your application is easy to read, and have you done enough to stand out?

Is there someone that can check your application before you send it, just to make sure there aren’t any errors? They might make a valuable recommendation to include something you hadn’t thought of.

Second round - When it goes to public vote

If you get to this point, it means the judges have determined your entry meets the award criteria and there aren’t any current breaches or investigations into your business that could exclude you. Congratulations!

Now it’s over to you to promote your business and encourage your customers to vote for you when the voting goes live.
If you've used social media to build brand loyalty and engagement then make sure your posts are up to date.

You will be able to use the ‘We’ve been shortlisted for the Havering Small Business Awards 2023/24’ graphic which we will send to you by email along with some suggested wording to use on your own promotional material.

Remember to include the hashtag #HaveringSBA on all your social media posts!

Best of luck!

The Havering Small Business Awards are free to enter. Businesses can choose to enter one award category only.

A small business is a business with fewer than 50 employees.

Business nominations must be completed using the online form.

A judging panel, made up of category sponsors and council officers will determine which businesses meet the criteria based on the strength of their entry statement. This will include sharing award entrants information with the judging panel/sponsors.

Businesses subject to trading standards, business rates or public protection investigations or breaches may be excluded – exclusions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The shortlist will then be opened up to the public vote. This is not limited to Havering residents, since businesses serve customers from outside the borough too. However, all duplicate or incomplete votes will be discounted from the final votes.

The three businesses from each category that receive the most public votes from the second round of voting will be invited to the awards event.

Havering Council reserves the right to refuse nominations, or exclude finalists if they do not meet these conditions.

The winner of each category will receive a trophy, certificate, and vinyl window sticker naming the business a winner.

Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash.

Havering Council reserves the right to postpone or cancel the awards at any time.

Nominees must not be owned or managed by a larger corporation.

Independent businesses with more than one premises in the borough are eligible to enter.

Franchises, chain restaurants and brewery-owned/managed pubs are not eligible for these awards.

Businesses found to be offering incentives or rewards to customers in exchange for votes will be automatically disqualified.