Norfolk's best recognised at the EDP Business Awards 2024

The Eastern Daily Press Business Awards 2024, which took place last night at the Norfolk Showground, is the best and biggest night of the year for the East of England’s business community.

The awards recognise the very best in our business community and the winners (listed below) truly deserve our praise and recognition.

Richard Porritt, editor of the EDP, on stage at the EDP Business Awards 2024 (Image: Matthew Potter Photographer and Videographer) Each and every firm, each and every person, astound me with innovation, resilience and unwavering hard graft. Their work truly is never done – but every late night, every early morning, each and every sinew strained is worth it.

It is worth it because our businesses – our capitalists, our free marketeers – are a huge part of what makes this region so special.

And yet the free market and the term ‘capitalism’ is often frowned upon. But how? Why? Why is success so often met with embarrassment and distrust in this country?

We are all wealth creators. Every business – even if only in a small way – is responsible for putting food on tables. That should be triumphed.

The EDP Business Awards are a chance for the Norfolk business community to come together and celebrate their achievements (Image: Matthew Potter Photographer and Videographer) 2024 has brought change. Even though some challenges appear to remain in perpetuity.

We have a new government. It is early days, but already the chancellor has succeeded in sparking fury among our farmers over inheritance tax, dismay for business owners over National Insurance payments and shivers from pensioners who are worried about turning the heating on.

So, we might have a new lot in Number 10 but the trials and tribulations remain the same.
In all likelihood, Norwich’s Western Link will be among a swathe of infrastructure projects that will not get the final go-ahead. That’s about £50million quid wasted. Gone. Up in smoke.

Norfolk County Council want it, we the business community want it … but red tape, unelected quangos and inefficiency at government level have scuppered it.  

The awards night included fantastic aerial entertainment (Image: Matthew Potter Photographer and Videographer) If your teams were as frankly useless as parts of government, they would be on performance plans – and I very much include Westminster AND Whitehall in that swipe.

We are the brave though. A cosy, public sector role is not for us. We are the champions of the East’s economy, captains of our industry.

We must redouble our efforts. We must dust ourselves off and do it all over again. But this time, harder and stronger.

Because for all the incredible work our business community does, we need support.

Tim Seeley was recognised with a Lifetime Commitment Award (Image: Matthew Potter Photographer and Videographer) So let me assure you right now that the Eastern Daily Press will continue to lobby for our region. We will continue to ask the difficult questions, continue to speak truth to power, continue to stand four-square behind the East.

And we’re not alone, the supporters of these awards are also great supporters of our business community.

Thank you to our headline sponsor Barclays for its support as well as all of our category sponsors – without them these brilliant awards could not take place.

And thank you to our drinks reception partner Jarrolds, as well as our event supporters Booker/Makro, Porsche and John Doe Carpets and Furniture, and our disco sponsor Richardsons Leisure.

Shred Station won the Environmental and Sustainability Award and Director of the Year for Simon Franklin (Image: Matthew Potter Photographer and Videographer) We would also like to thank all of the expert judges who supported us through the awards process.

The awards were also an opportunity to raise money for Norfolk Accident Rescue Service (NARS), a team of volunteer first responders, nurses, paramedics, critical care paramedics and doctors who all give their free time to respond to 999 calls across Norfolk. They also attend businesses, local groups and schools to deliver free CPR and defibrator training.

Below is a list of the winners, but don’t miss the special supplement in the Eastern Daily Press on Wednesday, December 4, where you can find out more about them.

The EDP Business Awards 2024 recognised a wide variety of businesses (Image: Matthew Potter Photographer and Videographer)

THE WINNERS

Norfolk Business of the Year

Sponsored by Barclays Corporate Banking

Winner: Fairfax & Favor

Lifetime Commitment Award

Winner: Tim Seeley 

Small Business of the Year

Winner: Azure Outdoor Living

Medium Business of the Year

Sponsored by MAD-HR

Winner: GeoAcoustics

Large Business of the Year

Sponsored by Ensors Chartered Accountants

Winner: RCP Parking

Start Up Business

Winner: The Bug Parc

Customer Excellence Award

Sponsored by Greater Anglia

Winner: Black Swan Care Group

Employer of the Year

Sponsored by EDP

Winner: Richardsons Leisure

Director of the Year

Sponsored by Norse Group

Winner: Simon Franklin – Shred Station

Environmental and Sustainability Award

Sponsored by Norse Group

Winner: Shred Station

Growth Business of the Year

Sponsored by Ashtons Legal

Winner: Norfolk Jar Kitchen

Outstanding Achievement 

Sponsored by Barclays Corporate Banking

Winner: Cecil Amey

Positive Impact in the Community

Sponsored by RWE

Winner: Norwich Theatre

Entries for next year’s EDP Business Awards open in early summer. Keep your eyes peeled for updates at edpbusinessawards.co.uk