THE 2016 Wiltshire Business of the Year Awards reached a pivotal stage as the entrants across all eight categories came together to meet the judges.

The evening event, hosted by Thrings solicitors, gave companies the chance to showcase their achievements and get a better understanding of what the judges were looking for in a star entry.

A number of business have entered the awards for the first time this year, whilst others placed highly in previous years and have decided to come back stronger in the hope of clinching the coveted top prize.

Among those entering for the first time are Wiltshire-based PH Sports who deliver specialist PE teaching and related coaching in primary schools across four counties.

With an average staff age of around 22, they understand the importance of giving young people a firm grounding from which to build their careers and are hoping this will help them in the Apprenticeship, Training and Professional Development Employer of the Year category.

Pete Drew, Wiltshire Area Manager for PH Sports, said: “We’ve got about six apprentices on board this year, we see ourselves as a decent apprenticeship provider working very closely with the college that we partner with.

“This award would give us credibility in recognition of the work we do, not only for the public but also for our apprentices.

“It would be great for them to be associated with something like this.”

The apprenticeship award is being judged by Wiltshire College, who were represented at the Meet the Judges event by Deputy Director for Workplace Learning Claire Thorogood.

Explaining what sets an entry apart from the field, Claire said: “I want to see what the true impact is, the difference the company is making on that apprentice and the value that having an apprenticeship programme brings to an employer.

“When it comes to the wider training and professional development of staff, it’s about how the business as a whole is benefitting from its investment in staff.”

While many of the entries to this year’s awards are smaller, up and coming businesses, some established names have decided to throw their hat in the ring in the Medium Sized Enterprise category.

Calne-based Bil Group, manufacturers of castors, wheels and materials handling equipment, have been trading in their current form since 2007 but have not previously entered the awards.

Explaining why they took the decision to do so this year, UK Sales Manager Tim Murrows said: “Although we’re very proud of what we do, we’re not really ones to blow our own trumpets.

“Now we’re looking to expand, we’ve built a successful company and it felt like the right time to tell people about it.

“We’re Wiltshire based, but we’re one of the UK’s largest castors and wheels manufacturers and we export globally.”

The responsibility for judging the Medium Sized Enterprise category falls to Natwest.

Wiltshire Director of Corporate and Commercial Banking for the bank, Jon Hemming, said he believes that at the heart of a good business is sometimes just a really good story – whether that is overcoming adversity, creating a new service or product or importantly having a compelling local angle.

“Fundamentally, I’m looking for a sustainable business with a strong business plan that is well managed, has shown consistent growth and innovation” Jon explained.

“It’s not always the biggest, the most successful or the most profitable business that has won over the years, the story is really important.”

After the judges in the various categories have identified the entrants they wish to look at further, they will go out to visit the businesses in their own environment.

In an attempt to put the audience at ease about the upcoming visits, Ramona Derbyshire from Thrings reminded them of the difference that a cup of tea and a biscuit can make.

One company, competing in the Start Up Business category, will be particularly well placed to meet that criteria.

Baila Coffee and Vinyl have become a popular feature in Swindon’s Old Town since launching eighteen months ago with their independent café, live music and bar venue.

Co-owner and former theatre performer, Matt Bailey, said: “We were actually encouraged to enter by a customer who comes in regularly, we felt like we fitted the criteria well as something a bit different, a bit quirky, with a strong community focus.

“Innovation is our main selling point really, we’re trying to bring something different to Swindon and to involve the community in shaping what that is.”

The Start Up category will be judged by The Enterprise Network (TEN), a council initiative to help small businesses get themselves established by providing office space, advice and resources.

Russel Frith, from TEN, said: “One of the main things I want to find out is why these businesses were started, it really isn’t an easy thing to do and takes a certain strength of character.

“I want to understand their goals, their journey to this point and importantly, what their plan is to overcome the inevitable hurdles they will face along the way.”

This is TEN’s first year as a judge for the awards, they are joined by MJ Church - one of the South West’s largest civil engineering contractors.

MJ Church will be judging the Small Business of the Year award which attracted a large number of entries this year.

Managing Director Steve Blower was keen to emphasise how important Wiltshire was to the company, employing staff from the area and working with local contractors wherever possible.

He said: “The fact that we are looking after the small business award is appropriate because we started as a small family run firm and we’re now a multi-million pound business.

“We know what it is like to move through that arena and it is so important for us to recognise the small businesses coming forward and to support them.”

Entering the Small Business category for the second year running after debuting as finalists in 2015 are web-based Arctic wedding specialists Travel Bee.

Sales and Marketing Manager, Adele Marshall-Reynolds, said: “For us it’s really important to have the level of credibility with our customers that these awards offer, it’s also important for us to play a part in the Wiltshire business community.

“It’s a real boost for us and for the team and it’s a great thing to be part of.”

The culmination of the judging process will be an awards ceremony and gala dinner to be held at Centre Parcs on Friday, April 15.

The ceremony will be hosted by Graham Rogers of BBC Wiltshire who is also judging the award for Services to the Community.

Describing what would make a winning entry for him, Graham said: “It’s got to be a business that is more than just another faceless building, it’s about what they do in the wider community, not just with their money but also with their time.”

One woman hoping to fit that descriptions and take home the community title is Alison Edgar, Managing Director of Sales Coaching Solutions.

Of the three categories she has entered, Alison said: “Services to the Community is the most important award for me by far.

“If I won it would mean more than all the rest of the categories. I’m a Small Business Saturday champion and an Enterprise Nation champion.

“I give a lot of my time for no financial reward, for me the reward is seeing other small businesses flourish.”

Alison is not the only individual hoping to be recognised for her efforts alongside those of her company.

Rebecca Morse joined Chippenham-based physical security firm Security Watch as the Head of Business in 2014 with the challenge of doubling the turnover and client base in the first year.

Operations Manager Eddy Lawrence explained how she brought a fresh outlook to a company whose industry is often dominated by a look and feel which can seem alien in the corporate world, Rebecca hopes her achievements will stand her in good stead in the Business Person of the Year category.

“The brand awareness that these awards offer is key - we are a small business, but we’re strong and because we’re local it is really important that we use these opportunities to build the trust and familiarity with other local businesses” she said.

Other award sponsors on the judging panel include Mainline Recruitment and the Swindon office of chartered accountancy firm RSM.

They all now face the unenviable task of narrowing down the entries to decide which companies and individuals will continue on in the hope of being crowned Wiltshire Business or Business Person of the Year 2016.