2017 Sussex Business Awards Winners Announced

Around four hundred of the county’s leading business people, including the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Mayor of Brighton & Hove and Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle, gathered to celebrate business excellence across the region, with 17 awards presented by comedian, Ian Moore.

The winners were drawn from 40 finalists representing 17 Sussex towns – from Albourne to Uckfield and Worthing.

The Awards were presented at The Grand Brighton on Thursday 30 November.

The big winner on the night was Bluebird Tea Co. which took home awards for Best Employer (sponsored by Midnight) and Customer Service (sponsored by Checkatrade.com). The husband and wife team behind the enterprise, Mike Turner & Krisi Smith, were named Sussex Businessperson of the Year (sponsored by HARE.digital).

Frontier Pitts, a finalist in last year’s International Business (sponsored by HSBC) was this year named the outright winner. The ultimate accolade of Sussex Company of the Year (sponsored by Mazars) was awarded to Rinkit Ltd, finalists for International Business and Entrepreneur of the Year awards which was won by its commercial director Richard Goss. Rinkit Ltd is an online retailer selling home and garden products across the UK and Europe.

Mike Herd, Executive Director of the Sussex Innovation centre and chairman of the judges commented: “This year was a record year! With the amount of entries received, the judging process proved a difficult task. The exceptional quality of the entries really shined through, and many worthy winners were chosen.

“Congratulations to all the winners!”

This year’s sponsors include Checkatrade.com, Coffin Mew, Gemini Print, HARE.Digital, HSBC, Legal & General, Mazars, Midnight Communications, Sussex Chamber of Commerce, Sussex Innovation Centre, The Goodall Foundation, University of Sussex, Vantage Professional Risks, Platinum Business Magazine, The Argus, Title Sussex and Heart FM.