Business Excellence Awards 2025

The Business Excellence Awards 2025

Welcome to the 2025 Business Excellence Awards. We look forward to celebrating your success with you. You can now apply for the 2025 awards, by filling in the form below.

2025 Award Categories

Large Business of the Year Award sponsored by Aspire Defence

This award celebrates the success of a business that over £750k turnover. This should include the growth of the business and market presence established over this time.

Small Business of the Year Award sponsored by D&N Construction

This award celebrates the success of a business that under £750k turnover/less than 10 FTE employees. This should include the growth of the business and market presence established over this time.

Best Start-up/New Business Award by The Hair Extension Cave

Visitor Experience Award sponsored by Salisbury Reds

Customer Service Excellence Award sponsored by Spire Telecom

This award is in recognition of companies with a genuine and innovative focus on customer service excellence.

Charity, Not for Profit, and Social Enterprise Award sponsored by St Thomas's Church

The Rising Star Award sponsored by Wiltshire College

Green Business Award sponsored by Grist Environmental

The award celebrates those businesses who have reduced the impact of their business on the environment.

Salisbury’s finest businesses were recognised at the annual Business Excellence Awards 2024.

Hosted at the Stones Hotel, and sponsored by Aspire Defence, eight businesses were honoured on the night, with two businesses also highly commended in each category.

The award categories for 2024 were:

Rising Star Award (Sponsored by Wiltshire College) -This category recognises the achievements of an individual who represents the future generation within their organisation whether part-time, full-time or an apprentice employee.
Sustainable Business Award (Sponsored by Grist Environmental) – This award celebrates those businesses who have reduced the impact of their business on the environment.
Charity and Social Enterprise Award (Sponsored by St Thomas Church) – This category recognises the contribution made by charities and social enterprises that provide such valuable services. The award will be granted to the charities that has made the most significant difference to its target beneficiaries.
Service Excellence Award (Sponsored by Salisbury Chamber) – This award is in recognition of companies from any sector with a genuine and innovative focus on customer experience, and customer service.
Visitor Experience Award (Sponsored by Salisbury BID) – This award recognises those businesses who welcome visitors to Salisbury & surrounding areas. Whether a restaurant or attraction, those businesses who show enthusiasm for delivering the best experience for visitors can enter this category.
Best Start-Up/New Business Award (Sponsored by Howdens) – This award celebrates the growth and success of a business that has started and been trading for 1-3 years. This should include the growth of the business and market presence established over this time.
Large Business of the Year Award 2024 (Sponsored by Dunbar Associates) – This award celebrates the success of a large business (businesses with turnover of £750,000 or more). This should include the growth of the business and market presence established over this time.
Small Business of the Year Award 2024 (Sponsored by Oliver Chandler) – This award celebrates the success of a small business (businesses with turnover of less than £750,000). This should include the growth of the business and market presence established over this time.

The winners/highly commended in each category for 2024 were:

Rising Star Award, sponsored by the Wiltshire College
- Winner: Emma Coombs from Mark Jones Eye Care
- Highly Commended: Lidi Batchelor and Becky Cowlan
Best Start-Up/New Business Award, sponsored by Howdens
- Winner: Salisbury Radio
- Highly Commended: Stonebury Functions and Spire Telecom
Service Excellence Awards, sponsored by Salisbury Chamber of Commerce
- Winner: The Hair Extension Cave
- Highly Commended: Mark Jones Eye and Hearing Care, and Bluebird Care Wiltshire South
Sustainable Business Award, sponsored by Grist Environmental
- Winner: Nanogreen
- Highly Commended: Mark Jones Eye and Hearing Care, and Salisbury Hospital
Charity & Social Enterprise Award, presented by the St. Thomas Church
- Winner: Salisbury Hospice
- Highly Commended: Stars Appeal and South Wilts Mencap
Visitor Experience Award, sponsored by Salisbury BID
- Winner: Fisherton Mill
- Highly Commended: The Hair Extension Cave and The Immersive Group
Small Business of the Year, sponsored by Oliver Chandler
- Winner: Learning 3D
- Highly Commended: Salisbury and South Wilts Physiotherapy, and The Hair Extension Cave
Large Business of the Year, sponsored by Dunbar Associates
- Winner: D&N Construction
- Highly Commended: The Immersive Group and Geosight Limited
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Mary Webb

Not a Chamber or BID member? Join here:

Submit your application to be considered for an award

Please submit a maximum of two applications per business.

Submissions close on Monday 6th January.

Organisation Name:

Trading Address:

What does your organisation do?

In what year did your business start?

What was your turnover in your last trading year?

Please provide any of these - Company Number, Charity Number, or VAT Number. Please indicate which type of number you are providing:

Name of the organisation owner:

Number of employees (Please give the number of full time, part time, and volunteer staff):

Your name:

Your email:

Your phone number:

Which of these organisations are you a member of? BIDChamber

Select the award you wish to enter for. You can submit multiple award applications, but they need to be individual application forms for each:

Please state in no more than 400 words why you believe your company should win this award?

This award celebrates the success of a business that is over £750k turnover. This should include the growth of the business and market presence established over this time. Applicants should consider the following in their application where appropriate:
• Clearly describe the business model and market
• Provide relevant financial information to demonstrate sustained growth
• How has your customer base grown? Provide evidence of market growth
• Describe any changes in models, products or ways you pivoted to stay competitive
• What challenges have you faced and overcome?
• What’s next?

This award celebrates the success of a business that under £750k turnover/less than 10 FTE employees. This should include the growth of the business and market presence established over this time. Applicants should consider the following in their application where appropriate:
• Clearly describe the business model and market
• Provide relevant financial information to demonstrate growth
• How has your customer base grown? Provide evidence of market growth
• Ability to engage and contribute to Salisbury and South Wilts
• What challenges have you faced and overcome?
• What’s next? Future objectives for growth

This award celebrates the growth and success of a business that has started and been trading for 2 years or less. This should include the growth of the business and market presence established over this time. Applicants should consider the following in their application where appropriate:
• Clearly describe the business need, model and market
• Provide relevant information to demonstrate how you have become established in the local economy
• How has your customer base grown? Provide evidence of market growth
• Describe any growth in resources (staffing, sub-contractors, partners)
• What challenges have you faced and overcome?
• What’s next?

This award recognises those businesses who welcome visitors to Salisbury & surrounding areas. Open to retail, hospitality, leisure and attractions who show enthusiasm for delivering the best experience for visitors to Salisbury and the local area.
Applicants should consider the following when entering:
• Clear strategy to show how the visitor experience is measured
• A clear visitor strategy to attract visitors throughout the year
• Open and inclusive approach to visitors from the UK and abroad
• Teams who are clearly engaged and focused on delivering a great experience for their visitors
• Demonstrate partnership working with other local organisations to deliver great visitor experiences

This award is in recognition of companies with a genuine and innovative focus on customer service excellence. The judges are looking for:
• A company which can demonstrate service excellence through the delivery of world class customer service.
• A clear relationship between customer service activities and improved business performance, financial growth and customer retention.
• A company with a clear understanding of customer needs through feedback
• A company with a clear understanding of their customer’s journey

This category recognises the contribution made by any Charity, Not for Profit organisation or Social Enterprise that provide valuable services. The award will be granted to the organisation that has made the most significant difference to its target beneficiaries
• Clearly outlined social goals and objectives.
• Clear evidence of social and community impact within the Salisbury area
• Evidence of sustainable growth.

This category recognises the achievements of an individual who represents the future generation within their organisation whether part-time, full-time or an apprentice employee. The Rising Star is an individual who has made an impact over the last year by providing a positive contribution to their team, organisation and customers.
Please consider the following when applying:
• The entrant has shown clear plan for personal development
• Can demonstrate impact on the business internally or from a customer point of view
• Examples of integration into the business and its culture
• They have mindset that enables them to rise to challenges, solve problems and shows clear enjoyment when performing their role

The award celebrates those businesses who have reduced the impact of their business on the environment. Applicants should consider the following in their application where appropriate:
• Focus on reducing the emission of greenhouse gases
• Energy consumption
• Water consumption
• Production of waste and improving recycling rates
• Sustainable supply chain and procurement
• Transport impact of their goods or services
• Staff development and training on environmental impact

Sponsorship Opportunities for 2025 Awards

Headline Sponsor
£3,500

Be the driving force behind the awards as our prestigious Headline Sponsor and showcase your commitment to Salisbury’s business excellence.

Award Sponsor
£1,250

Celebrate success as a premium Award Sponsor and gain visibility for your business within Salisbury’s thriving business community.

Programme Sponsor
£50

Show your support for Salisbury’s business community as a Programme Sponsor and be part of our vibrant event celebrating business excellence.