Hurray to the 2024 Good Small Business Awards: Honouring Sustainability Innovation and Excellence
On Thursday, July 18, 2024, an estimated 300 guests came together at the Hilton Hotel, Deansgate, Manchester for the second prestigious Good Small Business Awards, the UK’s first national sustainability award with entry exclusively reserved for small businesses, the heartbeat of the country’s economy.
These innovative and unique awards honour sustainability achievements and impact throughout the year. By uniting businesses to share sustainability best practices, large organisations are, in turn, encouraged to engage with local small business communities and to collaborate with them in local sustainability projects.
Having attracted over 500 entries in 2024 from across the UK, the Gala Dinner and Awards ceremony announced winners in 14 award categories from the 50 companies shortlisted as finalists, representing a great variety of different sectors and industries from all over the UK. The diversity on display – both in terms of geographical origin and working sphere – demonstrated fantastically a growing dedication to responsible business practices.
Awards judge, Richard Hagan, Founder of Crystal Doors said, “I have been extremely impressed with the quality of the entries this year. They have showcased sustainability best practices beyond my expectations and are evidence of the significance of the role that the Good Small Business Awards plays in the country.”
Awards co-founder Garth Dallas said, “These awards are a culmination of a journey to improve the small business ecosystem and, in doing so, allow larger businesses to benefit from stronger supply chains, partners, and a business environment that is more amenable to responsible business practices and prosperity. These things cannot exist independently of each other”.
Co-hosted by ITV’s longest-serving weather presenter and popular corporate events host, Emma Jesson, this year’s prestigious Sustainability Gala Celebration was an unmissable unique experience of spectacular entertainment, superb dinner, awards ceremony, and busting dancefloor grooves in an inclusive environment.
Emma said, “What a great night! So many fab small businesses on the sustainability eco-friendly joined-up journey, all supporting each other and our charities. It was truly inspiring”.
In a spectacular innovation-led finale, on the awards night, there were live best practice demonstrations of socio-environmental impact on stage engaging Gala Dinner and Awards guests. The rationale for these fascinating innovation strategies is to lead through collective engagement.
Sam Beardall, Community Manager of The Good Business Charter and judging panel member, said “It was amazing to be in a room full of so many people passionate about making a difference. The live impact support for the charities was inspirational, the food was great, and the entertainment was brilliant.”
Visit The Good Small Business Awards website for the full list of winners.