Schroders Private Bank takes top business honour
Schroders Private Bank was crowned the Commerce & Employment Guernsey Business of the Year when it received the top business accolade at the Guernsey Awards for Achievement gala evening. The other main business winners of the night were The Potting Shed, who won the NatWest Best Small Business Award, the Blue Diamond Group who won the Healthspan Best Large Business Award and KPMG who took home the NP Silver Salver for Excellence in Training.
Schroders Private Bank walked the red carpet twice in one evening in front of a 780-strong audience of dignitaries and the island’s top business men and women; the first to collect the prize for the BWCI Best Medium Business Award, when they were chosen over Vets4Pets Limited and Network Insurance; the second to collect the top honours.
Commerce & Employment Minister, Carla McNulty Bauer, who presented the trophy for the Guernsey Business of the Year, said Schroders had strongly impressed the judges in a number of key areas.
‘Throughout their submission and presentation Schroders showed strong management style demonstrated by investment in the face of economic instability and, at times, it seemed more than a bank as their commitment to the community came through very clearly,’ she said. ‘I’d like to congratulate not only Schroders but all the winners and finalists who showed how success is achieved in many different ways.’
Despite setting up business only two years ago, new advertising and design agency The Potting Shed took the NatWest Best Small Business Award. They beat off strong competition from established advertising and design agency Betley Whitehorne and Resolution IT. The judging panel said they were worthy winners as they were ‘making a real difference to the way Guernsey companies were positioning themselves in the international arena.’
A company with its roots in Guernsey since 1904 was the recipient of the Healthspan Best Large Business Award. The Blue Diamond Group came out top against the other short-listed candidates; BWCI Group and IPES. The Blue Diamond Group was felt by the judges to be a true Guernsey success story, having evolved from a company originally fundamental to the island’s horticultural industry into a thriving garden centre, retail and restaurant group.
Vets4Pets received a specific mention for their submission. One of the finalists in the BWCI Best Medium Business Award, the judging panel felt they deserved a special commendation for their excellent business model.
The IOD/NP Group/GTA Excellence in Training Award was awarded to KPMG Channel Islands. The judges were particularly impressed with clear evidence of staff commitment at all levels within the organisation and said there was a strong and obvious path for development and career progression. The runners up for this award were Guernsey Post and Ozannes.
Carla McNulty Bauer said the 24th Guernsey Awards for Achievement had been a great success. ‘Hearing the individual success stories throughout this Awards process has demonstrated once again that Guernsey enjoys a business environment full of talent, where people work extremely hard and enjoy and take pride in what they do. It has also shown that Guernsey is a place where people want to and are able to be creative and as a result we can feel very proud of our economic sector,’ she said.