Awards

Several years ago, CSB won Best Small Business at The London Excellence Awards, but this was the first time we had submitted for the local borough awards.

I may have been reluctant in previous years, thinking that I didn’t have time – never an excuse – and assuming most of our customers, outside the borough, would not recognise the achievement.

Of course, these concerns were unfounded. And having attended what was a splendidly hosted Awards event, with a diverse array of other local businesses and RBG’s councillors and business engagement team, I fully appreciate why it is important to be involved.

Recognition locally is every bit as valuable to CSB as it is across Greater London and beyond. Greenwich is where CSB has been operating for over 30 years and I would love for the business to remain here for generations to come.

Sharing and celebrating the values and quality of our business, with council leaders and other local SMEs, not only promotes the company and our brand locally, but also emboldens a unifying sense of pride in our community. The awards event itself is a unique opportunity to get to know other local businesses and explore how we can help each other.

Local, regional, national or industry focussed, the submission process for any award is a valuable one. It is naturally introspective, and whether it is a few hundred words testimony or a more forensic evaluation, the reflection on the purpose of your business and how well your systems and people perform to achieve your objectives, provides focus and motivation – which can be unknowingly diminished by the daily grind.

At CSB we endeavour to maintain processes of Continuous Improvement which require routine reflection on how our business is performing. But having to clearly define and demonstrate excellence in your business to an external panel of judges, is a significantly different experience, and as such there is distinction in value.

So, as a much a note to myself as to others, enter as many awards as you can that are relevant to your business. Make the most of celebrating good business – and remember that it is the experience not the winning that counts.

Matt Barker