Closing date for West Berkshire Business Awards fast approaching
Last year's winner urges businesses to enter awards after last year's win helps double turnover
THERE is just one week to go until the deadline for applications for this year’s West Berkshire Business Awards.
Now in its third year, the awards, in association with the Newbury Weekly News, is an initiative to recognise and celebrate the often unnoticed success of the local business community.
Matt Franklin, the managing director of IT services provider Roc Technologies – which last year won the coveted West Berkshire Business of the Year Award – has urged people to apply.
There are nine individual categories to enter this year, covering all aspects of business and charity.
Each category is sponsored by a local business and there is also the Bayer West Berkshire Business of the Year Award – the winner of which is chosen from the winners of the individual categories.
The event culminates in the 2015 West Berkshire Business Awards gala dinner and ceremony at Newbury Racecourse on Friday, October 16.
Since winning the West Berkshire Business of the Year Award in 2014, Roc Technologies has doubled its turnover from £4m to £8m.
It is this rapid growth and the desire for more comprehensive customer facilities that has led the company to move into larger, prestigious offices in The Wharf in Newbury. T
he man overlooking its success, Mr Franklin, spoke to Newbury Business Today about what winning the award has done for Roc.
He said: “I think there are a number of things that have had a positive impact on the company since winning the Bayer West Berkshire Business of the Year Award. It has certainly created more awareness about who we are and what we do in the local area.
“It has also helped us to attract new customers. Customers like to be associated with a growing successful business and when you are a small business like ourselves that is invaluable.
“It has really raised our profile and it is great for the staff to get the recognition they deserve and to be able to share our success together.
“We have also managed to double our turnover in the past 12 months and recently moved to larger flagship offices.
“I would really recommend applying for the award – you never know if you’ll win unless you enter.”
Mr Franklin, a father-of-three, is no stranger to success. In 1996 he started his own business, Prime Business Solutions, which he grew from zero to £30m of revenues in the space of eight years.
This success led to him being named young entrepreneur of the year in 2001 at the age of 30. A year later, Prime Business Solutions won an award for the fastest growing IT services company. The company was subsequently acquired by a large integrator for £28m in 2004.
Speaking about Roc’s plans for the future, Mr Franklin added: “We are looking to be a £20m company by end of 2018 and carry on the positive momentum we have had over the last few years.
“We also want to get a diversified customer base.”
Mr Franklin added: “West Berkshire is a nice place to live and to run a business – you have everything here, good schools, nice countryside, low crime rates and great transport links.
“It’s a good bub for business and a very attractive place to be.
“You have a good shopping centre at Parkway and big businesses such as Bayer and Vodafone; it ticks all the boxes.”
The entry deadline for this year’s awards is Friday, June 26.
The finalists will be interviewed in July before being announced on Monday, August 3.
To enter your business, visit http://www.westberkshirebusinessawards.co.uk/award-categories/
