Shortlists revealed for Solihull town centre business awards

The creative and hard-working businesses shortlisted for the annual Solihull BID Excellence Awards have been revealed.

Over 100 entries were received for the red-carpet celebration, organised by the town centre’s Business Improvement District, and a panel of judges will now interview all the shortlisted companies.

The winners will then be crowned at the Excellence Awards evening, taking place on Friday, November 24th at voco St John’s Hotel on Warwick Road.

The Solihull BID Excellence Awards have been kindly sponsored by Phoebus Software, Touchwood, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Veolia and Solihull College & University Centre.

Recognising outstanding businesses large and small, the Excellence Awards showcase exactly why Solihull town centre is such an exciting place to visit and work in.

This year’s awards features seven categories: Hospitality & Leisure Venue of the Year, Best Independent Business, Best Customer Service, The John Callaghan Award – Young Person of the Year, Outstanding Team of 2023, Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility Project and Outstanding Contribution to the Town Centre.

Melanie Palmer, Chief Executive of Solihull BID, said: “The Excellence Awards nominations are at one of the highest levels this year and our judges sifting through the overwhelming number of applications had a difficult time arriving at the shortlists.

“It is fabulous to see the John Callaghan Outstanding Young Person of the Year award with such a high level of exceptional entries – congratulations to all those shortlisted!

“The interview stage won’t be easy, but we look forward to meeting the worthy winners at the Gala evening in November. Best of luck to all the talented and innovative businesses and individuals that have taken part.“

The judges for this year’s Excellence Awards are: Sir Nigel Thrift, Chair of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management and Lead of the Solihull group of Deputy Lieutenants; Air Commodore Dr Marcia McLaughlin F.Birm.Soc.; Mark Rogers, Chief Executive of Leadership Centre; Oli Hills, CEO of Nonsensical; and Alethea Fuller, Deputy Chief Executive, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.

To book tickets for the awards ceremony, email steven@solihullbid.co.uk

AWARDS SHORTLISTS 2023

Hospitality & Leisure Venue of the Year

KIBOU
Solihull Summer Fest
The Woods
Tio Latino
Touchwood

Best Independent Business

Play Lane
Solihull Summer Fest
Studio 7 Tattoos
The Woods
Yakinori

Best Customer Service

Holland & Barrett
Metro Bank
Mint Velvet
The Woods
Yakinori

The John Callaghan Award – Young Person of the Year

Alexander Kemp (Metro Bank)
Alisha Akram (Phoebus Software)
Ben Perks (Toffs)
Jack Docker (John Lewis Solihull)
Mitchell Watkins (Mell Square)
Onkar Tiwana (Phoebus Software)

Outstanding Team of 2023

Davisons Law
HSBC
John Lewis Solihull (Health & Wellbeing Team)
St Alphege Neighbourhood Policing Team
The Woods

Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility Project

Paragon Banking Group
Phoebus Software
Touchwood

Outstanding Contribution to the Town Centre

Charles Yearwood (Head Doorman of The Masons Arms)
Ian Rogers (Founder of Solihull Summer Fest)
PC Rob Rumney (St Alphege Neighbourhood Policing Officer)
Play Lane
Steve Cave and Dave Checkley (Solihull town centre street cleansing team)