Presented at The South Wales Business Expo
Thu 12th October
Cardiff City Stadium

Entries are now closed for the 2023 Awards but you can view the winners below…

Will you make
the List?

The coveted list of the best businesses this region has to offer, based on customer service, innovation, purpose, culture, development, impact, integrity, recommendations, reviews and results achieved.

MEET THE JUDGES

Lee Monroe

Director
HR Dept South East Wales

Bio:

A Human Resources expert with over 18 years’ experience, Lee is the Managing Director of your local HR Dept and along with his team provide a local outsourced HR Service to SME’s across South East Wales.

Caroline Smith

Brand Strategist
Smudged

Bio:

Caroline is an experienced marketing professional with a proven track record of helping B2B organisations in sectors such as manufacturing, professional services, education, and tech optimise their brand and go from bland to in demand.

She has been a marketing professional for nearly 20 years with many of these years focused on brand strategy for both emerging and established organisations helping them unlock all elements of their brand to find their full potential. And through her career, she has been lucky enough to work with some ground-breaking organisations to help them build a purposeful and cultural lead brand that wins both hearts and minds.

Mel Evans

The Voice of the Customer
insight6

Bio:

Mel is a customer experience expert and works with businesses of all sizes with key clients in Wales such as Bluestone, Cardiff Airport and The Royal Mint.

Mel’s key objective is to provide insight on how a business can maximise and improve sales by understanding what their customers want and need, helping her clients to put the customer at the heart of their business. 

This includes employee engagement, feedback solutions, specialist survey work, customer experience reports, sector insight and customer experience training.

Neil Lloyd

Business Growth Director
Zokit

Bio:

Neil is founder and director of Zokit, working with ambitious owners, directors and leaders of purpose-led businesses to achieve strategic growth.

He has a wealth of experience running enterprises across multiple sectors and has also written for national publications, taught on university undergraduate and postgraduate business programmes and advised teams in FTSE 100 companies.

He’s a judge for several business awards each year and lives in Cardiff, where he often hosts business development and networking events.

Stephen Thompson

Commercial Law Expert
Darwin Gray

Bio:

Stephen is a partner and also head of the firm’s Corporate and Commercial teams, undertaking a wide range of work including acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, investments and group restructures.

Sectors of particular expertise include life sciences, nursing homes, manufacturing, veterinary practices and also hospitality.

Stephen also advises on a wide range of commercial issues including franchising and intellectual property and insolvency related legal issues.

He is a sought after conference speaker and contributor to newspapers, radio and television.

Michelle Ward

Trade Mark Attorney
Indelible IP

Bio:

Michelle Ward is a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney and director of Indelible IP, wiith over 20 years experience in the field of intellectual property. The firm provides bespoke friendly advice and consultancy services, specialising in the protection of brands and product and packaging designs for the UK, EU and wider global markets. As well as guiding businesses through the registration process, Indelible IP can advise on the related areas of copyright, unregistered design right and domain name disputes.

Michelle has developed an extensive business network in Wales and the surrounding regions. A regular at business events from Chepstow across to Swansea, and around the border counties of Monmouthshire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, Michelle also frequently presents on the topic of IP and in particular trade marks and brand protection.

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Nikki Shefferd

Finance & Tech Adviser
N S Accounts & Business

Bio:

Nikki specialises in financial growth, enabled by the latest technology.

A digital accountant supporting businesses with everything from management accounts to bookkeeping, VAT and payroll.

Nikki is a Gold partner with Xero and is an experienced award judge as well as award winner for her own company.

Ray Lang

Sales & Operations
BizSpace Cardiff

Bio:

Ray is an experienced business centre manager with a successful career spanning retail and commercial environments at all levels.

Skilled in negotiation, business planning, sales, market research and management, Ray oversees the £multi-million property and operations of one of Cardiff’s most exciting business communities.

As well as being an active member of the regional business scene, Ray is regularly invited to deliver expert talks on a wide variety of topics relevant to business growth.

Your Award Package

Applying to feature on the list of The Top 100 Go-To Businesses in South Wales is an investment in your brand and market position as a trusted expert.

Each application is independently assessed and verified through our three step process to ensure integrity.

Finalists are invited to our awards networking lunch at The South Wales Business Expo on Oct 12th October in the prestigious premier lounge at Cardiff City Stadium.

Being on the list gives you a powerful marketing boost throughout the next 12 months and beyond.

Finalists who don’t make the list will be offered feedback to support their ambition to make future lists and will receive social media marketing.

The application fee is just £97+VAT, which includes:

  • Social Media Marketing
  • A place at the Awards Networking Lunch at the Expo (additional places can be purchased for £25+VATpp)
  • Winners will receive 12 months of marketing  on our website and have their business name displayed at the Expo
  • Winners will receive a digital seal and engraved glass trophy
  • Finalists will receive a digital seal

The fee is payable by invoice following entry submission. If your application is not selected for the finalist stage during the initial round of assessment, your fee will be refunded.

 

Winner in 2019

We are delighted that we have won! It’s been very special. It was a surprise when I found out the team had nominated us – it was the award I most wanted to win! …and then we also won the Business of The Year!

Emma del Torto

Managing Director, Effective HRM

Winner in 2020

When Home-School Tutoring Cardiff and Newport won an award, it was both an honour and a pleasure. It is amazing to be part of Zokit, the support they provide is great!

Kate Stanbury

Area Advisor/Owner, Home-School Tutoring: Cardiff and Newport

Winner in 2021

Winning the Zokit Business Award has raised my profile across new markets leading to more opportunities to grow my business. It’s been a fantastic experience!

Kenny Edwards

Managing Director, Datum

Winner in 2022

We are thrilled and humbled to have been voted as one of the Zokit Top 100 Go To Businesses in South Wales. We also came away with the top award; “Business of the year”. Thank you!
Fantastic awards ceremony, amazing businesses in the room – we all had a fabulous time!

Lee Monroe

Director, HR Dept South East Wales