Business Excellence Awards 2021: Portsmouth's most iconic and loved venue is proud to be host

The Guildhall Trust, the registered arts charity that operates Portsmouth Guildhall, said it is delighted to once again support The News Business Excellence Awards and be the host venue on July 8.

Not only is the venue host, it has also shown its support for the city by sponsoring the Leisure, Retail & Tourism Business of the Year category.

A spokeswoman said: ‘The Guildhall Trust is particularly proud to sponsor the award in what has been the most challenging of years, and to join the sector in celebrating its resilience, versatility and innovation as we embark on the roadmap to recovery.

‘Portsmouth Guildhall would ordinarily welcome over 270,000 visitors every year for world-class concerts, conferences, exhibitions, meetings and weddings, plus the Guildhall Trust’s own events including Portsmouth Comic Con – International Festival of Comics and interactive ‘Get Involved’ programme of activities to inspire and transform lives in the community.

‘The past year has seen the venue adapt to become a university teaching space, a rehearsal and digital production space and an asymptomatic testing centre, with the launch of The Guildhall Trust’s ‘Head Start Creatives’ office space initiative and its hugely popular Dance Live! competition for schools and colleges going digital.

‘Beyond June when it is expected that legal limits on social contact can be removed, Portsmouth Guildhall is set to experience its busiest year ever with a packed calendar of rescheduled events and new artists eager to get on the road, with a bustling schedule of conferences and meetings, and new opportunities to engage young people in singing and music-making with The Urban Vocal Group, who recently joined The Guildhall Trust.’

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‘Please get in touch to find out more about how your business can collaborate with The Guildhall Trust and how you can support the recovery and future of Portsmouth’s most iconic and loved venue.’

E-mail [email protected] for more.

Pat Smith, from lead sponsor the University of Portsmouth, said: ‘It is great to have the Guildhall Trust as sponsors of Leisure, Retail and Tourism Business of the Year, none can be better placed to understand what businesses have been through during the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘The resilience and repurposing of many businesses has been well documented, it will be interesting to hear more from those who enter this category as to how they went about it and what their customer feedback has been.’

Awards recognise best businesses in region

The News is proud to launch the 2021 Business Excellence Awards.

These awards recognise a cross section of businesses and the vital role they play in the success of the region.

The awards ceremony will take place on July 8 at the Portsmouth Guildhall and will be attended by more than 300 guests, as well as being live streamed.

For more information go to portsmouthbusinessexcellence.co.uk or e-mail Richard Thompson, group events director, on [email protected] or call 07385 348816

This year's categories:

Small Business of the Year

Medium Business of the Year (Sponsored by Citrus IT Support)

Large Business of the Year

Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Sponsored by the University of Portsmouth)

Start up Business of the Year

International Business of the Year (Sponsored by Giant Leap)

Employer of the Year (Sponsored by HSDC)

Leisure, Retail & Tourism Business of the Year (Sponsored by The Guildhall Trust)

Training Programme of the Year

Company CSR Initiative of the Year (Sponsored by BAE Systems)

Apprentice/Trainee of the Year (Sponsored by Portsmouth College)

Entrepreneur of the Year

Sustainable Business Award (Sponsored by Portsmouth Water)

Lifetime Achievement Award

Overall Business of the Year (Sponsored by Verisona Law)