Night of glory for Brockley at the Lewisham Business Awards

Brockley's finest took-on the best of the borough in a glittering ceremony for the Lewisham Business Awards 2008, winning one category and collecting five more runners-up nominations between them.

We weren't there, but just this opening line from the press release is enough to conjure images of the Oscars during cinema's golden age:

"The winners of the prestigious 2008 Lewisham Business Awards were announced on Thursday, 3 April at a ceremony staged at Blackheath Halls and compered by Tim Campbell, winner of the first series of ‘The Apprentice’ TV show."

Best company of the year and the overall winner was the Royal Gurkha Restaurant, Downham, but elsewhere, local businesses did us proud.

Envirowork scooped gold in the Best Social Enterprise category and was shortlisted in the best company category, with the judges commenting:

Lewisham is home to a large number of voluntary and community organisations as well as companies set up with a clear social purpose, many of which deliver services to local residents. The Council and the Lewisham Strategic Partnership recognise that these organisations often have an in-depth understanding of their local communities and consequently are well placed to deliver services which meet local needs.

Envirowork showed evidence of a wide range of training and support offered. The organisation delivered over 350 environmental improvement projects offering employment opportunities to over 120 long-term unemployed residents whilst increasing profitability ten-fold in 2 years.

The Broca cafe also featured three times in the shortlists, including the People's Choice category [voted for by Lewisham residents], Best New Business and the Environmental Excellence Award.
Crossways Academy pupil Fatmata Tarawali was also shortlisted for the Best Young Entrepreneur award.

Congratulations to all of the finalists.