The winner of Large Business of the Year at the EADT Business Awards 2024 will be a company with a turnover surpassing £5 million, which has achieved great things over the past 12 months. Graham Mummery, corporate partner at Larking Gowen, discusses his role as judge and sponsor.
Can you tell us a bit about your business journey?
After starting work in a very small accountancy practice, I’ve worked in-house at large, national practices and now at Larking Gowen, working with owner-managed businesses, advising them how to achieve their goals.
What inspires you in business?
People – my clients, my network and the teams I work with. I’m fascinated by what makes other people tick and I get a huge personal reward if I manage to unlock that in someone.
What do you bring to the judging process?
Having worked for over 20 years in East Anglia, I’ve seen such a wide variety of businesses – from different sectors, varying in size and using multiple management styles. This leaves me well-placed to assess and compare the candidates.
What have your previous experiences of judging been like?
I’ve been on the judging panel for the EADT Business Awards for the last four years. It has been a thrilling experience to see the strength and quality there is out there, providing hope for the future.
What will you be looking for in the winner?
The winning business will demonstrate commitment to its people, customers and community, as well as innovation and forward-thinking towards sustainability.
What advice would you give to a business that’s considering entering?
Running a business is incredibly complex, a situation which has been exacerbated by the cost-of-living and energy crises. Therefore, to still be thriving in this environment is a big achievement and worth shouting about to inspire others.
Do you have any anecdotes of moments that changed your business strategy?
I remember conversations with great mentors I’ve had over the years. I once applied for an international leadership programme, which I was unsuccessful in.
I followed up with one of the judges, Sacha Romanovitch, who explained the successful candidates had applications which demonstrated the benefit to their teams, whereas mine had focused on me. In that one conversation she opened up the world of leadership to me.
The deadline for entries to the EADT Business Awards 2024 is Sunday, March 17. To enter the Large Business of the Year category and find out about all other categories, please visit eadtbusinessawards.co.uk
Award criteria
The Large Business of the Year (over £5m turnover) award will be given to a company that demonstrates all-round excellence in business.
The judging will focus on entrants’ trading performance and future objectives, as well as the competitive advantage of the business, and will look at examples of specific strategies which have driven business growth.
If your business achievements are impressive, then this award is for you.
To find out more about all of this year's categories, please click here.
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