The finalists for the EADT Business Awards 2024 have been announced.
Here, we find out more about the finalists in the Positive Impact in the Community award category.
Bridge Classic Cars
Led by father and son Gordon and Craig Ranson in Pettistree, near Woodbridge, Bridge Classic Cars offers a full in-house service including restorations, automotive electrics, service and repairs, body preparation and paintwork, and interior trim work for classic cars and motorcycles – all in its state-of-the-art workshop facilities.
From the painting and restoration work through to the in-house reupholstering, the craftsmanship of Bridge’s workers was described as “awe-inspiring” by the judges.
They noted the ways in which the “highly motivated and busy one-stop shop” is reducing its environmental impact, including switching to water-based paints in its paint shop and building a relationship with a synthetic fuel manufacturer, and also recognised the impact of its events, which have raised more than £150k for charity.
Combat2Coffee
Ipswich-based Combat2Coffee is a community interest company (CIC) dedicated to improving the lives of serving and former uniformed service personnel and their families using coffee as a vehicle for conversation.
It is the brainchild of Royal Anglian veteran Nigel Seaman and is split into two halves, the CIC and a commercial arm run with the support of Vertas, the profits of which are reinvested into supporting ex-uniformed services.
The judges praised the “dynamic and eye-catching brand” that Nigel has created.
They said that “through his perseverance and dedication the not-for-profit company has become well-known in Suffolk and beyond”, with Nigel and his colleagues invited to attend and speak at numerous national events.
They also recognised the work Combat2Coffee does to help veterans and prisoners to learn new skills.
Home Instead
Home Instead is a locally owned home care provider covering the Ipswich, Woodbridge and Felixstowe areas.
It provides companionship, home help, daily care, end-of-life care and live-in care to 150 clients, with 96 care professionals working on a daily basis supported by an office team of 18.
The business’ ethos is to support its care professionals and clients and the team regularly goes above and beyond for clients and their families.
The judges said the business’ “highly organised top team is inspirational – and comes up with many practical ways to engage with the wider public and business community”.
This includes running memory cafes, groups and a dementia-friendly golf club, “which not only helps its clients but also creates a sense of community”, as well as delivering free dementia training and talks.
New Wolsey Theatre
The New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich offers a diverse and accessible programme of performances, creative community engagement projects and collaborative ventures with the aim of enriching the lives of the community, celebrating creativity and embracing people of all backgrounds.
The organisation has experienced remarkable growth in its Environmental Responsibility programme, culminating in the recent attainment of the Carbon Charter Silver award.
The judges said that the New Wolsey “is more than simply a theatre – it is at the centre of its community in Ipswich, providing support and inspiration for many deprived and marginalised people as well as the wider public”.
They praised the theatre for “doing far more than simply surviving” in the face of the challenges faced by the arts, securing sponsors and supporters, collaborating with businesses and performing at local schools.
The winners of the EADT Business Awards 2024 will be announced at an award ceremony at Milsoms Kesgrave Hall, Ipswich on Thursday, July 4. For more information, please visit eadtbusinessawards.co.uk
To find out more about all finalists, please click here.
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