Community
Surrey Business Awards 2022
We were delighted to sponsor, for its inaugural year, the Medium Business of the Year category at the Surrey Business Awards 2022. This was our fourth year as one of the headline sponsors.
Every year, this awards ceremony is one of the county’s most celebrated events and it was a pleasure to again be part of an initiative that recognises and rewards business endeavour.
As a judge of the Awards, our CEO, Simon Lewis, was impressed by the high quality of the entrants. The businesses put forward were able to demonstrate a successful business model combined with the determination to succeed in such a challenging business environment.
The awards ceremony took place on 3 November 2022 at G-Live, in the heart of Guildford, Surrey. The event was attended by over 400 of the county’s leading business people, coming together to recognise outstanding business achievements.
Simon Lewis announces the winner
It was a real honour to be part of an awards programme that celebrates business success and I am confident that the companies I evaluated will continue to thrive and make a positive impact on our local economy.
Interview with 2019 winner Bruce Casalis
Surrey Life Food and Drink Awards
It seems like yesterday when we started, but 2020 was PMW’s fifth year as the headline sponsor for the Surrey Life Food and Drink Awards. So much has changed since that journey began and most of that change has, of course, occurred in the last 12 months.
The measures taken to curtail the spread of Covid-19 have created the most challenging times for business seen in a generation and I am relieved to see so many Surrey businesses rising to the challenge of survival with both fortitude and enthusiasm. But there is no escaping that food and drink is one of the most heavily impacted sectors and it is the small and medium sized businesses that are suffering the most.
Let’s not forget that every business has its own personal story. A story often laden with entrepreneurialism, energy and passion, most often underpinned by the stress, heartache and sacrifice required to turn a dream into reality.
I'm sure that some people think that a food and drink awards must be a ‘highbrow’ event, intended to appeal to the sophisticated pallets of gourmets and connoisseurs. But nothing could be further from the truth. The reason why this sector is so successful is that it excels at helping to make the lives of ordinary people like me feel a little less ordinary; whether by taste, smell, quality or simply providing a nice environment to spend some time with friends or family.
I'm sure that people often wonder why a Surrey based wealth management company would want to sponsor food and drink awards, as at first glance, it is not an obvious fit. However, the reality is that we have so much in common. Our business is about understanding the complex needs of our customers and relating them to the wider world, so that we can help them achieve the best possible outcomes. We also need to be creative and flexible in how we deliver our services.
The food and drink sector has been the life blood of the complex ecosystem that is Surrey and has a reputation for vibrancy and creativity. Many people say that the world has changed. Maybe for today, but not for tomorrow. We are a resilient species and one that thrives on social contact, which is often through the medium of sharing food and drink. A virus isn’t going to change that for ever.
We were delighted support a sector that has had a tougher year than most and look forward to continuing to support our food and drink industry as they start to recover from one of the toughest years in history.
Simon Lewis
Chief Executive Officer
The measures taken to curtail the spread of Covid-19 have created the most challenging times for business seen in a generation and I am relieved to see so many Surrey businesses rising to the challenge of survival with both fortitude and enthusiasm. But there is no escaping that food and drink is one of the most heavily impacted sectors and it is the small and medium sized businesses that are suffering the most.
Let’s not forget that every business has its own personal story. A story often laden with entrepreneurialism, energy and passion, most often underpinned by the stress, heartache and sacrifice required to turn a dream into reality.
I'm sure that some people think that a food and drink awards must be a ‘highbrow’ event, intended to appeal to the sophisticated pallets of gourmets and connoisseurs. But nothing could be further from the truth. The reason why this sector is so successful is that it excels at helping to make the lives of ordinary people like me feel a little less ordinary; whether by taste, smell, quality or simply providing a nice environment to spend some time with friends or family.
I'm sure that people often wonder why a Surrey based wealth management company would want to sponsor food and drink awards, as at first glance, it is not an obvious fit. However, the reality is that we have so much in common. Our business is about understanding the complex needs of our customers and relating them to the wider world, so that we can help them achieve the best possible outcomes. We also need to be creative and flexible in how we deliver our services.
The food and drink sector has been the life blood of the complex ecosystem that is Surrey and has a reputation for vibrancy and creativity. Many people say that the world has changed. Maybe for today, but not for tomorrow. We are a resilient species and one that thrives on social contact, which is often through the medium of sharing food and drink. A virus isn’t going to change that for ever.
We were delighted support a sector that has had a tougher year than most and look forward to continuing to support our food and drink industry as they start to recover from one of the toughest years in history.
Simon Lewis
Chief Executive Officer
Elmbridge Philanthropy
In 2016 we became the Founding Corporate Partner for Elmbridge Philanthropy (previously the Elmbridge Community Fund). The charity aims to bring together businesses and individuals to encourage them to support charities and voluntary organisations in the Elmbridge area, by providing a sustainable income generation to enable them to continue to support those who need it most.
In January 2017, Simon Lewis was honoured to be invited to become Chairman of Elmbridge Philanthropy. The position has allowed him to be fully involved in increasing awareness of the charity within the local community and use his expertise to ensure the efficient running of the fund.
Simon Lewis completes the Prudential Ride London
On Sunday 4 August 2019, our very own CEO, Simon Lewis, took to his bike to participate in the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100. With as little as two months training under his belt, Simon successfully completed the challenge alongside 6 other riders raising money for Elmbridge Philanthropy. Over the 100 mile course, he climbed 4,378 feet at an average speed of 16.5 mph and somehow managed to come across the finish line still smiling! Congratulations go out to all who completed the race.
Grants
Since the charity was established in 2015, Elmbridge Philanthropy has awarded more than £34,000 in grants to voluntary groups and charitable organisations in Elmbridge. This funding has benefited more than 3,000 people in the community.
Below are just a few of the organisations Elmbridge Philanthropy has helped:
Below are just a few of the organisations Elmbridge Philanthropy has helped:
Young Enterprise
Young Enterprise (YE) is the UK’s leading enterprise and financial education charity reaching over 250,000 young people every year. PMW has been supporting them since 2017, with funding and participation on the judging panel for the Company Programme.
YE’s aim is to make the connection between school and the world of work, enabling young people to develop the knowledge and attitudes they need to succeed, building on 8 key skills:
- Communication
- Confidence
- Financial Capability
- Initiative
- Organisation
- Problem-solving
- Teamwork
- Resilience
Since it was founded in 1962, over 4 million young people have taken part in Young Enterprise programmes in the UK. One million of these have run businesses for a year on the Company Programme.
The Company Programme runs throughout one academic year and enables participants to experience what it is like to run their own company. Students make all the decisions about their enterprise, from deciding on the name and product to creating a business plan, managing the student company finances and selling to the public at trade fairs. Each company is judged on their business plan, product, trade stall and the presentations held at each stage of the competition. Simon Lewis, CEO at PMW, has been involved in the judging process for the last few years and has been blown away by the level of innovation and professionalism.
To find out more about the Young Enterprise programmes, click here.
