What are the Mercury Business Awards?

These awards celebrate and showcase the achievements of local businesses and people across Rutland. With multiple sponsors and carefully hand-selected judges, they have become an anticipated event for businesses of all sizes across the county.

In June 2024, after reading through all the different options, we chose the Environmental Champion and Small Business of the Year categories. After writing our application, we sent it off (with fingers and toes crossed) and waited to hear if we had been lucky enough to be finalists.

We were so excited to receive the news in July that we were in the final running for BOTH categories!

How is it judged?

Our two categories were judged on multiple factors, which were slightly different. The Small Business of the Year focused on how we are planning the future for the business, understanding our market and responding to change.

The Environmental Champion, on the other hand, was targeting things like carbon footprint (three cheers for carbon neutral!), how we are cutting our waste down, and understanding and preventing our environmental impact.

Alongside this, our head chimps did some quick filming snippets and a roastery tour with the Mayor of Stamford, Kelham Cooke, where we chatted about what we did and how the roastery works!

How did we find out we won?

To celebrate all the finalists, a Gala Evening is held at the Rutland Hall Hotel. This includes entertainment, musicians and a three-course meal! Our head chimps, Andy & Laura, put on their Sunday best and attended the event on behalf of the whole team. Laura says:

“The gala event was great fun, and the entertainment was fantastic. They had cabaret singers popping out of the audience and joining the show. The audience participation included waving napkins in the air and even doing the congo around the pavilion!”

Then came the exciting bit! We found out that we had won the Environmental Champion category! Once the shock had faded and Andy and Laura were back in their seats, they were gobsmacked to be invited up on stage again as we won the Small Business of the Year Award as well!

We are so happy as a team and a business, and we celebrated with cake (and a mug of coffee of course!)