The finalists have been revealed for the Small Business of the Year award, sponsored by Fleximize, at the East Anglian Daily Times Business Awards 2023.
This award will be given to a company with turnover of up to £1m that demonstrates all round-excellence in business.
Kingsfleet
Kingsfleet is a chartered financial planning firm founded in 2010, providing bespoke financial advice to clients predominantly in and around Suffolk. As of April 2023, the company managed £85 million for 344 clients.
The judges said they were “highly impressed” with Kingsfleet, especially the work that founder Colin Low is doing to give back to communities. This includes charitable work, knowledge sharing and an environmental focus, all of which saw the firm accredited as a B Corp last year.
They also said Kingsfleet has shown its commitment and dedication to the local community in Felixstowe, as well as to its staff who are nurtured and supported through the development of their skills, values and beliefs.
Predicaire
Launched in 2020, PredicAire near Lowestoft has developed the first AI-powered management system for the social and domiciliary care sectors.
The company use artificial intelligence (AI) to give care providers meaningful real-time data on their residents’ health and wellbeing, enabling them to predict and prevent unnecessary outcomes.
The judges recognised that PredicAire’s product “solves a critical real-world issue with AI in a reasonably undisrupted market”, adding that they were impressed with the business proposition and strategy.
They said the company “has a very bright future ahead” and expect to see it go global in the next few years.
Satsuma Group
Founded in July 2021, Satsuma is a full-service marketing agency that offers PR, website, branding, creative and strategic solutions across all sectors.
All of Satsuma’s employees work remotely and flexibly across the UK, enabling the company to take on clients nationwide and meet them face-to-face where required.
This approach is championed by founder Ellen Widdup, who launched the business from home so she could care for one of her three children who has complex mental health conditions.
The judges applauded Ellen for “doing something that so many business owners shy away from”, and which has contributed to the success of the organisation to date.
The Suffolk Jungle Room
The Suffolk Jungle Room is a high-end café and house plant shop, founded in February 2022 by directors Sam Coe and Tony Prince.
Following success at its first site in the rural village of Metfield, the business has since opened a second, larger site at the Be Well Barn, a wellness barn and fitness centre in Redlingfield, plus a third site including a commercial kitchen in Wissett.
The judges said Sam and Tony “have taken everything they’ve learnt from previous careers, and put everything on the line to build a business that is sympathetic to the environment, scalable and a joyful place for local communities to come together”
The winners of the EADT Business Awards 2023 will be announced at an award ceremony at Kesgrave Hall, Ipswich on Thursday, September 28. For more information, please visit eadtbusinessawards.co.uk
To find out about the finalists in all categories, please click here.
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