Ray Mears speaks at the Test Valley Business Awards 2008/9
As a member of the Test Valley Business Awards Steering Group I was proud to attend the gala awards evening on April 20th 2009.
Ian Axton of Andover Sound was host for the evening which had over 200 guests and was held at The Lights in Andover.
Our guest for the evening was Ray Mears, the well known bushcraft and woodlore expert. Ray talked about the difficulties that exist in today’s business world and how new businesses started in a tough economic climate will be well placed to survive when the recovery starts. As well as talking about business in general, and his own business, Ray recalled some of his experiences working in the more remote areas of the world where life can be hard but satisfying
Ray described an encounter where modern methods and native customs had led him to consider sustainability in a new light. Local people had been used to living off the fruits of the land and simply discarding the natural packaging, which, being organic, would rot and recycle naturally (he was referring to peels and skins of fruits etc); when modern packaging of tins and plastics arrived the locals simply discarded these in a similar way, but they do not rot with such speed, thus leading to a very untidy and potentially dangerous environment. He went on to reflect that in our society we produce just as much, and probably more, waste but pay to have it taken away and out of sight. Ray explained that his own business is very much concerned with creating sustainability but included an element of community and fun.
The awards themselves were as follows:
The Test Valley Borough Council New Business Of The Year Awards
- Winner – WKD Events
- Commended – First Impressions, PJ Landscaping
The HSA Business Excellence Though People Award
- Winner – Stanbridge Earls School
- Commended – Romsey Dental Care, Wellow Fitness Centre
The Star Technology Services e-Business Award
- Winner – Nature’s Harvest
- Commended – Giftbagz.co.uk, www.bid-no-bid.com
The University of Southamption Science Park Innovation and Technology Award
- Winner – PhotonStar LED Ltd
- Commended – Ace Liftaway Ltd, Trilogy Communications
Hamphire County Council Small Business of the Year Award
- Winner – Blumarine Ltd
- Commended – iCandy Design, Thinking Space Systems Ltd
If you are interested in the 2009/10 awards, or if you wouuld like to talk about what is involved in establishing your own awards campaign, please get in touch via our website www.tvbawards.org.uk