The Business Magazine recently announced its nominations for their annually recurring award ceremony, the Solent 250 Listings. The long-standing awards aim to celebrate some of the best businesses in the South-East, showcasing the community’s talent and successes.
Among this year’s nominees, the Portsmouth-based technology firm, Novatech Ltd were shortlisted for 3 of the 5 categories, the winners for which will be announced in the coming weeks at an official awards night.
The 3 categories for which Novatech has been nominated for are: entrepreneurial business of the year, the growth and resilience award, and the business culture award.
Despite still being a relatively small company, it’s no surprise to see Novatech making the shortlist for multiple categories. The business has grown rapidly in the last 18 months, seeing employee numbers increase by over 20%, with no staff being furloughed, and an increase in revenue just shy of 30% for YoY growth.
Meanwhile, the company’s in-house gaming brand, “Reign,” has seen a significant increase in exposure, with big name gamers, streamers, and other brands, like Leahviathan and Sneak Energy, joining the gaming brand to promote their custom gaming PCs.
These successes, and many others, add to the already high accolades they received from b-Heard earlier this year, who awarded the company with a 1 Star “Very Good” Rating, marking the technology firm as one of the Top 100 Best Companies To Work For In The South.
David Furby, CEO at Novatech, responded to their recent nominations, saying: “Being shortlisted for not just one, but three separate awards from such a prestigious awarding body is truly and wholly humbling. All of us here at Novatech have been working incredibly hard over the last few years to improve every element of our business, whether it be increased employee engagement and dedicated departmental feedback groups, new well-being services and charity fundraisers, or expanding our production capacity whilst still ensuring job security throughout the pandemic – it’s all been really well-received with everyone internally, but to have it recognised by those outside of the business just makes it all that more worthwhile.”
With 2020 turning the global market upside down and inside out, businesses needed to respond quickly and decisively, adapting flexibly to manage the continually shifting goal posts set by the UK government as it sought to bring the pandemic under control. With these changes came a flurry of new opportunities and emerging markets, ready to be seized by only the most well-prepared businesses. With Novatech being one of many companies succeeding here, they were shortlisted for the entrepreneurial business of the year award.
This all-encompassing award seeks to celebrate companies that demonstrated a fast, effective, and steadfast response to the sudden global shift, whilst successfully transitioning their facilities, business models, and employees.
Of course, besides new opportunities, the last 18 months have brought many more obvious challenges. Whilst growth isn’t the only measure of a business’s success, the growth and resilience award recognises those within the Solent 250 that have made the most of these opportunities presented to them, adapting to achieve their maximum potential within their respective sector, and growing their market share despite everything.
But no business would be anywhere today without their people. The Business and Culture award looks to highlight this by recognising companies who place people and culture at their core, and building them into their brand, bolstering their resilience and all-round success. Something particularly important during the pandemic.
Aimed at celebrating organisations who put their people first, the award recognises those that invest in the success of their employees, encouraging purpose, pride, and collaboration within the business, giving it a unique advantage that no other competitor can replicate.