Portsmouth-based commercial drone company wins BIG at business excellence awards

Pictured on stage winning Overall Business of The Year - Sponsored by Solent LEP

We were amongst the stars for an evening, we put on our glam black tie outfits and went out to party at the Portsmouth Business Excellence Awards. Here we are pictured in front of Portsmouth Guildhall before heading in.

From left to right - Alex Perkins of Ingenio IT, Michael Woods, Sara Woods, Jason Clark and James Taylor

The Portsmouth Business Excellence Awards is an annual event held at the Portsmouth Guildhall in the city of Portsmouth, located on the south coast of England. The awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of local businesses in various categories, including innovation, customer service, sustainability, and social responsibility.

The awards are organised by The News, a daily newspaper in Portsmouth, and sponsored by local businesses and organisations. The first Portsmouth Business Excellence Awards were held in 2001, and the event has grown in popularity and prestige over the years.

The nominations for the awards are open to all businesses operating within the Portsmouth area. Finalists are selected by a judging panel made up of representatives from the local business community, and the winners are announced at a black-tie gala dinner.

The Portsmouth Business Excellence Awards provide an opportunity for businesses to showcase their achievements and gain recognition for their hard work and dedication to excellence. The awards also help to promote the local economy and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation in the area.

Based on our achievements over our 5 years in business and a record breaking 2022, we decided to apply for Small Business of The Year. We had a one in four chance of winning our category and that the competition was strong.

Michael and Sara Woods, Co-owners of Solent Sky Services

As co-owners of Solent Sky Services, my wife Sara and I are thrilled to share that we have been awarded both the Small Business of the Year and Overall Business of the Year at the 2023 Portsmouth Business Excellence Awards. These awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, and we are proud to share this recognition with them.

Winning the Small Business of the Year award is particularly special to us as it highlights the growth and impact we have achieved since starting our business. Our team, suppliers and support network has played a crucial role in this growth, and we are grateful for their contributions to Solent Sky Services. We believe that our employees are the backbone of our business, and we are proud to create opportunities for them to develop their skills and grow in their careers.

Being awarded the Overall Business of the Year is a significant achievement for us, and we believe it is a testament to the culture we have built at Solent Sky Services. We strive to create an environment that fosters growth, innovation, and creativity. We are proud to provide opportunities for our employees to take on new challenges, develop new skills, and contribute to our collective success.

We believe that these awards will help us to strengthen our brand, attract new talent, and open up new opportunities for our business. As we continue to grow, we remain committed to delivering the highest standards of service to our clients and to creating a positive impact on the local economy. We believe that our employees are a key part of this mission.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our team for their hard work and dedication, as well as our clients for their continued support. We would also like to congratulate all the other finalists and winners in the various categories. These awards showcase the talent and diversity of the local business community, and we are proud to be a part of it.

In conclusion, winning both the Small Business of the Year and Overall Business of the Year awards is a great honour for us, and we are grateful to all of those that have supported us. As a family run business, we will continue our hard work, sustainable growth and look forward to implementing our five year business plan.

Thank you all.