Introduction

The Carmarthenshire Business Awards brings together the business community to recognise those entrepreneurial and innovative ventures that are making a difference in the county.

Carmarthenshire, also referred to as “The Garden of Wales” is known for it’s cultural landscapes, longest beaches and vibrant market towns brimming with local produce.

With a wealth of businesses of all sizes, covering a vast array of sectors the Carmarthenshire Business Awards will celebrate all at the glamorous black-tie event in July at Parc Y Scarlets.

We are thrilled to introduce the inaugural Carmarthenshire Business Awards in 2024 which will bring together the thriving business community and recognise those entrepreneurial and innovative ventures that are making a difference in the county.

We will be raising money for Tenovus Cancer Care on the night, and will be donating £3 from every ticket sold to Tenovus and there will be an opportunity to donate more during the evening.

The black-tie event will take place on Friday 12th July 2024 at Parc Y Scarlets in Llanelli. The evening will start at 6.30pm with a drinks reception, followed by a fabulous 3-course dinner, and then into the awards ceremony.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Liz Brookes

Founder of Carmarthenshire Business Awards

Director of Grapevine Event Management

Our Judges

Rupert Moon

Chair of Judges 

Winning 24 caps for Wales at scrum half, Rupert Moon’s rugby career successfully spanned 17 years. Retiring from professional rugby in 2002, some might wonder where he could go from there, but Rupert’s broad and respected professional career in business consultancy, broadcasting and customer relations ever since speaks for itself.

Strategy Director for the RNF Property Group, Rupert continues to build on 20 years of unrivalled commercial and customer service experience.  With great success Rupert has headed up and driven major commercial strategies for the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and Millennium Stadium; led on a rebrand as Marketing Director for Wales’ largest insurance brokers; been Commercial Director for the Scarlets following their transition to the new Parc y Scarlets Stadium; and set up a new regional rugby team in North Wales, where he oversaw the staffing, operational and strategic management of joint WRU and Conwy Council initiatives.

Angharad Lloyd-Beynon

Angharad is a Policy, Stakeholder and Partnerships Manager at City & Guilds Group and looks after Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland. She ensures that the purpose of City & Guilds is met to enable people and organisations to unlock their potential and develop the knowledge and skills needed for personal and economic growth. Angharad works closely with key stakeholders in order to achieve this.

Angharad is a Liveryman for the Worshipful Livery Company of Wales and is also a member of the BITC Wales Leadership Board.  She is also a Board member for Thrive Group Wales and is also the Co-chair of Federation of Awarding Bodies Wales.

Ken Duxberry

Carmarthen born and bred, Ken started his career working with British Rail before moving in to the family business of Chris cabs and Coracle Coaches. Having seen the potential before him over the last few years he has grown the business providing massive employment within the county which is always been his focal point. Coracle Coaches offers both luxury Coach Tours and day-to-day school transportation. He is proud to boast Transport for Wales, Carmarthenshire County Council, Hywel Ddd Health Board and the Scarlets as his clients.  Ken is pleased to be involved in the inaugural Carmarthenshire Business Awards.

Emma Beddoe

With a background in the private sector, Emma joined Business in Focus in 2021 initially working on youth specific entrepreneurship programmes focussed on engagement with underrepresented groups and outside of education support.

A qualified Project Manager, Emma currently oversees numerous Shared Prosperity Funded contracts which includes the Carmarthenshire Enterprise Hub.

Liz Brookes

Founder of the Carmarthenshire Business Awards and Director of Grapevine Event Management

Liz Brookes is the Owner and Managing Director of Grapevine Event Management Ltd. A graduate of Cardiff University in Social Policy, Liz went on to carve a career in the events industry, responsible for organising events throughout Europe and the UK for numerous public and private sector organisations.

Liz founded Grapevine Event Management in March 2011 and it is now one of the most well recognised corporate events companies in Wales delivering high quality creative and innovative events across the UK.

Faqs

How many categories can I enter?

You can enter up to 2 categories.

Is my company eligible to enter the awards?

The business must be located within the local authority area of Carmarthenshire and business rates must also be paid to Carmarthenshire Council. The business should have started to trade on or before 12th July 2023.

What is the judging process?

The judging process can be found here.

Can I save my application form and return later?

The application form is required to be completed in one go as you cannot save and return later. We suggest you make a note of the application questions and prepare offline before submitting your details.

How long is the interview?

The interview should take no longer than 15 minutes. A 10-minute presentation and 5 minutes of Q&A. We request no computer aids, as we would love to hear the passion come from you directly.

How many people can attend/ join the Interview?

We kindly request that only 2 representatives attend/join the interview.

Can someone attend in my absence?

Yes of course, we welcome any passionate member of your company/team to attend to let us know why you are so great!

If I/my company is shortlisted, do I get any free tickets to the Awards night?

Everyone is asked to purchase tickets from the website in advance of the evening. Priority is given to shortlisted companies and sponsors but it is on a first come first served basis so you are advised to book early to guarantee the tickets you require.

How much are tickets for the Carmarthenshire Business Awards?

Tables of 10 can be purchased for £880 + VAT, individual tickets are £88 + VAT. Tickets include a £3 donation to Tenovus our charity of choice for the awards.  Payment must be received prior to the event.

What is included in the ticket price?

The ticket includes a drinks reception with entertainment and a 3-course meal with coffee, prior to the awards ceremony.

How do I book tickets for the Awards?

You can purchase your tickets via the booking link. We will be in touch to confirm your order and request any dietary or access requirements.

Are tickets refundable?

Refunds are available as long as cancellation is received no later than 10 days prior to the event.  Read our full T&C’s here.

Are tickets transferable?

Yes, just let us know their full name and contact details (including name, organisation and if they have any dietary or access requirements).

Are the awards supporting a Charity?

The awards are supporting Tenovus Cancer Care, a Wales-based charity giving help, hope, and a voice to everyone affected by cancer. We are donating £3 from every ticket sold to Tenovus and there will be opportunity to donate more on the night. Tenovus is also the chosen charity for Grapevine Event Management this year and donations will be added to our annual total.

What are the timings for the awards?

The agenda for the evening is:

6:30pm Arrival Drinks

7:15pm Guests seated

7:45pm Dinner served

9:30pm Awards commence

11:00pm Celebrating and Networking

Midnight Evening closes

Where are the awards held?

The awards will be held at Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli. Directions to the venue can be found here.

Is there parking available?

Yes, there is parking available, more information on parking can be found here.

What’s the dress code?

The dress code is Black Tie, formal/cocktail wear.

Our Sponsors