Wimbledon-based structural and engineering company, Elliott Wood Partnership, has won many awards for its architectural, design and technical work, but winning Merton business of the year is its “best award ever”.

Gary Elliott received the prestigious honour in front of more than 240 businessmen and women at the gala awards ceremony held at Wimbledon’s All England Lawn Tennis Club on Wednesday, September, 21.

He said: “We love the work we do, and we have won awards for our projects before, but this is the first time we have been recognised as a company, and it is fantastic.”

The packed audience at the ceremony, organised by South London Business in association with WSM Advisors, heard from WSM director Simon Marsh how the judges had chosen Elliott Wood Partnership as the overall winner.

Mr Marsh praised its “excellent service to customers with an imaginative yet personal approach, impressive staff relations and high level of social responsibility.”

The practice, which has about 65 staff across its offices in Wimbledon, central London and Nottingham, specialises in complex regeneration projects, large scale residential, commercial, healthcare, education and leisure throughout the UK and beyond.

The runner-up was estate agency Samuel Estates, which scooped two awards, best business for marketing and best small business for 2011, for the second year running, in recognition of its dynamic leadership, solid business plan and innovative marketing plans.

The company’s director Nick Samuel said he was delighted his business had won the best small business category two years in a row as well as marketing, and he would be aiming for best medium-sized business next year.

The awards have been developed by South London Business, Merton Council, and Merton Chamber of Commerce, to reward and celebrate the many dynamic and innovative businesses in the borough.

They were supported by a number of major businesses, including the Wimbledon Guardian, Barclays Bank, Box 2, Careers Development Group, Morrisons Solicitors, Vinci Construction UK, Wimbledon Village Association and XpertHR.

Photographer Julia Boggio was delighted to be honoured as entrepreneur of the year, back at the helm of her business just 17 weeks after giving birth to her first child.

Best new business winners were IT consultants, TechQuarters, whose business has grown to eight staff and is in profit just 18 months after launch.

Its director, Chris Dunning, said he had been inspired by attending the 2010 Merton Business Awards where the winning businesses had given him the drive to grow further.

Other winners on the night were Italian restaurant Piccolino, which received the Wimbledon Village award for customer service and the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD) which won best business for training and development.

The Vine Project was honoured for its commitment to the community, Wimbledon Village Stables won best business for hospitality and leisure, and Edit Optimisation which won best employer.

More information on the award winners can be found at mertonbusinessawards.co.uk.

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