Our Awards celebrate all things local, global, sustainable and ethical. This year’s presentation was at London Design Fair in the Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane. The launch of London’s annual Design Week, it was the place to be. Thank you Jimmy MacDonald, Director and Founder of London Design Fair for making us so welcome.
The Blue Patch Awards
This year we grew from a single award category to seven: New Business, New Heritage, Sustainable Innovation, Social Impact, Global Impact, Female Business Leaders and The People’s Prize – our ‘public vote’! Here are the Winners and Finalists.
The Blue Patch Awards 2017
We had twenty two judges including museum curators, social investors, circular economy experts, business specialists, artisans, designers and manufacturers, we’d like to thank them for generously giving their time to the awards. Meet the judges.
Risdon & Risdon – from the left – Carla, Alex and James, winners of the New Business Award.
Winners of the New Business Award 2017 a new family business Risdon & Risdon. Based in Shropshire, they won the award for their beautifully made work aprons designed for artisans, growers and ‘roll up your sleeves’ people. Judge Jo Taylor hands James the mic.
Risdon & Risdon
Jon Johnson from REACH Homes.
REACH Homes is the first not-for-profit CIC providing low-cost, high-spec affordable eco-homes – made from shipping containers! REACH Homes use 70% recycled materials, build off-site and create jobs and apprenticeships. Jon the Founder and CEO won the Sustainable Innovation Award.
REACH Homes
Laura Rosenzweig from Laura’s Loom
Laura made a lovely speech after winning the Heritage Award. Laura, a handweaver from Cumbria, uses local farms to provide wool and her yarn is also spun in the UK. Laura’s aim was to support other businesses and have an ethical and transparent supply chain. Bruce Aitken – Clock Maker and judge (left) listens attentively.
Laura’s Loom, Farfield Mill, Sedbergh.
Jane Langley and Natalia Komis from Blue Patch
Joanna Hamer collects the Social Impact Award from judge Sian Conway (Ethical Hour).
A social enterprise based in East London, Juta make comfortable, cool looking espadrilles from reclaimed and sustainable materials. The Juta business model supports marginalised women into work – and their shoes are a dream to wear!
The Juta Shoes team.
Camilla Marcus-Drew.
Passionate champion of the inclusive economy, Camilla Marcus-Drew won the Female Business Leader Award for creating The Soap Co. a Social Enterprise providing jobs for people with disabilities and visual impairment.
The Soap Co. at work.
From the left: Sustainable Innovation Finalist designer Ben Perkins (StudioPerki), Chris Baker, General Manager of KeepCup UK (representing judge and Co-Founder of KeepCup Abigail Forsythe) and Jon from REACH Homes.
Preeti’s wine measuring.
Preeti Bonthron (team Blue Patch) pouring wine into ‘unwanted cups’ manufactured in the UK and donated by The Printed Cup Company. Simply Cups will recycle them into something useful!
Pebble Magazine’s Creative Director Alex Traska
Georgina Wilson-Powell
The People’s Prize was an ‘open vote’ from the general public. This prize is all about the power of the small business owner to get the word out and succeed!
Anna Jacobs winner of The People’s Prize.
Anna’s business sense and hard work set a shining example of how a small business can reach the heady heights of being in stores such as Heals.
Anna Jacobs Art
The People’s Prize Finalist is Tutti Frutti clothing, a sustainable fashion brand for young children – well done both of you.
Tutti Frutti
Anna Jacobs with Natalia Komis from team Blue Patch
Blue Patch is a community for business owners, so the awards, a glass of wine and London Design Fair brought our inspiring virtual community together to hatch plans and share stories.
From the left: Sian (Ethical Hour) Finalist Sarah Greenaway (Mosami) Anna (Anna Jacobs Art) Keith Harrison (Newlife and Reborn Paints), Finalist Jo Salter (Where Dose It Come From) and Sue (Ethical Hour)
Jo Salter, Founder of Where Does It Come From and Finalist in the Global Impact Award. Jo’s fully traceable, ethical clothing brand ensures people and planet haven’t suffered in the process. We love her bee scarf too!
Michael Davies from Green + Seen (in glasses) with Chris from KeepCup.
Jon and Jane plotting projects!
Thank you to photographers Alice and Anna from Intherightlight. Alice and Anna have a new book the East Dulwich Connection, a sequel to the sell out Peckham Connection….
Anna Green and Alice Malik from Intherightlight
Bough To Beauty Bespoke
Vix runs a very new business Bough To Beauty Bespoke. She made Blue Patch’s name badges, engraved from sustainable oak. Thank you Vix, finally people know our names!
Blue Patch members had a stand at London Design Fair too – take a look.
Blue Patch at London Design Fair 2017
