Our Judges
We have developed our judging over 18 years and our judges, all top business people within their chosen arena, have cited our awards as both the most transparent and professionally executed. Each application is scored by up to 4 different judges from a panel of up to 30 judges, all applications are seen by different members of the judging panel. The judges spend several hours and score not only their own sponsored category but several others too, this ensures transparency. The first page of questions is designed to give the judges a real feel for your business, followed by several questions that are scored from 1 to 5. It is worth noting that although all judging is computer based please ensure you upload images or screen shots of all important pages. There are no site visits or presentations involved. The finalists are chosen by adding all the scores and up to 16 entrants can make it through to the final, however if scoring is low, less entrants make it through. Should you wish to read our Top Tips, please click HERE
Karl Handscombe
Head of Construction| Foreman Homes
With over 29 years’ experience in the construction industry, Karl has worked with multiple developers such as Linden Homes, Bellway Homes and Hazeley Developments before joining Foreman Homes as their Head of Construction in June 2021.
Working closely with his team, Karl is responsible for overseeing the logistical requirements of all the developments and setting the targets, objectives and timeframes for every house that Foreman Homes builds.
This includes regularly reviewing timings, budget, labour and project plans to ensure everything is delivered on time and in line with the company’s mantra of Building Excellence in everything they do.
Spencer Drake
Sales Director| Foreman Homes
Spencer started his career in property over 30 years ago working for a National Estate Agency chain where he quickly rose through the ranks to become an Area Manager in charge of numerous branches in the Southern Region. Following this, he co-founded a property development company which primarily refurbished older properties before moving onto small new build schemes.
He joined Foreman Homes as a Sales Manager in 2013 before being appointed Sales Director just 4 years later. Foreman Homes has grown rapidly over recent years to become one of the South’s largest and most recognised privately-owned house builders.
Kevin Larkin
Project Director | JJ Rhatigan
Kevin joined JJ Rhatigan in 2019 as an experienced Project Manager, boasting over 11 years of construction industry experience. His journey spans roles with Developers and Principal Contractors, specialising in high-end residential projects and multi-storey mixed-use schemes. Recognising his exceptional performance, Kevin ascended to Project Director following the successful completion of Lu2on Phase 1.
Proficient in leading design teams, subcontractors, and on-site labour for large-scale residential projects, Kevin demonstrates commercial acumen and adeptness in program development, design coordination, and procurement. Committed to efficient project management, he prioritises timely delivery without compromising quality. In 2022, Kevin achieved his CIOB certification and secured the silver Construction Manager of the Year Award. |
Tom Neylon
Regional Director | JJ Rhatigan
As Regional Director, Tom has the overall responsibility of the construction business in the UK. With over 12 years of experience at all levels and disciplines, including project management and quantity surveying, Tom plays a hands-on role in overseeing project delivery. Tom brings a wealth of construction expertise having delivered a range of projects up to £160m in value, in residential, hotel & leisure, education, commercial and mixed-use sectors.
An effective communicator and strategically minded, Tom is a champion of performance improvement. His focus is to ensure successful handovers, cost control, resolution of contractual matters through the implementation of management systems and company policies in respect of Quality, Health & Safety and Employment. |
A keen advocate of Early Contractor Involvement, Tom places emphasis on value engineering and supply chain initiatives with a collaborative approach and is experienced in a variety of procurement strategies and forms of contract.
Paul Whitnell
President | British and Irish Trading Alliance Ltd
Paul Whitnell has a background the varied arenas of politics, business and the music industry, and is well placed to spot trends and needs in the current diverse and rapidly changing economic environment. After arriving in the UK looking for work in 2008 during the economic crash, Paul realised that there was a need for a different kind of networking group to fill the gap. He founded BITA in response to this need, creating a friendly, relaxed networking community that is focused on creating business opportunities for UK and Irish businesses and offering advice. A pre-requisite of membership is that connections and knowledge are shared, so all have the opportunity to forge successful and profitable networking relationships.
In 2018 Paul signed an agreement with similar networking organisations in Scotland and America – Causeway and IN USA, and has recently expanded the organisation into South Africa, Dubai and Mexico. “We enjoy working with businesses in the UK and Ireland but recognise we need to expand our gaze and look to further afield. We are looking forward to working with Causeway, IN USA, and our global Ambassadors, and providing these exciting opportunities for our members to grow their businesses.”
BITA is a not-for-profit membership organisation that adheres to their motto of being the ‘People who Know People that Help People’. Aside from business and events, they value their communities and look for chances to give something back, supporting various charities through fundraising and promotion.
Rebecca Wall
COO | Alliance Intelligent Scaffolding Ltd
Rebecca is COO of Hertfordshire based multi-award winning Alliance Intelligent Scaffolding. Our previous winner of the coveted title of ‘Southern England Business Woman of the Year’ at The National Business Women’s Awards (Wembley 2020/2021), Rebecca is also a former Hertfordshire Business Person of the Year and has a wealth of experience in start-ups and SMEs, ranging from Professional Beauty and Spa to Construction. Rebecca strives to be an ambassador for business excellence and has extensive judging experience at both national and international business awards.
Angie Pool
Director | Atelier de Linde
Angie Pool is a highly accomplished architect with over 20 years international experience. After leaving university in South Africa, Angie spent 4 years gaining experience with a developer before founding Dzelik Architecture in 2002, specialising in residential architecture for private, gated communities and eco estates. She consulted on Unique Restaurants and boutique hotels through Southern Africa and co-designed repurposed container pods for low cost housing projects. After emigrating to the U.K in 2011, Angie began consulting on residential projects throughout London before moving to Kent. There, she established Atelier Design Consultants, offering turn-key solutions for architectural residential and redevelopment projects, whilst simultaneously working on private development projects in and around Kent. Her experience flipping properties lead to Angie redeveloping multiple sites in the South East. These ambitious projects inspired her to travel to Europe to form direct relationships with manufacturers and suppliers.
Most recently, Angie has joined forces with Tara de Linde to form Atelier de Linde Architects, focusing on their joint passion for sustainability and ethical architecture.
Drew Montague
Managing Director | Montague Fine & Rare Wines
Drew Montague has an expert eye with a heartfelt passion for enabling people to enjoy and make money from wine.
As a company, Montague Fine & Rare Wines specialises in advising clients looking for a CGT-free form of investment and offers discreet management of their fine wine investment portfolios from purchase through to final sale.
Among the senior roles held by Drew are the Wine Manager at the Sunday Times Wine Club, UK Director for the Wine Institute of
California, Head of Buying for Wines, Beers and Spirits at Harrods, Sales and Marketing Director for Buckingham Vintners and Managing Director of Geoffrey Roberts Agencies, and for three decades as a much-respected judge for the International Wine Challenge competition.
Following 30 years in the international wine trade, Drew’s vision was to create a family-run wine business that incorporated his wealth of experience with values of integrity, superb customer service and outstanding value for money; Montague Fine & Rare Wines was established in 2009
Maria Lawless
Founder and Director Consultant | Signature Associates
Maria Lawless is Director Consultant and Founder of Signature Associates, specialising in strategic HR and finance support to SMEs and entrepreneurs and helping them navigate the complexities of today’s business landscape.
Maria’s background as an HR Director in the corporate arena means she understands the importance of fostering strong relationships and building trust with her clients. Together with her business partner Pieter, who heads the finance division and brings extensive corporate experience, they have worked with renowned brands such as KFC, RedSea, IFS, and Godiva Chocolatier.
Their expertise spans a diverse range of industries, from manufacturing to technology. While their primary focus is serving businesses in Ireland and the UK, they also extend services to clients in the Middle East and globally. Their priority is cultivating lasting relationships with customers, earning their trust as preferred HR and Finance solutions providers.
In addition to their core services, Signature Associates also collaborate with business owners and Private Equity firms involved in buying or selling businesses, offering invaluable insights and support in mergers and acquisitions. The team is dedicated to providing interim HR Directors and Finance Directors/CFOs, ensuring seamless transitions and sustained business success.
Maria is excited about Signature Associates’ continued growth and impact in the business world. Deepening client relationships, offering innovative solutions to meet evolving needs, and expanding their reach, particularly in the Middle East and other regions, are things she looks forward to this year. Collaborating with diverse businesses and cultures is something Maria finds both challenging and rewarding, and she is eager to see how they can leverage their expertise to drive success for clients on an international scale.
Naomi Thrower
Freelance Marketing Director | The Brand Strategist
An experienced, purpose-driven brand and marketing professional with a mission to offer incredible individuals my expertise to help them succeed. Over 20 years experience working in a variety of sectors and company types. A love and passion for supporting entrepreneurs to find their voice, to tell their story with clarity and vision, to add value to every person she meets, doing some good along the way.
Robert Armitage |
Business Development Director | PIB Risk Management
Robert Armitage, an adept Business Development Director, brings over 20 years of expertise in health and safety business development. His extensive background spans Construction, Management, and Leisure sectors. In his role, Robert collaborates with teams across all tiers, facilitating essential development coordination and crafting effective solutions crucial for project management efficiency. Proficient in optimising ROI, he boasts exceptional interpersonal, human resource, and social intelligence skills. A results-driven leader, Robert is dedicated to fostering a collaborative workspace, aiming to amplify opportunities for personal, team, and organisational advancement.