Judging Fenland Business Awards is an honour and a privilege
“Judging is an honour and a privilege, and something I really look forward to”: that is the verdict of one of our leading judges in the Fenland Citizen Business Awards 2025.
Wendy Smith, who works for Nestle Purina in Wisbech, is the judge in not one but two categories, both sponsored by the pet food manufacturer.
The first is the Business Innovation Award and the second is the Business of the Year.
Wendy has already been out and met all the finalists in both categories and described it as a honour getting to learn more about the amazing firms we have here in Fenland.
However, she said this is the first year where she has found the job of judge difficult and is struggling to choose a winner in one of the categories.
Wendy has years of experience in judging business awards. She has been a judge since the Fenland Business Awards were relaunched by Iliffe Media, publishers of the Fenland Citizen, three years ago.
However, she has previously performed the task when they were run by Fenland District Council, and has acted as a judge in similar awards elsewhere.
“People say it is a difficult job, but I would not say that. It is really enjoyable getting out there and finding out more about the businesses in this area. We have some amazing firms,” said Wendy.
She adds: “Most years there is an obvious winner, but this year I am finding it a challenge and I am still deliberating.
“I tell all the firms shortlisted they are already winners to have been shortlisted in the first place – and that’s true as the competition is always tough.
“It is great to see how firms grow and develop – some are starting from very little acorns.”
Wendy said when judging firms for her two categories she is looking for something that stands out – their USP (unique selling point).
When it comes to being a top employer she is looking at how firms are not only looking after their employees, but also what they are doing within the community.
For the innovation award she said: “Anyone can copy a business model, but what I am looking for is something new, that makes them unique and stand out from the crowd.”
Like all the judges in our 10 categories Wendy has been out to visit the shortlisted finalists and she said: “To be honest, the hardest part of all was negotiating the Fenland roads, there really needs to be some investment to make travelling around the area easier. In some places it felt like I needed a 4x4 – which I don’t have.”
The judges this year are: Margo Hughes and Ian Smith from Goldstar Metal Traders, sponsors of the Best New Start-up category; Yvonne Ogden of Clarion Futures, sponsor of Best Social Enterprise; Wendy Smith from Nestle Purina who is sponsoring both the Employer of the Year and the Business Innovation categories; Ben Beech from our headline sponsors Whitings LLP, who is also sponsoring the Business of the Year award; Helen Peak from Mapus Smith & Lemmon, sponsors of the Business Person of the Year; Iain Kirkbright of Chaos (mystery shopper) sponsor of Customer Care; Daniel Ball of Fraser Dawbarns, sponsors of Agriculture and Environment Champion; Jo Kupyn and Jim Waller from Fenmarc, sponsors of Retail and Hospitality and finally Charlotte Horrobin from Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce who is judging the Team of the Year.
The winners will be announced at a gala dinner on Friday, March 14 at the Braza Club in March.
Each finalist will be given two free tickets per business for the gala awards night which will include a canapes and drinks reception followed by a three-course dinner.
Extra tickets are available to purchase through the awards website: www.fenlandcitizenbusinessawards.co.uk
The gala night starts at 6.30pm, with the dinner being served from 7pm and the awards winners being announced from about 9pm.