l-r Alex Maltsev and Jemima Aryee presenting the award to Chess Dynamics, with comedian Simon Brodkin.

Winners and sponsors form the GDBA 2024

The Business School are proud to announce Chess Dynamics as the winner of its sponsored category ‘Manufacturing Business of the Year’ at The Gatwick Diamond Business Awards 2024 (GDBA), which took place at The Grand Hotel in Brighton on 21 March.

Renowned for their reliability, Chess Dynamics are a leading fire control and surveillance company based in Horsham, West Sussex, and have been serving defence leaders and prime contractors since 2005.

Managing Director of Chess Dynamics, David Tuddenham said:

"I am absolutely delighted to announce that Chess Dynamics has been crowned the winner of the prestigious Manufacturing Business of the Year Award at the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards!

"This incredible achievement is a testament to the unwavering dedication and hard work of our entire team. Winning in this category places Chess Dynamics amongst the Gatwick Diamond region's most innovative and impactful businesses – a true honour considering the vast array of businesses in our hub.

“This award belongs to each and every member of the Chess Dynamics team. Their dedication and commitment to excellence are what truly drive our success. Being honoured amongst such esteemed finalists makes this win even more meaningful!”

Congratulations extend to the two other finalists in this category Commtel Ltd and PVL UK Ltd.

Now in its 16th year, the Gatwick Diamond awards programme is a not-for-profit organization run by its members. Celebrating business excellence from all sectors of the economy across the UK, with a particular interest in businesses and organisations that incorporate innovative and inspirational ideas and practices through their work.

This year, guests were treated to acclaimed character comedian Simon Brodkin, who hosted the awards, as well as live music, a three-course dinner and a charity draw, followed by an after-party for guests to network and celebrate with winners and finalists from the evening.

There were 16 categories including Business Person of the Year, New Business of the Year, Employer of the Year, and the Award for Community Contribution, won by Search Seven, a Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Paid Media agency that donate 7% of their profits to charity.

The winning business was selected by a team of seven Business School student judges, who led a comprehensive assessment alongside External Engagement Manager Marcus Atkinson, including a series of online interviews with representatives from each company, as well as site visits, gaining firsthand insights into the operational environments and corporate cultures of each contender.

The School would like to thank alumni judges Jeremy Jacobs, Damilola Ajiboye, and student judges Hitomi Togawa, Alex Maltsev, Jemima Aryee, Manish Jhuria, and Amandu Ndubuisi, as well as student researchers Thokozani Makuyana, Richards Ijebor, and Hannah Werner who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, enabling the team to select their winner with confidence.

MBA student judge Alex Maltsev commented:

“As a seasoned lawyer I believed my participation could be beneficial to the judging panel. However, the primary reason I participated extended beyond this. Understanding how much our university values and respects diversity, my goal was to ensure that the participants were (among other criteria) evaluated based on their attitudes towards employees with protected characteristics, especially focusing on the LGBTQ+ community. I am very pleased that this initiative was well-received by my colleagues.

“Serving as a judge at such a prestigious business award was not only an honour but also a pathway to gaining invaluable professional insights.”

Accounting and Finance student judge Jemina Aryee added:

“The factory visits opened our eyes to the meticulous approaches of running a successful manufacturing business in the UK. The network we built with colleagues, alumni, supervisors and managers throughout this process is commendable and unforgettable. I feel I have achieved some real milestones over the last few months”

This rigorous evaluation methodology underscores The Business School's commitment to recognising and celebrating excellence in the manufacturing sector, underpinning the importance of these awards in the business community.