Which? crowns best of business

The best businesses have been celebrated today at a ceremony in central London, as the Which? Awards 2015 winners were announced.

The ninth Which? Awards ceremony was co-hosted by TV presenter Steph McGovern and Which? Group Chief Executive Peter Vicary-Smith. This year’s ceremony featured a keynote speech from Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, on the role of good business in creating a sustainable economy.

The Awards recognise and celebrate the best businesses that are consistently focused on the needs of their customers. Which? is a consumer champion, and the Which? Awards show that businesses can and should be consumer champions too. Leaders from some of the most successful UK businesses were in attendance hoping to win.

Two companies have been crowned winners in their categories for the first time:

  • Volkswagen, awarded Best Car Manufacturer, with all their cars tested this year rated highly, along with plenty of feedback from consumers on the helpfulness and knowledgeability of their staff.
  • Sony, which has shown a big improvement, winning Best Audio-Visual Brand against stiff competition, with numerous Best Buy products across multiple categories.

These first-time winners represent the spirit of the awards, and a number of smaller businesses were also honoured for their excellent products and services. For the second year running, the award for Best Telecoms Services Provider has gone to giffgaff, a provider that stands out for offering customers unlocked phones, handset and service charge separation and no charge for 0800 numbers.

This year’s Awards also mark the first Which? Trusted Trader of the Year Award, won by South London Heating. This award recognises traders endorsed by the Which? Trusted Traders scheme who have gone the extra mile for their customers and achieved excellent customer reviews.

Delivery company DPD has been singled out for a special award this year, which recognises a company that has offered the best in customer care and driven change in its sector. DPD topped the tables for courier companies with a huge customer satisfaction score and meets all the calls of our campaign to stamp out Dodgy Deliveries.

All of this year’s winners reflect those businesses that strive to meet consumers’ expectations and work hard to be the brands that make a difference to peoples’ lives by focusing on what consumers want. A Which? Award is our way of rewarding their achievements and helping them to stand out from the crowd.

Which? group chief executive, Peter Vicary-Smith said: “A Which? Award is our way of recognising the businesses that share our ideals and offer products and services that improve their customers’ lives. “Good businesses can truly be consumer champions. By treating customers fairly, businesses will be rewarded for their efforts with more confident consumers helping to drive growth in the economy.”

Business Secretary, Sajid Javid said: “Customers are the most important people to any business. Without customers there are no profits, no exports, no growth. The Which? Awards are testament to businesses who recognise this. It’s why we are committed to making Britain the best place to start and grow a business, and helping more businesses deliver the award-worthy service their customers deserve.”

Notes to editors:

1.    The Which? Awards 2015 winners, in full, are:

  • Best Car Manufacturer: Volkswagen
  • Best Banking Brand: First Direct
  • Best Insurance Services Provider: NFU Mutual
  • Best Retailer: Richer Sounds
  • Best Supermarket: Aldi
  • Best Computing Brand: Samsung
  • Best Audio-Visual Brand: Sony
  • Best Home Appliance Brand: Miele
  • Best Telecom Services Provider: giffgaff
  • Best Photography Brand: Nikon
  • Best Travel Company: Trailfinders
  • Which? Trusted Trader of the Year 2015: South London Heating
  • Which? Special Award 2015: DPD

2. We recognise businesses that have achieved positive change and deliver excellent products and services that score highly in our research and testing. We award businesses across a wide range of sectors from cars to retailers, banks to home appliances and local businesses. The Which? Awards are completely independent and businesses can’t put themselves forward to win an award.​

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