Celebrating Impact & Innovation: OIT Headlines the Exeter Summer Bash & Impact Awards

On Thursday 26th June, the Exeter business community came together for an unforgettable evening of celebration at the Exeter Summer Bash & Impact Awards. Hosted at the iconic Exeter Phoenix, the event ran from 6:30pm until midnight, shining a spotlight on the individuals, teams, and organisations driving real change across the region.

As headline sponsor, we at Optimising IT were proud to support this energetic, sun-soaked gathering of business leaders, innovators, and community champions.

A Night to Remember

The atmosphere at Exeter Phoenix was nothing short of electric. With the sun shining and a buzz of anticipation in the air, guests enjoyed an evening filled with great food, great music, and even better company.

Highlights of the night included:

• Street food delights from Soul Pizza Truck, Big Kebabski, and The Pudding Collection
• A live set from DJ and Exeter Chamber Chair, Steve Gates
• Lively networking and laughter as the sun went down
• A truly inspiring awards ceremony that left us all reflecting on the positive work happening across our city

OIT: Championing Local Success

As headline sponsor, the OIT team was out in full force – connecting with fellow business leaders, cheering on the finalists, and celebrating the amazing achievements in our community.

We were thrilled to be joined by clients, partners, and friends throughout the evening. A special moment for us was seeing our Managing Director, Todd Gifford, and Non-Executive Director, James Cater, take to the stage to present several of the evening’s awards.

To add to the celebration, OIT also donated prizes for lucky attendees, including:

• Exeter City Football Club tickets
• A tailored Cyber Security Workshop to help local organisations build resilience in the digital age

Celebrating the Changemakers

The Impact Awards recognised a diverse range of talent and community-led success stories. Congratulations to all of the winners and highly commended finalists:

Next Generation
Winner: Cameron Mills
Highly Commended: Tia Collard

Team Achievement
Winner: Exeter Library
Highly Commended: The Baby Room (CIC)

Business
Winner: Konker Group
Highly Commended: Adopstar

People
Winner: Lara McIvor
Highly Commended: Rhi Belcher

Place
Winner: CoLab
Highly Commended: Westbank Community Health and Care

Sustainable Impact
Winner: Exeter City Council
Highly Commended: Westbank Community Health and Care

Chamber Member
Winner: Exeter Community Initiatives
Highly Commended: Cameron Mills Group

Special Recognition:
St Petrock’s

These awards are more than just accolades; they shine a light on the unsung heroes who are quietly transforming our community through hard work, purpose, and passion.

Building a Stronger Local Community

Events like the Summer Bash don’t just bring people together; they strengthen our local economy, celebrate meaningful work, and create opportunities for collaboration.

We’re proud to play our part, and hugely thankful to the Exeter Chamber and One Voice Media for organising such a meaningful and memorable evening.
And of course, we can’t forget the brilliant food vendors that kept everyone fuelled and smiling!

See You Next Year

After such a successful night, we’re already looking forward to next year’s event. Whether you’re a business owner, team member, or local champion – we encourage you to get involved and nominate your changemakers for the 2026 Impact Awards.

Let’s Optimise Your IT

If you’re looking to work with a proactive, people-focused IT partner that’s passionate about supporting local business, we’d love to hear from you.

Get in touch with the Optimising IT team today. Let’s talk about how we can help your organisation grow, scale, and succeed through smarter, secure IT solutions.