Awards Night Shows Neston Means Business
Published: 10th February 2014 09:49 |
A packed Cranston Suite at the Cricket Club on Friday February 7 was testament to the thriving business community in Neston.
Attended by over 120 people from a wide range of local businesses and organisations, the occasion was the inaugural Neston & District Business Awards, co-ordinated by the Chamber of Trade and sponsored by AboutMyArea CH64, Brand, Evolution and Neston Town Council.
Announcing its launch in September 2013, Brand Director Lucy Mason said: "The awards can achieve a number of important goals, recognising the achievements of local businesses, raising their profile and bringing business owners together to do even more business." It also marked the next stage in a re-positioning of the Chamber of Trade as a dynamic, forward-thinking organisation, well placed to nurture both the established and developing business scene in the area.
Seven awards were up for grabs, five in categories that businesses submitted entries for, to be considered by a judging panel, which also looked at the entire business community before deciding on who should receive the Business Achievement Award. The Best Customer Service Award was decided by the public in an online vote on AboutMyArea.
Andrew Miller MP opened proceedings with encouraging words to local businesses, calling them the 'lifeblood of the economy' and talking of his ambition to see burdensome bureacracy driven out to smooth the way for new businesses to open and thrive.
Having introduced Andrew, Neston Cricket Club President Anthony Bush then called on Brand's Nick Mason to announce the awards. Each winner received a stylish glass trophy supplied by The Craftsman and a bottle of champagne courtesy of Paul Davies (Bargain Booze).
Prize Draw
As part of the Best Customer Service Award voting process, anyone who voted for any of the shortlisted businesses was invited to go into a prize draw to win a £25 voucher to spend with the winning business. The first name out of the 'hat' was Pauline Gornall, who wins £25 to spend at Elephant Coffee - congratulations!
The Neston & District Business Award Winners
Business of the Year (1-10 employees) : Harry Phipps & Co
Also shortlisted: Neston Natural Health & Beauty, Elephant Coffee, Connection 365, Birch Tree Health, Dunstan Fish & Game, Mozkitos Coffee House, Andy Mills Partnership and Oaktree Court Business Centre.
Presented by Katy Pierce, Town Centre Manager, accepted by Steve Quicke (above).
Business of the Year (10+ employees) : Gordale
Also shortlisted: Andrew's ESTATES, Neston Cricket Club, AP Mitchell Ltd.
Presented by Justin Hussey of Evolution, accepted by Jill and Peter Nicholson (above).
Online Business of the Year : Dunstan Fish and Game
Also shortlisted: Connection 365
Presented by Lucy Mason of Brand, accepted by Terry and Ann Egerton (above).
Entrepreneur of the Year : Adam Mitchell (AP Mitchell Ltd).
Also shortlisted: Emma Mitchell (Elephant Coffee), Andrew Smith (Andrew's ESTATES), Steve Mursell (Connection 365).
Presented by Paul Davies, Chair of Neston & District Chamber of Trade, accepted by Adam Mitchell (above).
Green Business of the Year : Gordale
Also shortlisted: Futureproof Network
Presented by Cllr Louise Gittins, accepted by Jill and Peter Nicholson.
Customer Service Award, nominated and voted for by the public : Elephant Coffee
25 businesses were nominated by the public. The six with the most nominations went on to a public vote. Also shortlisted: Angellina Gems, Birch Tree Health, HIp & Harmony CIC, Neston Natural Health & Beauty Clinic and The Brown Horse.
Presented by Carrie Spacey of AboutMyArea Neston, accepted by Emma Mitchell and Keith Parr (above).
Business Achievement of the Year : Phillip Bates, Phillip Bates & Co Ltd.
The Judges said: "This award goes to a member of the Neston & District business community who has made an outstanding contribution over many years. Phil has been in business for over 30 years, has tirelessly supported many community organisations and who has held various roles within the Chamber of Trade itself when it needed his help most. He was the unanimous choice of the judges."
Presented by Cllr Janet Griffiths, Deputy Mayor of Neston, accepted by Phillip Bates (above).
Our warmest congratulations to all the winners and those who were shortlisted.
The entire evening was the product of a truly collaborative effort by local businesses. In addition to the main sponsors, thanks must go to:
Bargain Booze
Bernard Rose
Cheeky Chilli Events
Deeside Laundry
Linda Pelling Creative Photography
Neston Cricket Club
Neston Town Council
Swiftprint
The Craftsman
Thanks also to all the local businesses who donated raffle prizes: Balducci Jewellers; Elephant Coffee; Gordale; The Marsh Cat; Cellar Bar & Café (Birkenhead); little tea house, Neston Natural Health & Beauty Clinic; Sainsbury's Neston; Mammy Jamia's and Tesco Neston.
Neston and District Chamber of Trade will be planning further networking events in the coming months. If you are in business in the Neston area and are not yet a member, please download an application form here, or visit the website.
Speaking at the end of the evening, Lucy Mason said: "We were delighted by the response from the Neston & District business community and we are already thinking about how we can make next year's event even bigger and better.
"There were some extremely worthy winners and many other equally worthy businesses which just missed out. I think we have demonstrated what can be achieved when local businesses work together, but it is vital that the momentum from Friday night is now maintained and built upon."
Photo Gallery
All photographs are ©Linda Pelling Creative Photography.
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