Winners of 13th annual Mercury Business Awards are revealed at glittering ceremony
The winners of the 13th annual Mercury Business Awards were crowned at a glittering awards ceremony tonight (Friday, September 21) at the recently refurbished Greetham Valley.
After months of anticipation, the finalists, main partners, category and associate sponsors, judges and guests gathered at Greetham Valley to celebrate all that is great about business in the Stamford and Rutland area.
Hosted by Rutland Radio's Rob Persani, the winners in 10 categories each took home a trophy made from Lincolnshire Limestone. There were 31 businesses represented with three or four businesses shortlisted in each of the categories.
Addressing the audience of more than 200 guests, Iliffe Media managing director Richard Parkinson said the evening was all about celebrating "amazing success stories and the achievements of our amazing finalists".
The evening began with a drinks reception, kindly sponsored by Moore Thompson, and canapes, giving guests an early opportunity to network.
During a delicious meal, guests had the opportunity to enter a prize draw and donated generously to the Mercury's nominated charity The Harley Staples Cancer Trust.
Magician Max Francis was also there to provide entertainment.
During the awards presentation, videos produced by Leo Media, were shown throughout the presentation giving guests a flavour of each business or individual and why they deserved to be finalists.
Mercury editor Kerry Coupe said afterwards: "Once again the Mercury Business Awards were a tremendous success and we were delighted to share the success stories of our winners and finalists, all of whom should be congratulated for their amazing achievements.
"My thanks also go to our sponsors and supporters - without you the event just would not be possible - and especially to Greetham Valley, who once again were fantastic hosts."
Our thanks go to our sponsors: Greetham Valley; Hegarty LLP; Oldrids & Downtown; Loomes & Co; Invest SK; Moore Thompson; Duncan & Toplis; Landmark IFA; Alltech; Viking Signs; Bluebird Care; Chattertons; Hunters Interiors; Greensleaves Florist and Leo Media.
The winners were:
- Best New Start-Up: Baby Nails (Ketton) - Sponsored by Hegarty LLP
- Best Independent Retailer: Peters' Cleaners (Stamford) - Sponsored by Oldrids & Downtown
- Business Innovation: New College Stamford - Sponsored by InvestSK
- Best Social Enterprise: Second Helpings (Stamford) - Sponsored by Alltech
- Customer Care: Peters' Cleaners - Sponsored by Bluebird Care
- Great Taste: Tatums Bistro (Stamford) - Sponsored by Loomes
- Employee or Team of the Year: The Village Stores & Post Office (Ryhall) - Sponsored by Landmark IFA
- Businesssperson of the Year: Paul Williams, KFE Ltd (Market Deeping) - Sponsored by Duncan & Toplis
- Small Business of the Year: Katie Cardew Illustrations (King's Cliffe) - Sponsored by Greetham Valley
- Large Business of the Year: NetSupport Ltd (Market Deeping) - Sponsored by Chattertons
A special supplement will be in next week's Mercury, featuring pictures and full reports from the night, out on Friday, September 28.
