The Chamber News
Business Awards – 18th March 2022
The East Cheshire Chamber of Commerce Annual Business Awards took place on 18th March 2022 at De Vere Cranage Estate, Holmes Chapel. With over 210 guests including chamber members, sponsors and nominees attending this highly regarded event, it was, once again a spectacular evening.
Guests were welcomed on arrival by Deaville & Co, photographs by Cheshire Photography and a drinks reception sponsored by De Vere Cranage Estate. Chamber Chief Executive Jackie Randles welcomed all the guests and all the sponsors were acknowledged. There was a special award which Andy Pear presented to David Watson, who retired from the Chamber in 2021, for his Commitment and Excellence to the Business Community from 2006 until 2021.
Following the three-course dinner the awards ceremony commenced, the winners received a trophy, a certificate and a pack of Bach95 lager kindly donated by Bach95 from Sandbach. Also, sponsors Prism UK extended a kind invitation to the winners of each award to a winner’s dinner which will be held in May.
The winners of the Start up Business Award – Lauren Burnham and Emily Kirkham from Prickly Peach Films were presented with their award by Steve Nichols from Rossendale Trust, this was followed by Ian Cottrill from Franklyn Financial Management presenting the Employee of the Year Award to Sarah Hunter from Handelsbanken who was representing the worthy winner Ellie Woodhouse who could not be present on the evening.
The Manufacturer of the Year Award was won by Senior Aerospace Bird Bellows, Paul Woolliscroft from Tinsdills Solicitors presented the award to John Stewart CEO and the apprentice team. TMC Strategic Communications who supply professional services to international organisations throughout Europe and USA, were the proud winners of the International Trade Award which was presented by John Stewart from Senior Aerospace Bird Bellows.
A category that received a lot of entries was the charity award and, after careful deliberation during the judging process, The Charity of the Year Award was presented by Kevin Cook from Business Doctors to Anna Maddox and Natalie Nuttall from The Smile Group.
Acorn Occupational Health were the winners of the Customer Service Award which was presented by Nigel Moorhouse from Roman Lodge Estates, Acorn expanded there already well-honed customer service skills to support businesses facing challenges that Covid bought and continue to do so. Chris Hamriding Estate Agents won the Innovation and Technology Award using technology in a way to separate them from other businesses in their sector, Shaun Morton from Prism UK presented the award to Chris Hamriding and Pete Hutchins.
Helen Spencer from Tinsdills Solicitors presented the Leisure & Hospitality Award to The Lion & Swan Hotel who won the award and have set a new standard for this category in years to come. The Employer of the Year Award was an extremely strong category this year and was won by The Rossendale Trust, Chris Bentley from Harts Accountants presented the award.
A new category for this year was the Progress toward Carbon Neutrality Award, Peter Aston, the Chair of the Congleton Partnership – who are raising the awareness Climate Change – presented a trophy and an oak flask which is to become a perpetual challenge cup to Ben Hyslop and Jake Brown of H21 Safety.
Another category with huge entries this year was the Professional Service Award, this award was presented by Peter McNulty from Hammond McNulty to Macclesfield College. The final award of the evening was the Business of the Year Award which went to double winners this year, an established organisation who are going from strength to strength – Acorn Occupational Health. The award was presented by Sarah Hunter form Handelsbanken.
An auction and a raffle were held which raised £3,375 on the evening for the Chambers Charity of the Year, Ruby’s Fund which makes the total raised in 2021 to 2022 of £4,758.
Celebrations and dancing went on into the small hours.
