Wakefield District Business Awards - Winners Revealed!
26th November 2007
The winners in the prestigious first Wakefield District Business Awards have been revealed at a glittering Gala Awards evening.
The Awards, which really captured the imagination of the business community, featured nine fantastic categories open to companies and organisations of all sizes across the District, honouring skills and learning, innovation, community enterprise, care for the environment, entrepreneurship, international trade, e-commerce and of course the bottom line, business success.
A record response saw the District’s companies striving to demonstrate just how good they are.
The Awards were hosted by first the Wakefield District Development Agency with the backing of a range of partners, including some of the region’s most dynamic and influential organisations; Wakefield Council, the Wakefield Express, Ardagh Glass, Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors, Wakefield College, HARIBO, Peel Holdings, Barclays, Handelsbanken and Paragon Business Village.
Mohan de Silva, Chief Executive of first said:
‘We have been absolutely delighted with the response to the Wakefield District Business Awards, and I congratulate all our winners and finalists.
"Our judges faced an extraordinarily difficult task given the quality and quantity of entries received, but in the National Coal Mining Museum I firmly believe they have made the right choice of Wakefield Business of the Year 2007. The NCMM is one of Yorkshire and the UK’s most unique attractions, as well as a thriving and innovative business, its success looks to the future whilst honouring our industrial past.
The diverse and innovative companies honoured in their respective categories are the driving force behind changing perceptions of the Wakefield District as a great place to do business. We’ve already received a huge number of enquiries from companies keen to enter or sponsor the Wakefield Business Awards 2008, so watch this space.”
The Awards finalists confirm the emergence of an increasingly diverse and confident Wakefield District business community.
Dr Margaret Faull, Director of The National Coal Mining Museum for England, Wakefield’s Business of the Year 2007, was delighted to be a winner:
“I am thrilled that the National Coal Mining Museum has won this prestigious award and been recognized as both a key regional leisure attraction for Yorkshire, as well as a successful and innovative business which is building a national profile. This is a welcome boost for our wonderful team – all credit to them and their hard work.”
John Donner, Managing Director of Double Two Ltd, the winners of the Innovation in Business Award 2007 said:
“Innovation has always been important here at Double Two - we produced the first man made fibre shirt right here in Wakefield and have been updating and improving our products ever since. The Wakefield Business Award is a wonderful recognition of all our hard work in bringing the Paradigm shirt to market and has been a real boost to all our staff.”
Bob Howden, Managing Director of Grass Concrete Ltd felt the Awards would boost productivity:
“The staff of Grass Concrete feels honoured to have been awarded the International Business Award for 2007.The company has always been particularly proud of its Wakefield and Yorkshire roots. Indeed trips abroad to meet new trading partners usually entail trips to the Tourist Information Centre to stock up on gifts of "local origin" mementos. To gain such an Award in our home city could not be more welcome, thank you Wakefield first .”
Paul Mitchell, Managing Director of the Harris Partnership picked up the People make Performance Award:
"We were delighted to receive the award. This is a fantastic justification of our approach to teamwork, training and concern for our staff and their general welfare"
Peter Ellis, Director, Planet Platforms Limited, saw his company collect the e-Business Award:
"The Awards 2007 were bigger, better and certainly more competitive this year than ever before, which is why winning the e-business award is not only prestigious recognition of our hard work but also means a lot to everyone at Planet Platforms."
The finalists collectively represented turnover in excess of £300 million and ranged in size from just 2 employees to more than 1,000. Wakefield is currently experiencing one of the fastest growing rates of new business start-ups in Yorkshire, as well as an ever growing number of investment enquiries from companies looking to move to the area. The Wakefield Business Awards are designed to recognise and celebrate the best of business in the Wakefield District and encourage new businesses to follow in their footsteps.
Sir Rodney Walker, awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for his services to business, sport, community and fundraising said:
“As a proud Wakefield lad I am delighted to receive this Award from my home city. The Business Awards really brought home to me the sheer quality and diversity of businesses who now call the Wakefield District home. I was immensely impressed by the achievements of all the winners, the future looks bright for business in Wakefield.”
The Awards:
The Business of the Year Award 2007 sponsored by Wakefield Council went to the outstanding organisation that has best demonstrated exceptional financial returns, strong growth and innovation strategies, plus market leadership in its sector. The Finalists were:
- Switalski’s Solicitors – Highly Commended
- National Coal Mining Museum – Winner
Media Displays - Rok
The People Make Performance Award sponsored by Wakefield College went to a company that is committed to realising the potential of its people through training and development, showing a positive commitment to on going staff training as a part of their business strategy. The finalists were:
- TK Maxx – Highly Commended
- The Harris Partnership Ltd – Winner
- Heath Lambert Insurance Services
- Acxiom Ltd
Start-up businesses are the lifeblood of a District’s economy and Wakefield’s New Business Award sponsored by Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors has gone to an organisation started since January 2006 that is succeeding through good ideas, careful planning and a determination to succeed. The finalists were:
- Fresh Pastures CIC – Winner
- The Studio – Highly Commended
- On-Fire Creative
- Route One Highways Limited
The business world doesn’t stand still and The Innovation Award sponsored by HARIBO has rewarded the organisation that can best demonstrate an ability to create, nurture and develop new ideas or ways of working that have improved the performance of the company. The finalists were:
- Double Two Ltd – Winner
- Joseph Rhodes Ltd
- LINPAC Plastics – Highly Commended
- Diggerland Ltd
The Business and the Environment Award sponsored by Ardagh Glass awards the organisation most actively committed to sound environmental practice as well as cost saving in the workplace, showing a commitment to protect substantial resources for future generations. The finalists were:
- Opti-pharma UK – Highly Commended
- Grass Concrete Limited
- LINPAC Plastics
- Sutcliffe Play – Winner
The Business Entrepreneur of the Year Award sponsored by Peel Holdings rewards the outstanding individual who has best demonstrated exceptional vision and leadership in the establishment and development of an owner-led business, with a character to match. The finalists were:
- TLP (Simon Green) – Winner
- BCB Publications (Helen Chant) – Highly Commended
- Single Muslim Ltd (Adeem Younis)
- Web Translations (Daniel Rajkumar)
The Community Enterprise Award sponsored by Barclays Bank recognises the impact that social enterprises are having on the Wakefield District economy. The winning organisation represents the true ethos of social enterprise. The finalists were:
- Theatre Royal Wakefield – Winner
- The Castleford Project
- Featherstone Improvers – Highly Commended
- ASDA Distribution Centre
The International Business Award category, sponsored by Paragon Business Village rewards success in penetrating overseas markets, and demonstrates how an international trade strategy has translated into real results. The finalists were:
- Grass Concrete Limited – Winner
- Pell Frischmann Consultants Limited
- The Charlesworth Group
- Global Live Ltd
Finally as the pace of business grows ever quicker, The e-Business Award sponsored by Handelsbanken was presented to a company that has placed e-business at its heart. The finalists were:
- Servatech Ltd
- Heath Lambert Insurance Services – Highly Commended
- Planet Platforms – Winner
- ECS Telecoms
