Celebrating the Business Stars of North Oxfordshire
The prestigious 2014 Cherwell Business Awards Gala Dinner on Friday 16th May brought together around 250 guests to celebrate the hard work, success and entrepreneurship of business people within North Oxfordshire.
For the third year running, The Cherwell Business Awards has shone the spotlight on the ingenuity, dedication and achievements of many talented individuals and businesses in the local business community. This year, the awards attracted over 30% more applicants for the nine categories, and each of the selected finalists were not only eligible to be judged for the Norbar Cherwell Business of the Year Award, but were also automatically entered into the prestigious 2014 Oxfordshire Business Awards.
The 2014 Gala Dinner was held in an impressive marquee set in the stunning grounds of Dovecote Barn, Adderbury. The Oxfordshire County Music Service provided an excellent string quartet that performed as guests arrived for the drinks reception. Everyone had the opportunity to meet with all the sponsors, finalists and other esteemed guests before sitting down to a delicious three course dinner provided by Devour Catering.
Well known local businessman Stuart Miller, Co-Founder & CEO of Bybox hosted the ceremony and sponsors of each category commended the finalists before announcing and presenting the winners of each category with their beautiful, engraved glass trophies and certificates.
During the evening a raffle was held, with a number of sponsors and organisers generously donating prizes. The raffle raised a fantastic £1,500, with all the proceeds going to the winner of the Charity & Community Award – ACE Training & Consultancy Ltd.
The winners of the awards were:
- New Business – sponsored by Bloxham Mill Business Centre
iphone-experts
- Charity & Community – sponsored by Cherwell District Council
ACE Training & Consultancy Ltd
- Small Business – sponsored by NatWest
Oxford Fine Dining
- Customer Care Award – sponsored by Bicester Village
Castle Vehicle Leasing Ltd
- Established Business – sponsored by Spratt Endicott
Nicholsons
- Staff Training & Development Award – sponsored by Activate Learning Banbury & Bicester College
Hawkins Group of Companies
- Export – sponsored by Integration Technology
Zeta Specialist Lighting Ltd
- Innovation & Creativity – sponsored by Begbroke Science Park
Oxford Photovoltaics Ltd
- Business Person of the Year – sponsored by Ellacotts LLP
Mike Hawkins
The overall Cherwell Business of the Year, sponsored by Norbar Torque Tools and selected from amongst the finalists was awarded to ACE Training & Consultancy Ltd.
The awards team will now start preparing for 2015 and already have expressions of interest from potential sponsors. If you would like to sponsor an award in 2015, or an element of the final ceremony than contact the team care of Michelle Lewis Telephone 01295 817642, Email: bcoc@banburychamber.com
Quotes
ACE Training & Consultancy Ltd – Winner of the Cherwell District Council Charity & Community Award and also the Norbar Torque Tools Cherwell Business of the Year Award:
Managing Director, Adam Marsh was delighted at the double win; “These awards are recognition of the tireless work of the team at ACE, of the commitment of the employers and partner organisations we work with, and of the attitude and determination of our students to bring the best out of themselves. To have even been nominated as a finalist in our category was a pleasing achievement as we have never gone in for Awards before, so to win the Charity and Community Award was a fantastic feeling. And to be given the overall Award ahead of some truly exceptional businesses in Cherwell is simply incredible. We feel extremely proud to have been honoured in this way.”
ACE Training and Consultancy Ltd is a not-for-profit learning provider, delivering quality training in Brickwork and Site Carpentry with outstanding achievement rates for their students. They work with students of all ages and employers of all sizes. Website: www.acetraining.co.uk
Banbury and District Chamber of Commerce:
Michelle Lewis, Administration Officer quotes:
“Once again Cherwell Business Awards delivered a fantastic evening celebrating the sensational businesses that reside in North Oxfordshire. The beautiful grounds at Dovecote Barn provided a unique setting to showcase these companies.
Preparations are now underway for Cherwell Business Awards 2015 which promises to be another successful event showcasing the businesses in our area”.
Bicester Vision:
Placi O’Neill-Espejo, Partnership Manager says:
“The Cherwell Business Awards are an opportunity for the business community in North Oxfordshire to come together to celebrate the strong entrepreneurial spirit from the area and to showcase and remind ourselves and the rest of the public of how fortunate we are to have such well known, innovative, exciting and loved businesses here.
Bicester Vision is extremely proud to be one of the organisers of the Awards and we are now looking forward to much better and bigger ones in 2015”.
