The open fire is roaring, the chestnuts are roasting and jack frost is nibbling at the toes of the team here at Best Business Awards Towers. It can mean only one thing.....Christmas is almost upon us.
We've really enjoyed writing this blog throughout the year and bringing you news and updates of all things business awards, along with the occasional - and awesome - video to lighten the mood.
So, many thanks to everyone who has supported both the awards and this blog throughout the year (18,815 pageviews and rising - not that we're keeing count) and to our 1,200+ followers on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter - you truly, totally, rock!
So, as a little thank you, please enjoy our festive film below - the whole team would like to wish each and every one of you a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2012:
Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!
PS - Don't forget to check out the blog and Social Media in the New Year, when we will be bringing you exciting news about the launch of the 2012 awards!
Our very good friends over at Quiet Storm have very kindly produced this highlights reel featuring all the action from the Nottinghamshire's BEST Business Awards. Enjoy:
Asha Khemka OBE, Principal and Chief Executive of West Nottinghamshire College in Mansfield, scooped top honours at a prestigious awards ceremony aimed at celebrating the achievements of women in business across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
Mrs Khemka was named Inspirational Woman of the Year at the 2011 Enterprising Women Excellence Awards, which took place at Chatsworth House.
Raised in a remote village in India and married at the age of 15, Asha moved to Britain in 1978, aged 25, with her husband and their three young children.
She overcame significant cultural and language barriers to become the first female principal of a UK college to be born and raised in India.
Since taking up her post of the Mansfield college in May 2006, Asha has transformed it into one of the largest and top-performing colleges in the country; with more than 20,000 students, an annual budget of £50m and a grade one ‘Outstanding' ranking from Ofsted.
Asha, who sits on several national education boards, was awarded the OBE in 2009 for her services to education.
She said: "I am both delighted and humbled to receive this award. While personal recognition is always satisfying, this accolade demonstrates that colleges are major businesses in their own right.
"Not only are colleges at the very heart of the communities they serve, they also make a significant contribution to UK Plc through high-quality education, training and economic regeneration.
"The further education sector has a major role to play in guiding the country out of recession and I am proud to be part of a dynamic and successful organisation that is leading the way."
Asha was one of at last night's awards ceremony, which was held at Chatsworth House. The awards were facilitated by the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce and presented by ITV Central News anchor Sameena Ali-Khan.
The other winners were:
Breakthrough Business of the Year, sponsored by The Money Shop - Katrina Atherton of A Star Media in Mansfield. She said: "I'm absolutely astounded to not only have been short-listed as a finalist, but to have actually won the award. We have worked really hard this year to further establish the business and this award is not just for myself, but also for my business partner John." The other finalists in this category were Amanda Waring of Mama Jewels and Rebecca Dowdeswell of NKD Waxing Boutique.
The Community Champion Award, sponsored by Westfield Health - Carol Parkinson of Interface Management Development in Nottingham. She said: "I'm absolutely stunned, but at the same time thrilled to bits to have won this award. Events like this help inspire young people to start up in business and that is something I have been heavily involved in for 25 years, so to be recognised for my work in this area is a very proud moment for me." The other finalists in this category were Sheila Tyler from Blythe House Hospice and Christine Cutland from Women's Aid Integrated Services.
The Rising Star Award, sponsored by Rothera Dowson - Claire Fletcher of Macildowie Recruitment in Nottingham. She said: "I'm absolutely over-the-moon to have won this award, it really does mean a lot to me. The company that I work for, Macildowie, has been really supportive of everything that I have ever done and it is just amazing to have won this today." The other finalists in this category were Lucy Marsden of Blythe House Hospice and Helen McCabe of Zibrant.
Team of the Year, sponsored by The Money Shop - Blythe House Hospice in Chapel-en-le-Frith. Hospice Director Sheila Tyler said: "We are absolutely overwhelmed to have won. This is the best award of all the categories that we could have won. We do have a fantastic team of dedicated and hard-working people here at the hospice and that is what this award recognises." The other finalists in this category were George Specncer Academy and the Invest in Nottingham Club.
Business Woman of the Year, sponsored by University of Derby Corporate - Lian Britchford of Encompass Print Solutions in Ilkeston. She said: "I'm absolutely delighted and feel very proud to have won this award, not just for myself, but for the business as well. The team we have here is excellent and I very much see this as an award for the whole business and not just for myself." The other finalists in this category were Emily Bendell of BlueBella Ltd and Katrina Atherton of A Star Media.
Jean Mountain, Chair of the Chamber's Enterprising Women group, said: "Many congratulations to all of the winners of this year's Enterprising Women Excellence Awards. There are some very talented and hard-working businesswomen in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire who play a massive part in the success of their business but are often not recognised for their hard work and determination.
"These enterprising women make an important contribution to the local economy and their success stories will hopefully inspire many other women to pursue their business dreams and these awards are all about acknowledging and celebrating those achievements."
Along with the category sponsors, the Enterprising Women Excellence Awards 2011 were kindly supported by Chatsworth House, Hullabaloo Design and Print, Quadrant Visual Solutions and Changing Chairs.
Check out this vidcast of the event, which has kindly been provided by James Clarke of JHC Productions:
A training company, an environmentally friendly waste management firm, an innovative aerial photography business a top industrial equipment supplier are the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire businesses lining up alongside some of the country’s most successful companies in a leading national awards scheme.
Evolution Training Ltd, from Chesterfield; Vital Earth Ltd, from Ashbourne; Upper Cut Productions Ltd, from Nottingham; and Hall-Fast Industrial Supplies, based in Boughton, near Newark, have all been shortlisted in the British Chambers of Commerce’s 2011 Business Awards, which were created to celebrate the UK’s best businesses.
The companies go into the national finals after scooping the regional awards in their respective categories.
Evolution Training scooped the regional Most Promising New Business title, whilst Vital Earth was named East Midlands Business of the Year and also won the regional Sustainability Award.
Upper Cut Productions scooped the regional Innovation Through Technology Award, whilst Hall-Fast won the regional Achievement in International Business Award. Owner Malcolm Hall was also named East Midlands Entrepreneur of the Year.
George Cowcher, Chief Executive of the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The Chamber’s congratulations go to Evolution Training, Vital Earth, Upper Cut Productions, Hall Fast Industrial Supplies and Malcolm Hall for their success in the BCC’s Regional Business Awards.
“All have demonstrated commitment, creativity and a determination to succeed during what has been another challenging year and it’s absolutely fantastic that Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire have enjoyed so much success at the regional awards, with representatives in three categories at the prestigious national business awards in November.
“Out of the nine regional awards this year, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire produced finalists in six of the categories, which once again provides compelling evidence that these two counties truly are the engine room of the East Midlands economy.”
Evolution Training delivers leadership and management training packages for a range of customers including employers from SMEs to local authorities and hotel groups. The firm has seen growth due to investment as well as improved efficiencies from new systems that help staff cost, profile and work delivery.
Vital Earth turns 85,000 tonnes of domestic green garden waste collected by the local authority into award-winning compost and fertilisers each year, creating more than 30 specialist composts for gardeners and saving the waste from landfill.
Upper Cut Productions has developed a unique fleet of radio-controlled helicopters that are capable of producing high-resolution aerial images without the high costs involved in commissioning a pilot. The company has produced work for Channel 4, Gillett, Wembley Stadium and provided images for a Take That music video.
Malcolm Hall left school with just two grade C GCSEs and found it a challenge to even secure himself a place at college. After a lot of hard work, the passionate self-starter set up Hall-Fast, a multi-award-winning company initially supplying the automotive industry with specialist fasteners.
Once it was clear the car industry was heading for a dip, Mr Hall diversified the company’s product range to include workwear and tools to the general industrial sector, which he now exports to more than 70 countries. Hall-Fast expects sales to be up by 73% next year, with profits more than tripling.
Having won local and regional awards, both firms are now in the running for the national title in their winning categories, as well as the chance to collect the Award for Outstanding Business Achievement – with a top prize of £25,000 and runner-up prizes of £15,000 and £10,000.
The national winners will be announced at a ceremony at London’s Grand Connaught Rooms on November 24th 2011.
Well done to our very own "Fantastic Four" from Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, and best of luck for the nationals:
