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Congratulations Winners - Skipton Business Awards 2019

26 April 2019

Winners celebrate Skipton Business Awards

Excitement was high as business owners, family and friends gathered to celebrate Skipton Business Awards 2019 at The Rendezvous Hotel. A record sixteen trophies were presented at the ceremony which included fine dining, whoops, smiles and applause as the business community celebrated in style.

Now in their third year, the awards received record entries, making the task for the judging panel of independent business experts the most difficult ever. Ivan Le Roux, President of Skipton Chamber of Trade & Commerce launched the evening with a passionate speech saying “I was honoured to be chosen as President of this long-established organisation” and going on to emphasise that “The success of these awards is evident by the number of people here tonight, the increase in entries for the categories and continued sponsorship support from the business community.” He gave special thanks to Headline Sponsor Skipton BID and the category sponsors, also to Malcolm and Karen Weaving, Amanda Casey and their incredible team at The Rendezvous Hotel.

Chamber & Awards’ Coordinator, Wendy Griffin, introduced the Special Chamber Award. Only the second time of awarding in three years, Wendy explained: “The Executive choose to recognise a company, organisation, people or person with strong links to the Chamber, with the ethos of going above and beyond everyday expectations and offering a contribution to the Skipton and BD23 area which helps the businesses and therefore the community. This year the Executive chose to present the award to the Skipton Town Ambassadors team.”

This proved to be a popular decision greeted with rapturous cheers and applause as Judy Probst, Tourism & Community Liaison Officer and Supervisor of the Skipton Town Ambassadors moved to the stage to collect the Award along with Alistair Clayton-Stead, one of the longest serving voluntary Ambassadors.

From the winners of each category the judging panel chose the Overall Winner Award. J B Springs (John Binns & Son (Springs) Ltd) collected the title, having earlier been
presented with the Best Manufacturing & Engineering Award. The judges commented: “Manufacturing often takes a beating with too many ‘bad news’ stories in this sector. But here we have a shining example of the best of what manufacturing in this area can provide. This is a brilliant ‘good news’ story for the town and its economy which was a real highlight of the judging process. This business is a real breath of fresh air in the manufacturing sector and deserves all the plaudits it receives; a deserving winner of this award.”

Details of the winners and finalists in each category can be found on the awards’ website http://www.skiptonbusinessawards.co.uk/ as follows:

Best Accommodation Award
Sponsored by Jelf Insurance
Winner: Black Horse Hotel, Grassington
Finalists:
Bailey Bed & Breakfast (Highly Commended)
Coniston Hotel Country Estate & Spa

Best Apprentice/Trainee
Sponsored by High Corn Mill
Winner: Chloe Green, Craven District Council
Finalists:
Carly Sharp, Coffee Care
Izzy Booth, Benjamin Opticians

Best Bar None
A separate award organised and sponsored by Skipton BID
Winner: Venue Sports & Music Bar
Finalist: The Albion Inn

Best B2B Supplier/Wholesaler
Sponsored by Windle & Bowker
Winner: Fortem People Ltd.
Finalists:
Coffee Care
Dalesman Publishing

Best Customer Service
Sponsored by Bizzie Lizzie's
Winner: Thornton Hall Country Park
Finalists:
Grassington House
Verus Solutions

Best Fitness Health & Beauty
Sponsored by Aspire Magazine
Winner: Benjamin Opticians
Finalists:
Crossgates Health, Hair & Beauty
Jetts Fitness

Best Food & Drink
Sponsored by The Rendezvous Hotel
Winner: Grassington House
Finalists:
Bizzie Lizzie’s
Black Horse Hotel, Grassington

Best Leisure & Tourism Award
Sponsored by Spear Travels
Winner: Hesketh Farm Park
Finalists:
Skipton Boat Trips
Thornton Hall Country Park

Best Manufacturer & Engineering
Sponsored by Shepherd Partnership
Winner: J B Springs (John Binns & Son (Springs) Ltd)
Finalists:
Chelker Technology Ltd
Hartleys Bedrooms

Best Market Stall
Sponsored by Skipton Market
Winner: Pro Canvas Studio
Finalists:
Borders Wholesale
Handmade Pet Bed & Soft Furnishing

Best New Business
Sponsored by AWB Charlesworth Solicitors
Winner: Elsworth Kitchen
Finalists:
Clubhouse Coffee & Cycles
DeBec Private Hire

Best Professional/Financial Services Award
Sponsored by Skipton Building Society
Winner: Fortem People Ltd.
Finalists:
AKA PR
Centre For Crisis Psychology (CCP)

Best Retailer Award
Sponsored by Barclays Bank PLC
Winner: The Present Planners Toy Shop
Finalists:
Just… By The Bridge x
Midgley Motor Cars Grassington Garage

Special Chamber Award
Sponsored by Skipton Chamber of Trade & Commerce
Winner: Skipton Town Ambassadors

Best Visitors’ Choice (Skipton Town Guide 2018) Award
Sponsored by The Rendezvous Hotel
Winner: The Growling Shrew
Finalists:
Bae Chique Ltd
Coniston Hotel Country Estate & Spa

Overall Winner
Best Business of the Year
Sponsored by Skipton BID
Winner: J B Springs

Photo: Winners - Best Business of 2019 - J B Springs - receiving their award from Geraldine Thompson, Skipton BID. Skipton BID were headline sponsors 2019.