THE fifth annual Bolton and Bury Business Awards attracted about 500 local entrepreneurs to the De Vere Whites Hotel last night.
The glittering black-tie event was packed as the winners of 11 separate categories of awards, along with a surprise Special Achievement award, were announced by BBC North West Tonight weather presenter Dianne Oxberry.
The Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton, Cllr John Byrne and Mrs Lynda Byrne, along with the Mayor and Mayoress of Bury, Cllr John Byrne and Mrs Brenda Byrne, were guests of honour.
Other guests included Bolton Council chief executive Sean Harriss, Keith Davies, head of development and regeneration, and other Business Bolton officials.
The Special Achievement award went to Paul Davidson, chief executive officer of Bolton Business Ventures for his contribution to the local business scene.
Ian Settle, director of business and commercial banking for NatWest, presented the award to Mr Davidson.
He said: “Mr Davidson has the lifeblood of Bolton flowing through his organisation and millions of pounds worth of development have been brought to the area, securing thousands of jobs.
“The organisation was set up in 1983 when the town was facing a major decline and unemployment was 18 per cent. It stimulated employment and revitalised the local economy — and has continued its excellent work ever since.
“Mr Davidson has been an enterprise ambassador for Bolton and has been instrumental in the development and growth of several hundred businesses. He has worked closely with Bolton Council setting up starter units in the town.
“He also wears another hat as managing director of North Manchester Enterprise Group. But he is an unassuming man and when he was recently awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, he was reluctant to tell anyone.”
Guests from many of Bolton and Bury’s major businesses were entertained by an after dinner speech from stadium designer Paul Fletcher.
Mr Fletcher, who played 400 times for Burnley, moved into stadium design when a knee injury ended his professional playing career.
He was managing director of the developers behind the Reebok Stadium and was also involved with the new Wembley stadium.
The Bolton News will carry a special Business Awards supplement on Tuesday next week giving full details of the events with exclusive stories and photographs of all the award winners.
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS: From left, Chris Hughes, Newsquest North West regional managing director; Sean Harriss, Bolton Council chief executive; Cllr John Byrne, the Mayor of Bolton; Cllr John Byrne, the Mayor of Bury; and Ian Savage, editor in chief of The Bolton News and Bury Times group
The full list of award winners:
Start-Up Business of the Year
Sponsored by The Bolton News and Bury Times
Winner: Noggi’s Hair Dressing
Highly Commended: Simply Electricals
Commended: Meadowcroft Barn
SME Business of the Year
Sponsored by Wilds Accountants
Winner: Maytree Travel
Highly Commended: The Chinese Buffet
Commended: modus
Innovation, Design and Technology Award
Sponsored by the University of Bolton and the Imran Hakim group
Winner: Pennine Telecom Ltd
Highly Commended: Imerja Ltd
Commended: Wilson Cooke
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Sponsored by Bolton School
Winner: Abdul Rahman, Bilal Poultry
Joint Commended: Oliver Kaminski, I Recruitment Services, and Alex Hutchinson, TBA
Customer Excellence Award
Sponsored by Clough & Willis, solicitors
Winner: Authorized Access
Highly Commended: Love Your Fit
Commended: Cahill Dental Centre
Schools Enterprise Award
Sponsored by Balfour Beatty Education
Winner: Smithills
Highly Commended: Philips High
Joint Commended: Essa Academy and Rivington and Blackrod POWERWAVE
Community Award
Sponsored by O2
Winner: The BIG Bolton Fund
Highly Commended: Lads and Girls Club
Commended: Smithills
Family Business of the Year
Sponsored by Warburtons
Winner: The Peers Group
Highly Commended: Richard Threlfall Group
Commended: Movetech UK
Environmental Best Practice Award
Sponsored by Groundwork Trust
Winner: MBDA
Highly Commended: Crompton Place
Commended: Bolton Wanderers
Business Person of the Year
Sponsored by KBL Solicitors
Winner: Peter Wu, The Chinese Buffet
HIghly Commended: Gary Hawthorne, Maytree Travel
Commended: Carol Jolly, Love Your Fit
Business of the Year
Sponsored by CLB Coopers Accountants
Winner: DRL Limited
Highly Commended: TV & Video Direct
Commended: Leighs Paints
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