The 2013 Mail News & Media Business Awards were celebrated at Willerby Manor on Thursday evening. Business editor Catherine Lea congratulates the winners.
As weeks go, it has certainly been a good one for Hull. The city has a long, proud history behind it but on Wednesday local businesses, groups and individuals got a glimpse into an equally phenomenal future after Hull was named City of Culture 2017.
The party has been in full swing ever since Culture Secretary Maria Miller confirmed Hull as the winner. And on Thursday night the celebratory mood continued at the Willerby Manor, where guests gathered to raise a toast to success at the Mail News & Media Business Awards.
More than 300 people from businesses across Hull and the East Riding enjoyed a night of fine food, inspiring entertainment and top-class networking. But as ever, the main focus of the event was to recognise those individuals and organisations who have helped drive the local economy, creating jobs and wealth and putting the area on the map for all the right reasons.
The awards are now in their 13th year and last night there were 14 honours up for grabs – more than ever before.
Welcoming guests, the Mail's editor Neil Hodgkinson said: "It's been another trying economic year with a double dip that apparently never happened but with an ending where there really does appear to be signs of a recovery. And to me, it seems that the local economy has once again shown endless examples of the talent and energy that brings numerous tales of success from our own business community.
"There are stories of entrepreneurial spirit and dogged determination from all quarters and from new names as well as the well-known. That is what we are here to celebrate."
Compere for the evening was Grimsby-born presenter Helen Fospero. She took to the stage after an inspiring speech by former Rover boss, entrepreneur and Secret Millionaire Kevin Morley.
The first organisation to join Helen on stage was Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which won the Training and Development Award. The judges praised the Trust for having a training programme which had a "far-reaching impact both inside and outside of the organisation".
The second award up for grabs, Exporter of the Year, went to Winner Heald Ltd, a Hornsea-based company which last year grew its turnover by a staggering 50 per cent thank largely to customers across the globe. KC was the next winner announced, scooping the Community Involvement Award in recognition of its massive contribution to the economies of Hull and the surrounding area, as well as its investment in start-up businesses.
Category four, Innovation & Technology, was awarded to Eon Visual Media & Springfield Solutions for their development of Smartpicture while category five, the Green Award, went to Wold Top Brewery. Everything from the brewery process at Wold Top is recycled, from the spent grains which are used as cattle feed to the hops which are transformed into compost, and the business also uses on-site wind turbines for electricity and natural reed beds to filter water.
The Business of the Year (Small) award was scooped by Stonemere IT Limited, with Kingston Veterinary Group Limited named the Medium Business of the Year.
Cranswick Plc was awarded the Business of the Year (Large) award in recognition of its significant growth, investment in its facilities and innovative products.
Esther Damary-Thompson, of Hull's Bondholder Scheme, was announced Employee of the Year while Entrepreneur of the Year went to Claire Barratt. Claire's entrepreneurial spirit and determination has seen her brand, Claireabella Designs, become a must-have accessory for a host of celebrities.
The start-up Business of The Year was this year one of the most popular categories, receiving stacks of entries. Judges chose 1884 Dock Street Kitchen as the winner on account of its £1.4m investment in the area, resultant job creation and training programme, and dedication to putting the area on the culinary map. 1884's James Allcock then returned to the stage to pick up the Young Achiever of the Year Award, before it was time for the penultimate award of the evening – the Tourism and Hospitality Award. This was presented to The Star @ Sancton, which judges praised for serving up locally sourced food and information about nearby attractions in equal measures.
The final award of the evening, Lifetime Contribution, went to Paul Sewell. As well as being managing director of Sewell Group, Mr Sewell – or Dr Paul Sewell OBE, to give him his full title – is also the founder of Humber Biz Week, a co-founder of the For Entrepreneurs Only (FEO) Group and a driving force of the Yorkshire International Business Convention.
In 2011, Sewell Group achieved national recognition after being ranked seventh best company to work for in the UK by the Sunday Times. It was the third year running the firm made the top 100 – the only company in Hull to do so.
Mr Sewell has also been at the forefront of a number of initiatives geared towards helping the region grow stronger economically. He helped set up think tank Yorkshire Enterprise Partnership and has lobbied the likes of Nick Clegg.• Today's Mail includes a special pull-out Awards section in Wednesday's 'The Business' supplement. And we'll have more reaction on HullDailyMail.co.uk later today.
