It's time to buy those last minute tickets for the Fenland Business Awards gala night
With the Fenland Business Awards evening fast approaching it’s time to think about buying those extra tickets you might want for staff, family and friends for our black-tie gala night.
Judging is now complete, the winners have been decided - and it’s fair to say it was no easy task for our judging panel.
The last job - and it was a big one - was to choose the Judges’ Prestige Award winner.
Everyone of the finalists was considered for this accolade and the panel had a tricky job of picking someone to win this award given by headline sponsors, Whitings LLP, in recognition of overall achievement.
Like all the awards, it will be presented on the night when the winners will be announced live on stage at our glitzy awards ceremony being held at March Braza Club on Friday, March 31.
The awards are being brought to you by Iliffe Media, publishers of the Fenland Citizen, and are the first to be organised by us.
Each finalist has been given two free tickets per business for our gala awards night, which is a black-tie affair with a three-course dinner.
Ticket price includes champagne drinks reception, a delicious 3-course gala dinner and table wine and extras and can be purchased at £75 including VAT via the Fenland Business Awards website - however if your want to join us then you need to be quick as closing date for ticket buying is Monday (13).
They are open to anyone interested in coming along to help celebrate the best of business in Fenland, so even if you are not among those in the running for an award it would be good to see you there.
Top accountancy firm Whitings LLP is the headline sponsor for this event, which will kick-off at 6.30pm with a drinks reception sponsored by our associate sponsor, broadband provider, UPP, while the tables for the delicious three-course gala dinner, which starts at 7pm, are sponsored by EnriCH₄ Ltd (BioteCH).
There are 10 categories carrying awards for 2023 and the winners will be announced after dinner from around 9pm onwards on the night.
Some of those announced as being shortlisted have been speaking of their delight and excitement.
Among them is Rachel Green, who along with a team of eight dedicated volunteers, runs the Fenland Families and Baby Bank in Wisbech, which was nominated in the Best Social Enterprise.
Rachel said: “We feel really honoured to have been shortlisted. I feel especially pleased for the team who put in so much time and effort to keep the bank running. Being shortlisted is a recognition of that hard work. It doesn’t matter if we don’t win, because we already feel like winners.
“In fact everyone who has been nominated, whether they have been shortlisted or not are winners in my book.”
Jamie Coombs from March Fast Fit and Servicing in Creek Road was equally thrilled to know his garage business launched just as the pandemic hit in 2020 was nominated - not by himself - but by many of his satisfied customers. He has been nominated in the Customer Care Category.
He said: “I really couldn’t believe it when I heard we had been shortlisted because we didn’t put the entry in ourselves - someone else did it for us and that makes it extra special.
“To be honest I already feel like a winner knowing someone out there believes my garage is worthy of a nomination. It is a fantastic present for our third anniversary which was earlier this month. I know there are a lot of really worthy winners out there, but I have already won just by someone appreciating what we do and the attitude we have, which is to treat everyone with kindness and respect.”
Finally, Lauren Robson from The Local Sweet Cart Company, nominated in the Best New Start-Up, said: “For once I’m a little speechless! I can’t quite believe that this morning I received an email to say that The Local Sweet Cart Company is a finalist in the Fenland Business Awards, for not just one category but two.
“This is incredible and I’m absolutely over the moon. What a humongous step for my little business.
“The biggest thank you to you, my wonderful customers for always sticking with me! Roll on the awards ceremony.”
Iliffe Media, publishers of the Fenland Citizen, are thrilled to be bringing you these prestigious awards and cannot wait to celebrate some amazing firms.
Those shortlisted in each category are as follows:
Shortlisted in the Apprentice/Trainee of the Year are: Brooke Reeves from Swann Edwards Architecture and Harry Turner from Tydd St Giles Golf and Country Club.
Shortlisted in the Best New Start-Up are: March Fast Fit and Servicing, Sizzlers Barbeque Caterers and the Local Sweet Cart Company.
Shortlisted in the Best Social Enterprise are: FACT Community Transport, Fenland Families and Baby Bank, RKA Kickboxing Academy.
Shortlisted in the Business Innovation (sponsored by Mapus-Smith& Lemmon) are: Build A Brand, Eastern Promise, The Secret Garden Touring Park.
Shortlisted in the Business of the Year (sponsored by Fraser Dawbarns LLP) are: Build A Brand, Goldstar Metal Traders and Swann Edwards Architecture.
Shortlisted in the Businessperson of the Year (sponsored by Stephenson Smart) are: Gemma Alexander of Build A Brand and Denise’s Pre-Loved Baby Boutique.
Shortlisted in the Customer Care Category (sponsored by Paragon Motors) are: Fenland Families and Baby Bank, March Fast Fit and Servicing and The Local Sweet Cart Company.
Shortlisted in the Employee of the Year are: Joann Browne of Hourglass Escapes Ltd, Joanna Ring of Abtec 4 Abrasives and Lara Kingswell of Rest Assured Homecare Ltd.
Shortlisted in the Environmental Champion are:Gaea’s Soul and Goldstar Metal Traders.
Shortlisted in the Independent Retailer of the Year are: Gaea’s Soul, Harrison Coley Opticians.
Shortlisted in the Readers’ Choice Award (voted for by Citizen readers) are: RKA Kickboxing Academy, Sizzlers Barbeque Caterers and the Secret Garden Touring Park.