Taking some time out to relax and celebrate

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While we’ve certainly seen some challenging times in business over the past few years, the roll of honour at the Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards 2024 demonstrated that taking some time out from the cut and thrust still seems pretty popular.

Leisure virtually became the theme of the awards ceremony, held at the County Ground in Northampton on November 7, where the likes of Whilton Mill Karting & Outdoor Activities, Northamptonshire Sport, Billing Aquadrome’s parent company Meadow Bay Villages, pub group Greedy Gordons, Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust and Memento Exclusives all went away with a trophy.

The rest of the business community didn’t go unnoticed, of course, with, among others, Apertus Group, Franklins Solicitors and CB Tax Ltd also picking up awards.

The evening was guaranteed to be fun right from the start, with Taskmaster’s Alex Horne taking the stage as host, ably supported by his musical comedy band, The Horne Section. They joined the audience of more than 500 guests once the drinks reception and three-course dinner were over.

Opening proceedings, Ben Thomas, Managing Director of awards organisers All Things Business announced that this year’s special award – presented annually to someone who has made an outstanding contribution to the county – had been renamed the David Laing Award in honour of the former Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire who died earlier this year.

NBEA - Alex Horne

Ben said:

“David passed away earlier this year and will be deeply missed, as he had a positive effect on thousands of people. In 2019, David was the recipient of what was then the Outstanding Contribution Award, which is given to an individual who has gone above and beyond for our county.

“To honour David, and with his wife Mary’s blessing, the award will now be known as the David Laing CBE Award.”

Receiving the inaugural David Laing CBE Award was Gavin Warren, who stepped down as Chairman of Northamptonshire County Cricket Club earlier this year, and who has been instrumental in not only helping the club regain financial stability, but has also played a major part in helping cricket adapt to the future – bringing the likes of T20 Blast to the County Ground and helping devise The Hundred, a faster, limited ball format.

Gavin said:

“Firstly, thank you for this award. We have three professional sports clubs in Northampton, as well as Silverstone nearby, and we should be very proud. We have a wonderful county, wonderful sport and to come together on an evening like this to celebrate in the way we have is amazing, well done everyone.”

NBEA - Billy Lockett

Northampton singer Billy Lockett made a special guest appearance on the night to perform as it was announced that local mental health and suicide prevention charity, Kelly’s Heroes was the chosen charity partner for this year’s awards.

James Argent, better known as Arg from the TV hit The Only Way Is Essex took to the stage with singer Tony Roberts to finish the evening with some dance floor classics.

Lucienne Shakir from Lucienne Coaching, who won Businesswoman of the Year, said:

“I feel surprise, joy and elation. I was here last year and I didn’t win, so it’s a real honour. I put it down to perseverance and resilience. It’s not easy, doing what we do and it takes so much to be a female founder, so to all of the other women who were finalists, I want to say a huge congratulations to them, for running their businesses the way they do.”

Gary Sheppard from Northamptonshire Sport HAF (Holidays and Activities Food) Programme, winner of the Community Project or Person of the Year, which was judged on a public vote, said:

“We are very grateful to the people who voted for us. We work very hard with families so that they get the most out of the HAF Programme and it’s great that they have taken the time and effort to vote for us. It’s recognition of the hard work we’ve put into
the programme.”

Oliver Symons, Principal of Moulton College, sponsors of the Apprentice of the Year Award said:

“We are all about skills and we really get the focus on business and education needing each other and it’s fantastic to recognise the great work these apprentices have done.”