‘Biz Awards’ get finance boost from new council

Pictured at last year's Ballymena Chamber of Commerce & Industry annual Business Excellence Awards are Chamber committee members and special guests including the then Mayor of Ballymena Cllr Audrey Wales. Picture by John McIlwaine.

The request to take on that role, involving £5750 of funding support, from Ballymena Chamber of Commerce & Industry had been passed on to the new ‘Super’ authority by Ballymena Borough Council in its final weeks of winding up.

And, last week, Mid & East Antrim councillors agreed at committee level that in 2015-16 ‘any’ of the three predecessor Council areas wishing to run their own business awards should be supported with a maximum contribution from the new combined authority of £6,000.

They also agreed that the future of the awards should be reviewed to determine whether they would be run collectively or separately.

Prior to taking those decisions, which now have to go to the full Council for ratification, councillors were advised by their chief executive that the merits of an overall Mid & East Antrim business sector awards should be explored.