Business Awards finalists are revealed

It’s just over one week to the gala evening for the 2013 Ballymena Borough Business Excellence Awards and the names of the finalists have been revealed.
Chris Wales.Chris Wales.
Chris Wales.

Organised annually by Ballymena Borough Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the awards have Ballymena Borough Council as their principal sponsor this year.

Chris Wales, Chamber Business Development Manager says the entries reached record levels this time round.

He pointed out: “The judges this year were hugely impressed not only by the number of entries but the exceptionally high quality.

“To ensure the integrity of the awards, the judging is carried out by Insight Mystery Shopping from Belfast. The Chamber is not involved in the judging in any way.”

The gala evening will be held in Tullyglass House Hotel on Thursday, October 10, when Pamela Ballantine will commere.

Chris added: “Tickets are selling well for what is now the leading event in the Ballymena business calendar. I would like to congratulate all the finalists and wish them good luck for the gala evening when the winners are announced”.

The finalists are:

Customer Service Award Retail Sector (Independent Retailer) – First Trust Bank: Elite Lighting, Gloonan Gallery, Projectwhite, Waveney Eye Care (NI) Ltd.

Customer Service Award Retail Sector (Multiple Retailer) – Ballymena Borough Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Ann Summers, DW Sports Fitness, Goldsmiths, Next.

Customer Service Award Convenience Store – McKillens Footwear: Eurospar Cullybackey, Spar Broughshane, Spar Doury Road, Spar Ahoghill.

Best Eating Establishment Award – Marcon Fit-Out: Go Sun Restaurant, Leighinmohr House Hotel, Millside Restaurant (Gracehill), The Grouse Inn.

Best Small Eatery/Coffee Shop Award – firmus energy: Classic Cuisine, Jensens Cafe, Nobel Cafe, The Buttermilk Tearoom @ The Enchanted Florist.

Customer Service Award Service Sector – Riada Resourcing: Halo Hairdressing, Jacqueline Kennedy Hairdressing and Grooming for Men, The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland, The Electric Chair.

Customer Service Award Hospitality Sector – Autoline Insurance Group: Ground Espresso Bars, Jensens Cafe, Nobel Cafe, The Grouse Inn.

Business Premises Award – Fairhill Shopping Centre: Eurospar Cullybackey, Fullans Foodhall (Eurospar Portglenone), K & G McAtamney - Wholesale Butchers, Urban Beauty.

Best Business Website Award – Danske Bank: ballyprint.com, Glacier Water Systems, Grafton Recruitment, Marcon Fit-Out.

Excellence in Customer Service Award – JTI: Autoline Insurance Group, Galgorm Resort and Spa, GES Group (Grants Electrical Services), Ulster Bank.

Right Place to Work Award – Black Advertising: GES Group (Grants Electrical Services), Nampak Plastics, The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland, The Sitting Room Hairdressing.

Most Promising New Business Award – Into Business Magazine: Discover Everafter (GSS NI Ltd), Doggy Daycare, Slemish Design Studio, Tortraits Floral Design.

Best Small Business Award – Michelin Tyre PLC: ballyprint.com, Designer Home Interiors, Gilmore Engineering, Onus (NI) Ltd.

Export Business of the Year Award – Wrightbus: Dunbia, Francis Dinsmore Ltd,

Innovation Award – Invest Northern Ireland: Discover Everafter (GSS NI Ltd), Nampak Plastics, Onus (NI) Ltd.

Involvement in the Community Award – Diamond Recruitment: Front Page Bar, Reaching Out, Ulster Bank.

Entrepreneur of the Year Award – Bank of Ireland: Kieran McAtamney (K & G McAtamney – Butcher & Deli, Simon Murray (S M Designs).

Apprentice of the Year Award – Northern Regional College: Kieran McIvor (Michelin Tyre PLC), Mark Reid (Dunbia), Peter Brown (GES Group).

Employee of the Year Award – Grafton Recruitment: Ann Marie Pedlow (Next), Jody McCullough (Nampak Plastics), Rachel Doherty (GES Group), Roisin O’Neill (Nobel Café).

Business Growth Award – Ulster Bank: Francis Dinsmore Ltd, Galgorm Resort and Spa, Gilmore Engineering, K & G McAtamney (Wholesale Butchers).