Otley Business Awards Celebrates for the 4th Year & Announces New Award for 2018!
The Otley Business Awards took place last Friday, 23rd March at the Otley Courthouse amid rapturous applause.
The event, formed by Otley Chamber of Trade, was a hive of excitement with over 100 nominees, mainly small independent business owners, flocking to see who had won the prestigious awards. Organiser Tom Hatley from Christopher Little & Co said "A fantastic 69 businesses, across all sectors, have been nominated by their customers this year which just goes to show what an outstanding and diverse range of businesses we have here in Otley."
The evening began with a delicious Indian buffet by Jewel of India followed by Guest Speaker Jason Richards, owner of Yorkshire Trike Tours and Winner of Yorkshire Businessman of the Year 2017. Jason talked about all the obstacles he had to negotiate in order to set up his unique business back in 2012. The idea behind the Yorkshire Trike Tours was born after watching a TV series featuring Billy Connolly cruising Route66 across America on a Boom Mustang trike. It wasn't all plain sailing at the start but through ambition and determination Jason & his wife Judith now enjoy their lifelong passion of giving chauffeur driven tours around the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.
We are delighted to announce the 2018 Award Winners who were all presented with their own engraved awards and personalised certificates on the evening:
Photography by Winpenny Photography, Otley.
The Award Winners
Best Newcomer Award - Fink Eyewear
Sponsor - Arundel Travel
Best Food and Drink Award - O'Deli
Sponsor - Newstead & Walker Solicitors
Best Retail Award - Love4Bags Boutique (award received by Bondgate Bakery)
Sponsor - The Yorkshire Marketing Company
Good Service Award - Althams Travel
Sponsor - Aura Jewellery
Best Small Business Award - Alpha Male Barbers
Sponsor - Hollings Crowe Storr Accountants
Best Café Award - Little Corner of the World
Sponsor - Bondgate Bakery
Community Award - Peter Jackson
Sponsor - Doris Dent Estates
Best Apprentice/Trainee Award - Molly Drake
Sponsor - Winpenny Photography
Best Large Business Award - Otley Pharmacy
Sponsor - Courtyard Planters
Best Service Sector Award - Print Crew
Sponsor - Stew & Oyster (presented by The Yorkshire Marketing Company)
Lifetime Achievement Award - Tim Wilkinson - Dowgill House Bed & Breakfast
Sponsor - Christopher Little & Co Financial Advisor
"The surprise of the evening was the announcement of a Best Employer Award in 2019!" explains Tom Hatley. "The Awards Committee decided to create this new category in light of the fantastic work and support Angela Dickinson and Marcia Sunderland, owners of Rest Assured Homecare Services Ltd, give their employees 365 days of the year, come rain or shine. This was following a lovely heartfelt letter sent to the Committee back in January from two of their junior staff members. It was such a lovely gesture that we asked them to come along to the ceremony in secret and announce the new award, but also tell everyone the sentiments behind it…. There wasn't a dry eye in the house and a great way to end the 2018 awards on a high!"
We were again delighted to have the support of the following organisations, without them this event would not be possible:-
