Hundreds of guests and expectant finalists filled the hall on the grand campus of the University of Nottingham for the 2021 NottinghamshireLive Business Awards.
Law firms, architecture practices, web designers, tech innovators, and foodies - small and medium-sized companies, not-for-profits and some of the biggest players on the scene, all gathered together to celebrate getting back to business.
The black tie event, hosted in association with , was held at the , and was concrete proof that Nottingham and the wider county are well and truly open for business.
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Presented by silver Olympic medal-winner Gail Emms MBE, and writer, broadcaster and comedian Mark Dolan, the glitzy dinner went on late into the night.
During the evening guests were entertained by comedian and musician Steve Womack, and participated in a silent auction to raise money for charity partner Rainbows.
Only one company could win in each category, and for the winners it was a night of elation, made even more special by being able to celebrate in person.
Winners like Becky Valentine and Victoria Green, co-owners of Spenbeck, the property consultancy and creative specialist letting agency founded by their father Mich Stevenson in 1981.
Mr Stevenson, who celebrated with his daughters, has spent 40 years protecting and preserving the Lace Market, saving iconic buildings such as the old Shire Hall on High Pavement, and the Adams Building on Stoney Street, from the wrecker’s ball.
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The family firm was finally recognised for its many achievements with the Contribution to the Community Award.
Becky Valentine said: “It’s huge. For us it’s a celebration of what we’ve been doing for the past eleven years.
“But more importantly it’s a reminder to everyone of the contribution led by our father of the 40 years that Spenbeck has put the wellbeing and celebration of Nottingham front and centre of what we do.”
There were 15 categories in all, designed to recognise the huge variety of talent and innovation on offer in Nottinghamshire.
Categories include a recognition of the company with the best record of employing apprentices, which went to Motus VW van services in Nottingham.
There was an award for digital and technology excellence, scooped by Beeston-based digital agency Hex Productions. And a prize aimed at family-run businesses, won by online pharmacy 海角视频 Meds.
The company that won the prestigious and sought-after Sales and Marketing prize this year has certainly made a name for itself in Nottingham, which the senior management team puts down to their ability to innovate during the past 18 months of uncertainty.
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Six years ago handmade doughnut maker Doughnotts was a company trading on market stalls. Today those handmade doughnuts are stocked in shops and cafes all over the country, and the business has a turnover of nearly £2 million a year across three stores, in Nottingham, Leicester and Lincoln, with a fourth due to open at the end of the month.
And the 2021 Nottinghamshire Live Business Awards winners are...
Company of the Year | Sponsored by – Mansfield Sand
SME Business of the Year | Sponsored by – The RU Group
Start-Up Business of the Year | Sponsored by – Works Social
Business Entrepreneur of the Year | Sponsored by – TTK Confectionary
Employer of the Year | Sponsored by – Primary Integrated Community Services
Customer Service Excellence Award | Sponsored by – BMI The Park Hospital
Professional Services | Sponsored by – Air IT
Excellence in Innovation Award | Sponsored by – Luxfer Gas Cylinders
Contribution to the Community Award | Sponsored by – Spenbeck
Family Business of the Year | Sponsored by – 海角视频 Meds
Sales & Marketing Award| Sponsored by – Doughnotts
Apprentice Employer of the Year | Sponsored by – Motus Commercials
Excellence in Industry | Sponsored by – Design Haus
Digital & Technology Award | Sponsored by – HeX Productions
Not-for-Profit-Organisation Award | Sponsored by – Maggie's Nottingham
General manager Hannah Byrne said that being forced into lockdown, which could have posed a serious threat to their business, presented the company with a silver lining.
“Over lockdown we had to reassess,” she said, shortly after collecting the award on stage. “We couldn’t reach our customers. We’ve had to go online and come up with different ideas.”
And Doughnotts marketing manager Daniel Byrne said: “When you’re in a situation where you can’t reach those customers, you can’t open your shops, well how do you pay the bills?
“That’s where you take all those ideas that have been sat at the back of your head and bring them forward.”
The culmination of the night was the award for Company of the Year, which went to 180-year-old business Mansfield Sand, supplier of sands for a host of purposes and venues including the City Ground, home of Nottingham Forest, and Leicester City’s ground.
After the award Mansfield Sand managing director Richard Abraham said: “It’s something that we’ve been working towards. Over the last few years we’ve really come into our own with a massive restructure and understanding where we want to be as a business.
“We genuinely are the best version of Mansfield Sand that we’ve ever been. We have an amazing team. Without them we aren’t who we are today. We’re so grateful for everyone’s efforts.”
In its long history Mansfield Sand has been through many periods of drastic change, not least the Covid pandemic and the unprecedented disruption it has brought. And, Mr Abraham said, like all businesses, the company has been forced to adapt.
“It makes you regroup and understand where you need to be as a business. It makes you play on your strengths and that really is about the team.
“It’s all about that purpose. It’s been an amazing effort.”
A huge effort has been put in by all the award hopefuls over the past 18 months of change, and upheaval.
While they couldn’t all win, the dinner was as much a celebration of the drive and determination that has kept these companies going, and a toast to the wealth of enterprising talent all over the region.