Finalists for prestigious business and education awards announced
Leading lights from the world of business and education have been announced as finalists for this year’s Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards (NBEAs) and Northamptonshire Education Awards (NEAs) after a record number of entries.
Finalists are preparing to celebrate at awards nights this November, which will shine a spotlight on the county’s stand out stars in business and education.
Companies from a wide range of sectors, from law and financial firms to medical equipment manufacturers, healthcare and the county’s sports scene are among those who will be awaiting the outcome of the NBEAs awards night at the County Ground on November 21. This year’s celebrity host is Russell Kane the multi-award-winning comedian, presenter, actor, author and TV star.
Hoping to toast success will be numerous outstanding and inspiring teachers, teams and schools who have been shortlisted for the NEAs, with the winners set to be announced at the same venue the following week, on Friday, November 28. The host that evening will be Olympian and world champion badminton star Gail Emms MBE.
Two prestigious panels of judges had the challenge of selecting the finalists from a record-breaking number of entries and more than 1,000 guests are anticipated to attend the two glittering ceremonies.
The judges commented on finalists’ ‘outstanding commitment to their own professional development’, ‘entrepreneurial spirit’ and applauded them for ‘having created a safe environment for all students’.
Former television presenter, star of TV’s The Apprentice and NBEAs Head Judge, Nick Hewer, said: “I’ve been involved with these wonderful awards for a long time and the calibre of entries and number of entries and the strength of passion encapsulated in those entries increases every year. This year we were proud, not only of all the entries, but we also have some great winners, you wait and see!”
Nick led a prestigious panel of awards judges which included Stuart Branch, Executive Board Director at Weetabix; Debbie Dymock, Registered Career Development Practitioner and founder of Northamptonshire Careers; and Pippa Walsh, Business Development Manager and Key Account Manager at Carlsberg Britvic.
This year’s education awards were judged by Morcea Walker MBE, retired Vice Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire and Tim Dobson, Head of Access and Participation at the University of Northampton. They were joined by Jess Fellowes, Headteacher of Abbeys Primary School in Milton Keynesand Adrian Pryce, Associate Professor, Strategy & Society at the Centre for Sustainable Business Practices at the University of Northampton.
The awards, founded by All Things Business, continue to thrive, increasing in popularity every year. All Things Business Managing Director, Ben Thomas, said: “We are delighted this year’s business and education awards were inundated with a record number of entries and continue to prove phenomenally popular with the education and business communities in our county.
“The quality of entries continues to impress our esteemed judges every year and demonstrate how education needs business and business needs education. We are extremely proud to be the founders of Northamptonshire’s distinguished awards, which rightly recognise the county’s outstanding stars.”
- To buy tickets for this year’s business awards visit https://www.tickettailor.com/events/allthingsbusiness/1790027
- To buy tickets for this year’s education awards visit https://www.tickettailor.com/events/allthingsbusiness/1616830
The finalists in this year’s NBEA and NEA awards are as follows:
NBEA
Apprentice of the Year – sponsored by Northampton College
- Sabrina Bond – Focal Business Group
- Lucy Coombs – Franklins Solicitors
- Melanie Jeffs – Millbrook Business Finance
- Emira Nunn – Shaw Gibbs
- Stephen Pack – Tayto Group Limited
Innovation Award – Sponsored by Arkle Finance
- OYNK
- Spraylat International
- Grosvenor
- Turtle Engineering Ltd
- Mavis Technologies
Land & Development Award – Sponsored by DFA Law
- West Northamptonshire Council
- OEH Group
- Northampton Town Football Club
Professional Services Award – Sponsored by GIANT
- Franklins Solicitors
- O’Sullivan Financial Planning
- Howes Percival
- EquiTech Group Ltd
- Credit Assist
Community Project or Person of the Year – Sponsored by Moore UK
- The Spring Charity
- Paul Meadows – SENDS4DAD
- The Franklins £50 Challenge
- Silhouette Youth
- The King’s Trust Northamptonshire Teams – Tresham College
Sustainability Award – Sponsored by AIT Home Delivery
- BioVate Hygienics
- OYNK
- West Northamptonshire Council and NN Contemporary Art
- Carbon Neutral Vending Ltd
- Royal & Derngate
Employer of the Year – Sponsored by York Ward & Rowlatt
- Millbrook Business Finance
- Shaw Gibbs
- CBTax
- Cottons Group
- The JPP Group
Employee of the Year – Bechtle
- Kevin Langley – West Northamptonshire Council
- Kerry Willmott – Spraylat International
- Michelle Williamson – Silverstone Leasing
- Veronica Vornicescu – The NX Group
- James Hopkins – Kara Healthcare
Businessman of the Year – Sponsored by Lanes HR
- Gavin Franklin – Spitfire Engineering Services Limited
- Nitesh Somani – Kara Healthcare
- Garry Summers – i-Mark UK Ltd
- Justin Amos – Milbrook Business Finance
- Simon Portwain – EquiTech Group Ltd
Businesswoman of the Year – O’Riordan Bond
- Dawn Simpson Lane – Lanes HR
- Illa Khagram – Radiant Lotus
- Zeynep Guzelkasap – Acorn Safety Services
- Prity Somani – Kara Healthcare
- ABDA Design Consultants Ltd – Claire Smith
Venue of the Year – Sponsored by Wise Parking
- Royal & Derngate
- Silverstone Museum
- Delapré Abbey
- Vulcan Works
Business of the Year – Sponsored by CE People
- Simply Techspace
- O’Riordan Bond
- NexGen Business Finance
- Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
BIG Business of the Year – Sponsored by MHA
- CBTax
- Howes Percival
- EMPLAS
NEA finalists:
Maths Team/Teacher of the Year – Sponsored by Brioche Pasquier UK
- Northampton School for Girls Maths Team
- Natasha Bates – Walgrave Primary School
- Paul Bird – Elizabeth Woodville School
- Emily Threlfall – DLSV
- Sarah Heavens – East Hunsbury Primary School
English Team/Teacher of the Year – Sponsored by University of Northampton
- Rebecca De Raeve – DSLV
- Emma Ironmonger – DSLV
- Blisworth Community Primary School English Team
- On Track Education English Team
- Hackleton CEVA Primary School English Team
Sports Award – Sponsored by Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
- Wootton Park School PE Department
- Blisworth Community Primary School with Rhino Sports Academy
- Olympic Primary School PE Team
- Hackleton CEVA Primary School PE Team
- Northampton School for Boys PE Team
Environmental and Sustainability Award – Sponsored by Freefoam Building Products
- Simone Gray & Stephanie Gellar – Eastfield Academy
- Ross Jardine-Wight – Malcolm Arnold Academy
- Lucy Phelps – Wootton Park School
Healthy School of the Year – Sponsored by Proactive Young People CIC
- Billing Brook School
- Hackleton CEVA Primary School
- Wrenn School
IT Champion – Sponsored by EasiPC
- Lois Beshiri – Upton Meadows Primary School
- Paul Coram – Elizabeth Woodville School
- Kayleigh Smith – Wootton Park School
STEM Award – Sponsored by HORIBA UK Limited
- Laura Bray – Elizabeth Woodville School
- Kristina Castle & Lab 13 – Irchester Community Primary School
- F1 in Schools Team – Standens Barn Primary School
- Weavers Academy STEM Team
- Shona McFadyen – The Corby Sixth Form
SEND Team/School of the Year – Sponsored by Creating Tomorrow College
- East Hunsbury Primary School
- On Track Education
- Olympic Primary School
- Billing Brook School
- Wren Spinney
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Champion – Sponsored by ICENA Ltd
- Natalie Smith – Bishop Stopford School
- Alex Preston – New Leaf Learning
- Ryan Meakins – Wootton Park School
- Karen Stevenson – Stanwick Primary School
- Melanie Cooper – Northampton College
Headteacher of the Year – Sponsored by FormFive
- Liam Cox – Kingsley Primary/Kettering Park Infant Academy
- Daniel York – Hunsbury Park Primary School
- Kathryn Pennington – East Hunsbury Primary School
- Richard Bernard – Northampton School for Boys
- Martin Hunter – Olympic Primary School
Unsung Hero – Sponsored by TEACH Northamptonshire
- Jane Normington – East Hunsbury Primary School
- Hazel Carter – Olympic Primary School
- Sarah Powell – Blisworth Community Primary School
- Will Hazel – Wootton Park School
- Doris Hale – Greenfields Primary School and Nursery
Primary School of the Year – Sponsored by Bechtle
- Eastfield Academy
- East Hunsbury Primary School
- Blisworth Community Primary School
- Wootton Park School
- Hackleton CEVA Primary School
Secondary School of the Year – Sponsored by Simply Techspace
- Elizabeth Woodville School-
- Wootton Park School
- Wrenn School
- Northampton School for Boys
- Refocus School
Lifetime Achievement Award – Sponsored by All Things Business
- Julie Rogers-Hussey – Bishop Stopford School
- Peter Bason – Northampton School for Boys
- Mary Kay – Northampton School for Boys
- Samantha MacDonnell – Wootton Park School
- Paul Hamblin – Tresham College