Businesses honoured at Kettering Awards

The first Kettering Awards took place at the Kettering Park Hotel and Spa with a room full of people enjoying an evening of entertainment and celebration of local business success.

The event, organised by Kettering Business Network founder Simon Cox and Kerry Bate of Polka Dot Events Management, was supported by a number of local businesses with 140 people coming together for the first awards in many years.

The evening was opened by the MC for the night, Nigel Adair, who ran the show together with Big Bopper Entertainments.

After an emotional speech from Denise McKay from Johnny’s Happy Place, beneficiaries from the event, the mayor, Cllr James Burton, and main sponsor Marie Baker from Poppy Design Studio officially opened the event.

Simon Cox said: “I cannot thank everyone involved with the event for making the evening a tremendous success.

“It was a pleasure to work with Kerry from Polka Dot Events Management who did the borough proud with an amazing evening.

“I am grateful to our main sponsors, Poppy Design Studio, the mayor and mayoress of Kettering who opened the evening, the team at Kettering Park Hotel for all their support, the sponsors and the businesses in attendance who were either winners, runners-up or finalists for making the evening an amazing success.

“Both Kerry and I look forward to planning the Kettering Awards 2019 and look forward to making an announcement with details of next year’s event in the near future.”

Among the winners were accountants AFP Services Ltd, who took home both the Employer of the Year award and Business of the Year trophy.

Managing director Catherine Casey said: “We are extremely proud to win Employer of The Year 2018 and Business of the Year 2018 in the inaugural Kettering Business Awards.

“At AFP Services we are privileged to work with many interesting and exciting entrepreneurial brands.

“We then mix this with an AFP team that prides itself on the quality of its work and the relationships formed with each and every client.

“It is an honour to have this recognised in this way.”

And Teamwork Trust also gained recognition at the event, coming runner-up in the Employer of the Year and Community Business of the Year categories.

The following night they were named Business of the Year at the Corby Awards.

John Bruce, Teamwork Trust’s strategic director, said: “We are all absolutely delighted to again be recognised by our peers at these highly prestigious business awards in Kettering and Corby.

“These ceremonies are attended by the crème de la crème of Northamptonshire businesses and are voted for by members of the public and judged by consultants.

“As a charity to be acknowledged at this level is an incredible demonstration of how we have transformed into a thriving and sustainable organisation, as we strive to improve the lives of vulnerable adults in our communities.”

The full list of winners and runners-up is below:

START UP BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Enterprise Kettering

Winners – Audreys Bespoke Caterers

Runner-up – Bonkers Play House Theatre

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by the FSB

Winners – The Recruitment Bar

Runner-up – Print N Go Shop

TRADESPERSON OF THE YEAR sponsored by Wheel Marques

Winners – RK Electrical, Plumbing and Heating

Runner-up – Scott Barlow Plumbing & Heating Ltd

COMMUNITY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Robyn Allen Solutions

Winners – Starlight Dance & Musical Theatre School

Runner-up – Teamwork Trust

FOOD & DRINK BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Big Bopper Entertainments

Winners – The R Inn Hotel, Tapas Bar & Grill

Runner-up – The Tollemache Arms

RETAILER OF THE YEAR sponsored by Holiday Inn Express Kettering

Winners – The Yards

Runner-up – C&D Cycles

HAIR & BEAUTY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Hair by DG

Winners – Hair & Beauty@Juncti8n

Runner-up – Upmarket Nails & Beauty

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR sponsored by Keto Fitness Club

Winners – AFP Services Limited

Runner-up – Teamwork Trust

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by The Business Club

Winners – AFP Services Limited

Runner-up – RK Electrical, Plumbing and Heating