Now in their third year, the awards received record entries, making the task for the judging panel of independent business experts the most difficult ever. Ivan Le Roux, President of Skipton Chamber of Trade & Commerce launched the evening with a passionate speech saying “I was honoured to be chosen as President of this long-established organisation” and going on to emphasise that “The success of these awards is evident by the number of people here tonight, the increase in entries for the categories and continued sponsorship support from the business community.” He gave special thanks to Headline Sponsor Skipton BID and the category sponsors, also to Malcolm and Karen Weaving, Amanda Casey and their incredible team at The Rendezvous Hotel.

Chamber & Awards’ Coordinator, Wendy Griffin, introduced the Special Chamber Award. Wendy explained: “The Executive choose to recognise a company, organisation, people or person with strong links to the Chamber, with the ethos of going above and beyond everyday expectations and offering a contribution to the Skipton and BD23 area which helps the businesses and therefore the community. This year the Executive chose to present the award to the Skipton Town Ambassadors team.”

This proved to be a popular decision greeted with rapturous cheers and applause as Judy Probst, Tourism & Community Liaison Officer and Supervisor of the Skipton Town Ambassadors moved to the stage to collect the Award along with Alistair Clayton-Stead, one of the longest serving voluntary Ambassadors.

From the winners of each category the judging panel chose the Overall Winner Award. J B Springs (John Binns & Son (Springs) Ltd) collected the title, having been presented earlier with the Best Manufacturing & Engineering Award. The judges commented: “Manufacturing often takes a beating with too many ‘bad news’ stories in this sector, but here we have a shining example of the best of what manufacturing in this area can provide. This is a brilliant ‘good news’ story for the town and its economy which was a real highlight of the judging process. This business is a real breath of fresh air in the manufacturing sector and deserves all the plaudits it receives; a deserving winner of this award.”

Details of the winners and finalists in each category can be found on the awards’ website http://www.skiptonbusinessawards.co.uk/ as follows:

Best Accommodation Award

Sponsored by Jelf Insurance

Winner: Black Horse Hotel, Grassington

Finalists:

Bailey Bed & Breakfast (Highly Commended)

Coniston Hotel Country Estate & Spa

Best Apprentice/Trainee

Sponsored by High Corn Mill

Winner: Chloe Green, Craven District Council

Finalists:

Carly Sharp, Coffee Care

Izzy Booth, Benjamin Opticians

Best Bar None

A separate award organised and sponsored by Skipton BID

Winner: Venue Sports & Music Bar

Finalist: The Albion Inn

Best B2B Supplier/Wholesaler

Sponsored by Windle & Bowker

Winner: Fortem People Ltd.

Finalists:

Coffee Care

Dalesman Publishing

Best Customer Service

Sponsored by Bizzie Lizzie's

Winner: Thornton Hall Country Park

Finalists:

Grassington House

Verus Solutions

Best Fitness Health & Beauty

Sponsored by Aspire Magazine

Winner: Benjamin Opticians

Finalists:

Crossgates Health, Hair & Beauty

Jetts Fitness

Best Food & Drink

Sponsored by The Rendezvous Hotel

Winner: Grassington House

Finalists:

Bizzie Lizzie’s

Black Horse Hotel, Grassington

Best Leisure & Tourism Award

Sponsored by Spear Travels

Winner: Hesketh Farm Park

Finalists:

Skipton Boat Trips

Thornton Hall Country Park

Best Manufacturer & Engineering

Sponsored by Shepherd Partnership

Winner: J B Springs (John Binns & Son (Springs) Ltd)

Finalists:

Chelker Technology Ltd

Hartleys Bedrooms

Best Market Stall

Sponsored by Skipton Market

Winner: Pro Canvas Studio

Finalists:

Borders Wholesale

Handmade Pet Bed & Soft Furnishing

Best New Business

Sponsored by AWB Charlesworth Solicitors

Winner: Elsworth Kitchen

Finalists:

Clubhouse Coffee & Cycles

DeBec Private Hire

Best Professional/Financial Services Award

Sponsored by Skipton Building Society

Winner: Fortem People Ltd.

Finalists:

AKA PR

Centre For Crisis Psychology (CCP)

Best Retailer Award

Sponsored by Barclays Bank PLC

Winner: The Present Planners Toy Shop

Finalists:

Just… By The Bridge x

Midgley Motor Cars Grassington Garage

Best Visitors’ Choice (Skipton Town Guide 2018) Award

Sponsored by The Rendezvous Hotel

Winner: The Growling Shrew

Finalists:

Bae Chique Ltd

Coniston Hotel Country Estate & Spa

The judging panel consisting of independent business experts:

Alison Davies, Head of Digital and Roy Prenton, Corporate Communications Consultant, Skipton Building Society, Chris Hird, Market Leader, Barclays Bank plc, Helen Rose Marshall, Director, HRM Business Services Ltd, Andy Barton, Chief Executive, SREG and Tony Barrett, Retired Business Owner and Skipton Town Councillor, former President of Skipton Chamber of Trade & Commerce and current Exec member. 

Skipton Chamber of Trade & Commerce:

Website: www.skiptononline.co.uk

Skipton Business Awards:

Website: www.skiptonbusinessawards.co.uk

Spearheaded by the Skipton Chamber of Trade and Commerce, which formed more than 120 years ago to champion businesses in the town; the awards are backed by Skipton BID, Headline sponsor in 2019 and category sponsors. 

Not limited to Chamber members, entry was open to any business with a Skipton BD23 postcode up to the deadline on Friday 15^th February 2019. The Award’s night on Thursday 25^th April 2019 at The Rendezvous Hotel will celebrate the success of the winners and showcase the nominees and runners-up.

Best Bar None Award – organised and sponsored by Skipton BID

This is a special award run separately to Skipton Business Awards and was presented by Skipton BID.

‘Best Bar None’ is a National Award Scheme supported by the Home Office and the drinks industry. It is mainly aimed at promoting responsible management and operation of alcohol licensed premises. Skipton BID is working with the Business Crime Reduction Partnership initiative to reduce alcohol related crime and anti-social behaviour in Skipton Town, two objectives that the scheme wholly embraces and they will be presenting the winner of this year’s award on the Presentation Night.