Best of British business honoured at Chamber Awards ceremony

2nd December 2013

The very best of British businesses were celebrated at the British Chambers of Commerce's annual Chamber Awards ceremony last night.

The Chamber Awards, now in the 10th anniversary year, is one of the showpiece events in the business calendar, highlighting the role of business as a positive force for the UK recovery, and for local communities. Businesses from across the country came together at the gala dinner, hosted by Olympic athlete Colin Jackson, to mark the outstanding achievements of both UK firms and Chambers of Commerce, in helping to drive the recovery and show the world why Business is Good for Britain. The award winners in full: · Outstanding Personal Achievement Peter O'Brien of O'Brien Contractors, who takes home a £25,000 cash prize, for heavily investing in his staff and creating an apprenticeship scheme to increase the knowledge base of his construction firm in Leamington Spa. · Online Business of the Year NCC Resources, a vocational education provider from Merseyside, for its ability to diversify into an online market following government cuts. · Exporter of the Year Armagard, a protective computer equipment manufacturer from Birmingham, for its intensively researched export strategy leading to export orders in 25 countries. · Most Promising New Business Nortech Solutions, an engineering design company from County Durham, for exploiting a market gap and achieving its three year growth plan in just two years. · Commitment to People Development JMC, an IT support firm from Salford, for its bespoke mentoring and coaching schemes for staff. · Marketing Campaign of the Year Rayden Solicitors, a family law firm from St Albans, for its innovative campaign to increase people's understanding of family law. · Excellence in Innovation Clayworks, a clay plaster manufacturer from Cornwall, for its extensive research into a fully biodegradable, non-toxic product. · Chamber of the Year Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, for its range of services resulting in sustained growth for the last three years. · Most Effective Campaigning Award St Helens Chamber of Commerce, for its passionate approach to tackling the skills agenda for young people and youth unemployment. · Excellence in International Trade North East Chamber of Commerce, for its membership tool for exporters to drive retention and revenue. · Excellence in Membership Services Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce, for its approach to customer care resulting in an 85% retention rate. · Sustainability Award The Workspace Group, a sustainable enterprise from Northern Ireland, for using profits from its commercial activities to fund local community projects. Commenting, Nora Senior, President of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: -These awards are the perfect celebration for the fine work that businesses do up and down the country to help drive economic growth. I am constantly impressed by their determination, innovation, and the contributions they make to their local communities. The firms honoured at the ceremony will no doubt become the wealth creators of tomorrow, and play a crucial role in helping the UK economy move from being good, to being great in the months and years ahead.