ESCO Hydra does the double at Sheffield Business Awards

30th January 2012

ESCO Hydra (UK) Ltd was the big winner at the Sheffield Business Awards after clinching two top awards at the prestigious ceremony.

The South Yorkshire company, a world leading manufacturer of advanced technology mining equipment for the deep coal mining industry, was named Sheffield Chamber of Commerce & Industry Outstanding Business of the Year. They also took home the P&A Receivables Excellence in International Trade Award after a successful year which has seen them increase international sales dramatically during a time when the world economy has seen little growth. Roger Pearson, managing director of Sizer Ltd, was awarded the Lupton Fawcett Business Person of the Year accolade, whilst Neill Birchenall from BirchenallHowden was crowned the Benchmark Recruit Young Business Person of the Year. Other winners on the night included Sheffield Food Festival Partnership, 3Squared, UK Medical Ltd, Kier Sheffield LLP, Tinsley Bridge Group, VOICE Group, Voluntary Action Sheffield, Accelerate Lifestyle Ltd and Jefferson Sheard Architects. To mark the achievements of up and coming business talent in the region, an additional award was also handed out on the night. The Special Award for Emerging Entrepreneurial Talent was awarded to 18 year old Joseph Panasiuk, a Business Management and Enterprise student at the Sheffield College and owner of All Vintage Mini Ltd, specialising in marketing vintage vehicles. The Sheffield Business Awards, which this year celebrated its tenth anniversary, was organised by the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, in association with First for Business magazine and headline sponsors Elevation Recruitment. One of the country's top impressionists, Jon Culshaw, was compere for the evening and entertained more than 1,000 people at the awards, which were staged at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre. Suzanne Liversidge, president of the Sheffield Chamber, said: -I would like to personally congratulate all the winners at this year's Sheffield Business Awards on their excellent achievements during the last 12 months and also praise the companies that were shortlisted. -The awards have once again highlighted the high calibre of businesses and individuals across the Sheffield City Region and our city's skills and achievements are emphasised in the diversity of the sectors recognised at the awards, including manufacturing, engineering, charitable and community. -It is now vital that we continue to encourage our local businesses across all sectors in this way to ensure we position ourselves at the forefront of economic growth. For more information about the awards visit www.sheffieldbusinessawards.org.uk.