Photo - Alan Mak MP celebrates with Small Business Awards winners
It was a night of celebration for local business as Alan Mak MP hosted the first-ever Havant Small Business Awards. Thirty-one finalists competed in the showcase of local enterprises and businesspeople at South Downs College. Over 150 friends and supporters attended the event.
The evening’s most prestigious award went to Emsworth’s Fresh From the Boat. The family-run sustainable fishing company fought off strong competition to be crowned Havant Small Business of the Year 2016. Having received scores of public nominations, and earned rave reviews from judges who were impressed by inspiring initiatives such as the ‘Community Fish Box’, Fresh From The Boat also took away with the prize for Family Business of the Year. “Community Fish Box” is a subscription service for residents which ensures they receive regularly deliveries of fish, helping to support the local fishing trade whilst ensuring local families receive regular deliveries of fish, and reducing food miles (the distance that food is transported from source to home).
The ceremony featured some wise words from guest speaker Paul Lindley, founder of the multi-million-pound organic baby food company Ella’s Kitchen. The self-made entrepreneur spoke to finalists, residents, and leading community representatives about his struggles to build a business and his views about the role of business in wider society.
In all, thirty-one finalists were competing across twelve categories, the results of which can be seen below. Special mentions were reserved for Havant’s historically-themed café, 19 Fourteas Tea Rooms, for their educational service to local schoolchildren; and Purbrook’s Cut ‘n’ Dry Salon – which has been a family-run local favourite in the area for over thirty years.
Hayling Island’s Tina Heath secured the award for “Greatest Contribution to the Community” in recognition of her work leading the Mengham Traders’ Group and organising the popular late-night festive shopping evening in Mengham.
The finalists in each category had been determined by the number of nominations and tributes they had received from the public, with individual winners then selected by a judging panel made up of leading local business figures and community representatives.
There was success too for George “Topsy” Turner and his personal training business Innovations Fitness. In the Best New Business Category, the popular new nano-brewery at The Emsworth Brewhouse scooped the prize ahead of excellent contenders Turbulent Designs and Obsession Hair and Beauty Salon.
The evening was marked out by its commitment to the community, with Julie Parham of Cut ‘n’ Dry rewarded for her 30-year contribution to customers and local residents. Students from South Downs College’s enterprise society, Evolve, were involved in the organisation the ceremony itself – and were duly thanked by Mr Mak in his closing address.
Reflecting on the awards, Mak said: “My first Havant Small Business Awards have been a great success with residents really getting behind our local shops. The Awards were designed by me to celebrate and showcase the best local businesses and our area’s enterprising spirit – we’ve certainly achieved that tonight.”
The Havant MP added: “Congratulations to all the winners and the many businesses who were nominated by residents. A special well done to Peter and Chantelle Williams – the husband-and-wife team behind Fresh From The Boat. Their Community Fish Box initiative and approach to business is inspiring; they fully deserve their Havant Small Business of the Year award.”
Guest speaker Paul Lindley added: “Alan’s Small Business Awards have been a great success and exactly what a local MP should be doing. It was a terrific event to be a part of. I know how difficult it can be starting out with the dream of running your own business, but the drive and innovation was truly inspiring. Congratulations to Alan for putting on such a fantastic event and I look forward to hearing how all the finalists get on.”
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