Best of British Business celebrated at Chamber Business Awards

The very best of British business was celebrated at the recent British Chamber of Commerce’s annual Chamber Business Awards ceremony.

The Chamber Business Awards, now in its 14th year, is one of the showpiece events in the business calendar, highlighting the role of business in delivering growth and prosperity for the UK and local communities.

Businesses from across the country came together at the gala dinner, hosted by TV presenter Kate Thornton, to mark the outstanding achievements of both UK firms and Chambers of Commerce.

Best Use of TechnologyAnyJunk, a London based bulk waste collector for business and homes, is using technology to change the productivity and efficiency of the waste disposal industry
Export Business of the Year – Linwoods, a bakers and health food business based in Armagh, has made excellent use of consumer and market research and sells its products to retailers in over 30 countries
High Growth Business of the YearICON Aerospace Technology Ltd, a world leader in highly engineered polymer-based products for aerospace and defence applications, has increased turnover by 30% and created 150 jobs in less than two years
Excellence in Customer ServiceStockport Homes, delivers affordable housing and accommodation solutions, and has driven customer satisfaction through the implementation of a Continuous Improvement Framework
Small Business of the YearDNA Worldwide, providers of DNA, drug and alcohol testing, has used state of the art technology to develop a range of new services, and has ambitious plans to expand
Commitment to People DevelopmentManchester & Cheshire Construction Co. Ltd, has shown impressive commitment to the training and development of staff, participating in 252 training days last year
Business and Education PartnershipAhead Partnership, based in Leeds, has worked to address the soft skills gap, and brings together teachers and employers to create bespoke programmes of learning
Best Use of Social MediaJC Social Media Limited, began trading from a spare bedroom in Birmingham in 2011, and use social media to help clients connect with new customers, gaining 28.9m impressions for over a four-month period for a client’s event
Health and WellbeingFlynn, a building and maintenance business based in Northern Ireland, developed a ‘Boost’ initiative to improve moral, mental wellbeing and communication

AnyJunk also won the award for Business of the Year, and as a prize will be invited to open the London Stock Exchange on March 1st 2018, the day the Chamber Business Awards 2018 are launched.

Commenting on this year’s awards, Francis Martin, President of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: “These awards are the perfect opportunity to celebrate the best of British business. I never cease to be surprised by the innovation and ambition of UK companies, and the contribution firms of every size and sector make to their local communities. I look forward to seeing the finalists and winners of our award continue to blaze the trail and create jobs and opportunities for our nation.”