By Julie Waters
CELEBRATING the best of local businesses is at the heart of this year’s prestigious Bangor Business Awards.
Organised by Bangor Chamber of Commerce, the October 24 gala awards evening will be hosted by television personality Pamela Ballentine at the Clandeboye Lodge Hotel.
Now in its 22nd year, the awards were launched at Bangor City Hall earlier this week, with Chamber President Frank Shivers calling on local businesses to enter this year’s competition which boasts 16 different categories.
The awards are free for local businesses to enter and see the return of categories such as Family Business of the Year, Independent Retailer of the Year and Hospitality and Tourism Business of the Year, alongside a new category for 2024, Hair and/or Beauty Salon of the Year.
The awards are supported for a second year by title partner The Fusco Group, with supporting sponsors Ards and North Down Borough Council and Clandeboye Lodge and media partner Spectator Newspapers.
Launching the awards Mr Shivers said they were ‘thrilled’ to host the awards which aim to ‘highlight the innovation, dedication, and success of local businesses, bringing together the great and the good from Bangor including industry leaders, business owners, and community figures to celebrate the vibrant business landscape of the city’.
Johnathan Fusco, managing director of The Fusco Group, said they were ‘extremely proud’ to be in a position to sponsor the Bangor Business awards again this year.
“We feel it’s extremely important to recognise individuals and entities who tirelessly drive the greater Bangor area to be a more vibrant place to visit, live and work,” he said.
Ards and North Down Mayor Alistair Cathcart said he was ‘very passionate’ about supporting local businesses and it was a ‘privilege’ for the council to be one of this year’s supporting sponsors.
The borough’s first citizen said: “The awards provide a platform for local businesses to receive recognition for all their efforts and the part they play in the city.
“Local businesses are the lifeblood of any town or city centre’s success. There are a healthy mix of businesses who have been here for years and a welcome addition of new and fledgling businesses.
“It is your existence that helps to keep Bangor alive and these awards are the perfect way of celebrating the very best that Bangor has to offer.”
Said Mr Cathcart: “I hope the award entries prove to be just as popular, exciting and fun as they have been previously and my sympathies go out to the judges for the difficult time they are bound to have.”
North Down MLA Stephen Dunne said he was also pleased to support the awards launch.
“I would like to commend the Bangor Chamber of Commerce for organising these awards as a great opportunity to show our appreciation for the various local businesses that are the backbone of our economy.
“Running an independent business can be particularly challenging, especially in the current economic climate. It is right that local business owners are able to have their hard work and dedication recognised in this way and I would encourage any local business to get involved and enter the awards online.”
The Spectator will be exclusively publishing news on Bangor Business Awards, and will announce the winners FIRST after the event.
For more information and to enter go to www.bangorchamber.co.uk
The award categories
• Hospitality and Tourism Business of the Year
• Independent Retailer of the Year Professional
• Business Services Company of the Year
• Customer Service Excellence
• Emerging Business of the Year
• Family Business of the Year
• Best Business Development
• Employer of the Year
• Best Creative Initiative
• Hair and/or Beauty Salon of the Year
• Bangor’s Best Food To Go
• Employee of the Year
• Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly Business of the Year
• Wellbeing in the Workplace
• Commitment to Bangor Business Community
• Bangor’s Company of the Year.
