Big Three winners at the One Show

Oldham’s oldest-established manufacturing business took the top award — and the newest — at this year’s One Oldham Business Awards.

Emanuel Whittaker’s joint owner Clive Newton smiled from ear to ear as he received the new trophy for companies with £1million-£5 million turnover from NatWest’s Lee Crook.
Accepting the award for the 173-year-old, 150-employee Rochdale Road business, Clive said: “I’m very proud to have won this — after 173 years of working in the town, this is a wonderful achievement.

“It shows we are a modern, forward-thinking company, very much a people company.

“We work primarily with local authorities and housing associations in the North-West, and do a lot of work with First Choice Homes Oldham who have been our customers for over 10 years, and regeneration work with the council. “Our staff will feel proud when they hear of this success and proud to work for a business which can win this award.”

Business of the Year for £1 million to £5 million turnover was won by Team Spirit Ltd, of Greenfield, a market leader and pioneer for team-building events — demonstrated at the awards when guests were turned into the boomwhacker orchestra before dinner.

Managing director Ian Taylor said: “It’s amazing to win and a testament to the fantastic team I have. It’s a team effort that’s done it. It’s one of those where you want to win and then when you get here and look at the competition you don’t think you will.

“I’m used to standing in front of crowds but I was so nervous tonight I was shaking. This award is something to take back to the team and say ‘well done’. It means the world. I’m an Oldham lad born and bred and started in Derker and now travel across the country. To grow 13 per cent in the last 12 months, when most businesses are not doing it, is a great achievement.”

Judges had a hard task picking Business of the Year under £1 million turnover after there were 21 nominations.

They chose Valerie Simpson, owner of Face and Body Shop at Grotton, who established her business 13 years ago and expanded it to eight treatment rooms with 25 staff, and a client base of 16,000 people.

Valerie, who was also short-listed for Business Woman of the Year, said: “I have brought 10 of my staff with me tonight. This award represents Oldham and shows Oldham in a very positive light, but also reflects what the girls do. They care for anyone who comes into the salon, whether they spend £10 or £100.”

One of the newest Oldham companies — Mirzali Architecture — scooped the Young Entrepreneur title for the second year running.

Business partners Anjub Ali (26) and Sulaiman Mirza are qualified architects still studying for more qualifications as they also run their Featherstall Road business, and oversee a charity clinic in Bangladesh. Anjub said: “I’m lost for words. I didn’t expect to win again after last year. There were some wonderful finalists.”

Sulaiman added: “It’s been a very hard 12 months but we have managed to stay in the construction industry which has been hit hardest.

“This award shows we have ambition and helps to motivate us. It give us new energy because there are times when you have your doubts.

“The awards bring businesses together which is good to see, and they are bigger and better. You feel proud to be part of something Oldham is doing for its businesses.”

Experienced entrepreneur David Bellis, of Innovative Technology, presented the award for the Start Up Business of the Year to Charlotte Wharton, of Fresca Restaurant, Delph.

Fresca is a modern restaurant which includes a traditional pizza oven imported from Venice, and was fitted out in only three months.

Managing director Charlotte, one of four partners, said: “We have always wanted to set up a family-friendly restaurant in Saddleworth, and I think we have achieved that. I think we will now go from strength to strength.”

Paula Jones, chairman of Oldham’s Women in Business network, presented the Business Woman of the Year Award to Angela Wellon, of First4Disabilities, a not-for-profit organisation.

Angela (39) has three children, one with autism, and looks after her disabled mother. Both inspired her to set up a one-woman business two years ago.

Now she has 10 support staff, plus five in her office in Middleton Road, Chadderton. She said: “We try to support the whole family not just the person with a disability. I’m overwhelmed to win and it’s down to just fantastic teamwork, I have a fantastic team behind me. Just to be short-listed was fantastic. Hopefully now I’ve won I will inspire other women who want to change their lives, and show what can be achieved with hard work and perseverance.”

Business Man of the Year was taken by Paul Milner, owner and manager of Positive IT Solutions, Chadderton.

He said: “It’s awesome! We would not be where we are today if it were not for the support of Oldham Council and the regeneration that’s happened in Oldham.

“I have tapped into the regeneration with my business and if it were not for the support I would not be collecting this award.

“I was surprised to win because I was up against some big players.

“There’s been massive growth in just five years. In 12 months I’ve gone from a turnover of £250,000 to £13 million this year. It’s worked out really well and I have a great team behind me. I started on my own and we have grown and now there are 10 of us and everyone works and gets on really well.”

The Environment Award went to AlternEnergy which works with domestic and commercial clients to reduce their carbon footprint.

Part of the FT Gordon building company in Royton, AlternEnergy helps clients use energy resources as efficiently as possible, and as project manager Anthony Hall was handed the trophy he said: “This is a great boost.

“It makes you realise all the hard work of the company is worthwhile and our eight advisers and 10 office staff will be over the moon when they hear about this.”

Retailer of the Year was won by specialist footwear supplier Mountainfeet of Rhodes Bank, Oldham, for the second year running.

Owner Simon Taylor said: “I’m elated to have won. It was a great surprise. I’m shell-shocked. It’s been a great evening.

“I think we have striven for perfection and we bring a benevolent attitude to our retailing that’s good for the town and townsfolk. We are very service orientated.”

Winner of the new Knowledge Exchange Partnership Award was Matt Haworth who has created web-design company Virtual Construction in Failsworth with a team of university students. He said: “It’s great to win this award. I was not expecting it. So much great work is being done by the other nominees that it’s a great surprise to win.

“We are trying to get the students the degrees we wish we had. We did not have the tuition and mentoring we really should have done as it was not around then, but we can provide it now.”

The Innovation and Design award was scooped by pioneering company Synergy Building Services Ltd, Delph.

Founder Matthew Pomfrey said: “It’s really good to win but a bit of a surprise. I think it’s an award and achievement for the whole team rather than just us. It’s about everyone here. Hopefully the judges saw all the good in our business. These awards are a superb event. It’s great for the community and for Oldham.”

Lee Crook, director of business and commercial banking for the main sponsors NatWest, said: “I thought it was an absolutely fantastic event. I was here last year and we thought it could not be better but tonight it has been. We’ve sponsored the event as we want to show we are investing and putting money back into Oldham.

“We had previously taken ourselves back into Manchester and had no presence in Oldham but we have brought management and staff back into Oldham and it’s our way of putting money back in. I think these awards are massively important. We want to make sure that people in Oldham are doing business with people in Oldham and this is a good way of getting people talking to each other. If it was not here they might not interact with each other in the same way. It’s a great way of bringing people together.”


Results:



BUSINESS OF THE YEAR (under £1m turnover)

WINNER

The Face and Body Shop

FINALISTS

AMPWire Ltd

PS Events Management Ltd



BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

(£1m-£5m turnover)

WINNER

Team Spirit Ltd

FINALISTS

Adamson’s Vehicle Car Centre

Interface Contracts Ltd



BUSINESS OF THE YEAR (over £5m turnover)

WINNER

Emanuel Whittaker Ltd

FINALISTS

Inclusive Technology

Trinity Mirror Oldham



BUSINESS MAN OF THE YEAR

WINNER

Paul Milner — Positive IT Solutions

FINALISTS

John Hall - FT Gordon Ltd

Gavin Wheeldon – ALS



BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR

WINNER

Angela Wellon — First4Disabilities

FINALISTS

Chantelle Tupman — Clough Manor

Valerie Simpson — The Face and Body Shop



RETAIL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

WINNER

Mountainfeet

FINALISTS

Alexander Jewellers

The Face and Body Shop



YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR

WINNER

Anjub Ali — Mirzali Architecture

FINALISTS

Sulaiman Mirza — Mirzali Architecture LLP

Jahed Miah — Web Fusion Studios

Kylie Clegg — Unique Hair Studio



INNOVATION and DESIGN

WINNER

Synergy Building Services

FINALISTS

Dalby Developments

AlternEnergy



START-UP OF THE YEAR

WINNER

Fresca restaurant

FINALISTS

AMPfab Ltd

Home Instead Care Services



ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD

WINNER

AlternEnergy

FINALISTS

Groundwork Oldham

First Manchester



KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE AWARD

WINNER

Matt Howarth

FINALISTS

Nick McGilvray

Jacquie Wood