Awards a surefire banker for success

AND we’re off! Steve Kilroy launches The One Oldham Business Awards 2012

NATWEST Bank, sponsors of the One Oldham Business Awards for the past three years, featured prominently when the 2012 project was launched at a Chronicle business networking event.

After three hugely successful years in partnership with the bank, the awards were officially launched by steering group chair Steve Kilroy who spoke warmly of all the sponsors — and in particular NatWest who were the first to back the awards way back in May, 2008.

A DVD of the 2011 gala presentation dinner, featuring NatWest relationship director Steve Lowe, was applauded by the audience at Groundwork Oldham.

The DVD was sponsored by Stoneswood retirement Living and fronted by Oldham’s own Granada TV presenter Cal Whitmore.

Mr Kilroy said: “We have been delighted with the support the awards have enjoyed these past three years, from the business community and sponsors.

“It is the intention of the steering group to make the 2012 project even bigger in terms of nominations. These have grown year on year as business owners and leaders have warmed to the prospect of being recognised as the best in Oldham.”

Pointing out that Tameside also has a business awards and Rochdale launches its inaugural event in November, with Stockport soon to follow, Mr Kilroy outlined plans for Oldham to take a lead on a regional finals.

“And we want to see Oldham to fore, winning the best of the best prizes,” he told more than 60 people at the event, the fifth in a hugely successful series by the Chronicle.

Entries are now being taken for the fourth awards which will be presented at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham, on Friday, March 2.

The judges will this year focus their attention of what a business has achieved in the past 12 months, while retaining an element of historical importance. Mr Kilroy added: “We want to make the awards truly representative of the year in which they are presented.”