Celebrating success

GLITTERING OCCASION: the One Oldham Business Awards at the Queen Elizabeth Hall

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The One Oldham Business Awards
CHAMPAGNE flowed as more than 450 of Oldham’s brightest business stars toasted success at a glittering ceremony.

Thumping music, dramatic lights and spellbinding entertainment set the scene as 11 coveted gongs were presented during the One Oldham Business Awards at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Nervous nominees took to the stage one by one as golden envelopes were opened to reveal the winners and cue rapturous applause.

It was a night to remember for one of the borough’s biggest success stories as Gavin Wheeldon, of Applied Language Solutions scooped the very top award.

The thrilled chief executive picked up the trophy for Business of the Year for companies with over £5 million turnover.

Set up in 2003, the company delivers translation services for brand giants such as Nike and Dell and can now boast the impressive title of Oldham’s top business.

Gavin said: “We have 130 staff and thousands of freelancers working globally who plug into a lot of clever technology.

“I didn’t think I would win at all so I’m really surprised. It is nice to be recognised for what we have all achieved.”

They were handed their gong by award sponsor Lee Crook, director of business banking at NatWest.

He said: “The firm is a really deserving winner and we’re so proud to support the award. We’ve sponsored the awards since they started.

“It’s great to bring all the businesses together and show just what is going on in our area.”

Judges praised Adamsons Vehicle Care Centre for its “unique ability to adapt” as the company scooped the Business of the Year award for £1 million to £5 million turnover.

Brothers in arms Edward, Richard and James Gore proved success runs in the family as they were handed the trophy for their business that has branched out from body repair to vehicle servicing and mechanical repairs.

Edward said: “We are absolutely over the moon. We have put a lot of hard work in and we were even visited by the Prime Minister this year.”

Their late grandfather George Gore started the business in the 1950s, and their proud dad, Brian, was in the audience to witness the special moment.

James said: “It’s fantastic that awards like this give locals a chance to be recognised, hopefully we can lay the foundations for the next generation to make Adamsons a success.”

Twenty-eight nominations were received for the business of the year award for under £1 million turnover.

But there was only one winner — The Face and Body Shop in Grotton, which picked up the award for the second year in a row.

Barry McDonnell, of sponsors Trinity Mirror, handed over the gong to business director Val Simpson, who said the accolade was a great way to celebrate the company’s 14th birthday.

She said: “We’ve won national awards but this is the most important because this is from the people who are our clients, it means the absolute world to me.

“I have 25 staff and some of them have been with me for over 10 years — this is for them.

“We strive to achieve in what we do, to be the best in our industry.”

At the tender age of 19, budding entrepreneurs Ryan Davies and Kieran Birch were the youngest winners on the night and were stunned to be handed the Young Entrepreneur gong for their venture Ryan Davies Photography.

The teenage business partners now work with stylists, make-up artists and up-and-coming photographers for their clients, including wedding, portfolio and event projects from the Earls Arts Centre base.

Ryan said: “We’re so young, we have just come out of college and it has all developed so quickly.

“This is a massive achievement for us after a year of hard graft. I would urge any young people to get out there and just do it, you have nothing to lose.”

A decade of dedication paid off for Mandy Tierney, who picked up the Businesswoman of the Year award for her role as branch manager for the Royal Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in Oldham.

Mandy has overseen an increase in turnover from £45,000 to over £650,000 during her time at the Rhodes Bank base.

She said: “I’m amazed, I have the best job in the world and I love going to work every day.

“I owe a lot to my team, a lot of emotion goes into helping animals at their lowest ebb.

“We’ll be back here in five years time taking over £5 million so we can help thousands more animals.

“I hope the award will raise awareness of what we do and the fact that we are self-funded.”

After a closely fought contest, Craig Dean of Web Applications UK Ltd was hailed as Businessman of the Year.

At just 35, Craig impressed judges by the level of commitment shown as chief executive of the software company that specialises in technology solutions for the travel industry, which he joined in 2005.

He said: “It’s fantastic and I’m really proud to work in Oldham and be part of the business community. I’m really grateful to everyone who voted for me.

“It’s really important for businesses to give back to the community and have a social conscience.”

Experienced businessman David Bellis MBE, from Innovation Technology, opened the gold envelope for the Start-Up Business of the Year award, with Rebecca Jarvis from Pure Dance Academy claiming the trophy.

“I’m speechless and in total shock,” she said as judges described her as an inspiration.

Aged 27, Rebecca was nominated for her new venture, a dance school in Derker, which was born out of a personal passion.

She said: “I’ve been dancing since I was seven and to have my own school is just a dream come true.

“I always tell the pupils to be creative, do their own thing and break from the norm and I guess that’s what I have done.”

Judges had a tough time choosing between the “outstanding” Innovation and Design award nominations, but SDR Sportcars clinched the title for designing unique and desirable sportscars from its base in Shaw.

Owner Simon Dickens (42) said: “People here with me have helped me in some way, from advising me, all the way to childminding my son who has learning difficulties.

“The award makes it all worthwhile. We have an agent in South Africa and in the next year we hope to sell internationally.

“I built my first kitcar with my dad when I was 13, I’m so excited to win as we are a relatively new company.”

Miller’s Florist was the proud recipient of the Retailer of the Year award, sponsored by Oldham Town Centre Partnership.

Barbara Jackson — then Miller — opened the shop in 1977 in Market Street, Shaw, before moving to its current location in Huddersfield Road.

Barbara (52), who won businesswoman of the year in 2009, said she couldn’t wait to display her new award in the shop window.

“I feel brilliant to win this award but I couldn’t do it without my staff. They didn’t come tonight as they have to get up early for work tomorrow but they will be really pleased,” she said.

“We struggled with Tesco next door but we have got a big database so we keep in contact with all of our customers — it’s all about the personal service now.”

AlternEnergy did the double — winning the environmental award for the second year running.

This year, in conjunction with Groundwork Oldham, the team has combined expertise to develop projects in the low-carbon economy.

Proud project manager Anthony Hall said: “It just goes to show our progress and how we are adding value to our business.

“As well as providing more services to our clients, we are proving that the future of green technology and a green economy is within our grasp.”

Oldham Coliseum proved it does more than perform, when its staff picked up the University Campus Oldham Knowledge Exchange Partnership award.

Chief executive and artistic director Kevin Shaw was delighted to accept the award from the head of UCO, Debbie Bridge.

The theatre has been working alongside the university in a project to engage socially-deprived people.

Kevin said: “I’m delighted to win and it’s nice that some of the hidden work off the stage we do at the Coliseum has been recognised.”

Each champion was handed a framed front page with their winner’s story, as well as their engraved trophies to treasure.

Steve Kilroy, business integration manager at BAE Systems and chair of Oldham Business Awards’ steering group, said: “The town has gone through tough times and we are responsible for looking after it and we want Oldham to be the best borough in England.

“We sponsor the awards because we are a small piece in Oldham’s jigsaw and we have responsibility in the community to encourage employers to help the community grow — we want to promote the town.

“The nominations were all fantastic and there were difficult decisions for the panels.”


More on the awards ceremony in tonight’s Oldham Chronicle and online in the E-chron (subscription needed)

View and order photographs from the awards ceremony at www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk