Awards evening celebrates business success – and remembers Harry

BUSINESSES from across the area were recognised at the 2023 Chamber's Goole and Howdenshire Business Excellence Awards which were held at Goole Academy.

This year’s ceremony was hosted by Blair Jacobs who paid a poignant tribute to his predecessor, Harry Gration, who had been a stalwart of the event from the start and who presented last year’s awards shortly before his untimely death.

Blair, who had worked with Harry at the BBC, said Harry was “the consummate professional who was admired greatly by all who knew and worked with him.”

This year, the Business Of The Year Award was renamed in his honour, and the judging panel chose Goole Sports Therapy as the recipient of the Harry Gration Business Of The Year Award which was sponsored by PA Media and presented by Gareth Brammall.

The other big winner of the night was popular local butcher Philip Parkin, (right) who was chosen by the organising committee to receive the Tim Richardson Lifetime Achievement Award. Philip, who runs Parkin Family Butchers, is a stalwart of Howden’s Market Place, and well known for his cheerful banter with customers, entertaining posts on social media and charity fundraising activities. Philip took over the family run business from his parents, Roy and Sylvia, and received a standing ovation as he made his way to the stage to receive his award.

The  independent panel of judges waded through around 60 entries before coming up with their final shortlist and then choosing a winner for each of the award categories. The winners were:

Rising Star Of The Year Award - sponsored by Grotech Production and presented by Martin Usher:

• Natalie Holliday of PA Media (TV Metadata)
  
  

Small Business Of The Year Award - sponsored by MNA Group and presented by Mark Newman:

• E-Flooring
  
  

Large Business Of The Year Award - sponsored by Chronicle Publications and presented by Emily Collins:

• Repair and Restore Body Shop
  
  

Hugh Walton Community Champion  Award - sponsored by H. Walton and presented by Charlie Walton:

• M. Dairies
  
  

Marketing Excellence Award - sponsored by Filstorage and presented by Paul Taylor:

• Goole Sports Therapy

Charity Of The Year Award - sponsored by Jos. Richardson & Son and presented by Joseph Richardson:

• A Shining Light
  
  

Training And Development Award - sponsored by Drax and presented by Jane Breach:

• FMG Repair Services
  
  

Self-employed/Micro Business of the Year Award – Siemens, presented by Jo Cox:

• AB Coaching
  
  

New Business Of The Year  - sponsored by Danbrit, presented by Peter Aarosin:

• Accountancy Tuition Academy
  
  

Team Of The Year - sponsored by Fisher Security, presented by Steve Davies:

• Goddards Care

Garrey Haase, Chair of the organising committee, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who entered and attended the awards evening, as well as all of our sponsors and supporters. We couldn’t do it without you all!

“Well done to all of our shortlisted finalists and huge congratulations to our very deserving winners!”