The fourth Exmouth Business Awards – in association with the Exmouth Journal – was an auspicious black-tie dinner, held on a warm evening in the top-floor suite at the seafront’s Ocean venue.
There were 250 guests at the event on Friday, May 27, including The Right Honourable Hugo Swire, MP for East Devon and Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Exmouth’s new mayor Brian Cole and his wife Beryl, and representatives from the town’s many businesses.
In his opening speech, Ian MacQueen, chair of the Exmouth Chamber, spoke of the increase in the town’s businesses participating in the awards and how difficult this year’s judging had become. He then introduced Hugo Swire, who presented this year’s awards.
Mr Swire spoke of how ‘Exmouth moves on because of its businesses, and that’s what we want to celebrate in these awards’.
“I congratulate the Exmouth Chamber, all the supporters and the Journal, for supporting it so well and all the other sponsors who make this in to such a great evening.”
In all there were 13 awards, including the Judges’ Special Award to Suzanne Birkett, Exmouth Town Management officer. Mr Swire mentioned Suzanne’s list of achievements, such as the annual Christmas Cracker, the town guide, the shoppers’ guide, the Rugby World Cup celebrations and the Exmouth Mussel Festival.
“The judges were unanimous in their belief that her contribution to the town has been outstanding, over and above the call of duty,” said Mr Swire.
£850 was raised from the charity casino for the event, split between three charities – Pete’s Dragons, Exmouth NCI Coastwatch and Huggable Heroes.
THE 2016 EXMOUTH BUSINESS AWARDS
Independent Retailer of the Year – sponsored by the Exmouth Journal
Winner
Caramel
Runner-ups
Let’s Talk Mobiles
Living and Lifestyle
Deli on the Strand
Tourism/Leisure Experience of the Year – sponsored by Stuart Line Cruises
Winner
Mountlands Language School
Runner-ups
Devon Cliffs
M & S Charters
Restaurant/Cafe or Bar of the Year – sponsored by Bookkeepers4Business
Winner
Krispies
Runner-ups
River Exe Café
Les Saveurs
Professional Services of the Year – sponsored by Clinton Devon Estates
Winner
Stocks & Co
Runner-ups
Accounting On Us
Corner House Vets
Premier Community Services
Young Entrepreneur of the Year – sponsored by WNW Digital
Winner
The Party Wiz
Runner-ups
The Cake Lady
Blissful Beauty
Health Care Provider of the Year – sponsored by Big Fire
Winner
Home Instead Senior Care
Runner-ups
Bluebird
BSL Enabling
Manor Lodge
Sports/Fitness Provider of the Year – sponsored by Partners in Payroll
Winner
LED Leisure
Runner-ups
Total Fitness
Bodywise Gym
Best Customer Service of the Year – sponsored by Manor Lodge
Winner
Let’s Talk Mobiles
Runner-ups
Sam’s Funhouse
The Cake Lady
New Business of the Year – sponsored by Vibrant Pulse
Winner
Bar Fever
Runner-ups
The Beauty Room
Sparkling White Cleaning
JJB Marine
Social Enterprise/Charity of the Year – sponsored by Raymond James
Winner
Pete’s Dragons
Runner-ups
Exmouth NCI Coastwatch
Huggable Heroes
Best Business of the Year – sponsored by Thompson Jenner LLP
Winner
Cockmans Builders
Runner-ups
LED Leisure
River Exe Café
Best Small Business of the Year – sponsored by Devon Cliffs
Winner
The Cake Lady
Runner-ups
Oldbury’s
I.Nova
Judges’ Special Award – sponsored by Ford Simey
Winner
Suzanne Birkett – Exmouth Town Management officer