Halton Celebrates Business and Tourism Stars

Halton’s stars of business and tourism were celebrated at a glittering awards ceremony at the De Vere Daresbury Park Hotel on Friday 26 February.

Arriva Bus Runcorn, which recently gained Investor in People status, was voted Halton Business of the Year and the Catalyst Science Discovery Centre won Tourism Team of the Year.

The 2010 Halton Business and Tourism Awards were organised jointly for the second year by the Runcorn and Widnes Tourism Business Network and Halton Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise.

Dozens of businesses and staff employed in the borough’s tourism industry were nominated in 10 categories. The tourism award winners were decided by a panel of judges and the business winners were selected through an open online poll of more than 600 voters.

Nearly 200 people, including the 30 nominees, joined in the celebration of the borough’s top business and tourism success stories at the awards ceremony dinner dance, compered by Wire Fm presenter Pete Pinnington.

Halton Chamber chairman, Stephen Nickson, said: “The awards ceremony is an excellent opportunity to promote the best of Halton’s businesses and showcase its many success stories. Although it has been a tough year for the business community, we have much to celebrate and I would like to thank everyone for their support.”

Jules Burgess-Wilson, chair of the Tourism Business Network, added: “The awards ceremony is the highlight of the year for me. Not only are the awards highly deserved, I know the quality of nominations was superb and I commend all the nominees – winners and those shortlisted alike.  We have some great people in Halton of whom we should be very proud.”

Results:

Business Awards

Business of the Year: Arriva Bus, Runcorn

Entrepreneur of the Year: Yvonne Richards, Taylor Richards Hair Health and Beauty

Exporter of the Year: Phil Heaps, Centrol Recycling Group

New Start Business of the Year: Michelle Heron, Essence of Life

Networker of the Year: Pam Case, PC Support

Tourism Awards

Team of the Year: Catalyst Science Discovery Centre

Outstanding Customer Service: Chris Thompson, Holiday Inn, Runcorn

Outstanding Young Person: Paul Crompton, De Vere Daresbury Park Hotel

Family Friendly Assistant: Sue Halliday, Catalyst Science Discovery Centre

Unseen Hero/Volunteer: Irene Rutter, Daresbury Church

*View photos of the winners here - click here for the photo gallery*