Together in celebration of the most influential, successful businesses of our city and county
CEREMONY TO REWARD THE PEOPLE AND FIRMS FINDING SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS WORLD FACES
COMPANIES that have gone above and beyond to stake their claim on the local, national and even global business scene have been honoured at the 2020/21 LeicestershireLive Business Awards.
The black tie annual event – postponed in 2020 because of the pandemic – celebrated the most influential and successful businesses in our city and county.
Winners on the night included a tank paintball business, a firm that makes heated food display units and a Loughborough manufacturer of life-saving medicines for the UK and developing countries.
The awards, a highlight of the local business calendar, were hosted by LeicestershireLive in association with Costock brand and events agency Champions (UK) plc, and took place at the Maher centre in Leicester.
The judges spent weeks considering all the finalists before carefully and painstakingly selecting the best businesses out there as the winners.
The overall Business of the Year award was presented to the team at Spirit Health Group, a family of companies that helps makes healthcare more accessible for patients and service providers – saving the NHS millions of pounds in the process.
There was also a new award created to champion those in industries most affected by the pandemic – the Hospitality Innovation Award – which was won for the first time by Winstanley House hotel, in Braunstone Park, Leicester.
The 19-bedroom boutique hotel opened four years ago, after a huge £2 million project to renovate rundown, arson-hit Braunstone Hall.
The gardens were landscaped, ballrooms added – designed to host two wedding receptions at once if need be – and a steak restaurant called Black Iron was created, offering top-quality food cooked in a charcoal-fired oven.
The hotel hosts leisure and corporate stays, as well as weddings and receptions.
Leicester Mercury and LeicestershireLive editor Adam Moss said businesses such as Spirit Health Group and Winstanley House were evidence of why we have so much to celebrate.
He said: “It’s hard to believe that after 18 months of restrictions this is my third Leicester Mercury business awards in a week.
“But each of them – our Women in Business, Innovation and now our Business Awards – show the true depth and variety of industry in our region.
“Leicestershire has a history of success – from traditional industries such as textiles, shoe making and mining, to new sectors such as science and technology, IT, motorbike manufacturing and logistics.
At the heart of all those businesses is a spirit of creativity and innovation – a desire to be the best Adam Moss
“At the heart of all those businesses is a spirit of creativity and innovation – and a desire to be the best. “These awards reflect that. “And as we come through the pandemic I know the people running those businesses will play a vital part in finding many of the solutions to the problems the world is facing today. “Congratulations to each and every one of our winners and to all the excellent finalists.”