Cherwell Business Awards 2016: The Winners are Announced

The prestigious 2016 Cherwell Business Awards brought together over 220 guests to celebrate the hard work, success and entrepreneurship of business people within North Oxfordshire.

The 5th Cherwell Business Awards, which took place on Friday 20th May, once again shone the spotlight on the ingenuity, dedication and achievements of many talented individuals and businesses in the local community amidst the stunning surroundings of Begbroke Science Park.

We are delighted to announce the following:

•  New Business Award, sponsored by A2Dominion Group –  JD Cruz
• Employer of the Year Award, sponsored by Activate Learning – Nicholsons
• Innovation & Creativity Award, sponsored by Begbroke Science Park – Walraven UK
• Retail Award, sponsored by Bicester Village – Andys Barber Shop Bicester
• Charity & Community of the Year Award, sponsored by Cherwell District Council – Banbury & District Bus Project
• Business Person of the Year Award, sponsored by Ellacotts LLP Chartered Accountants – Simon Biltcliffe (Webmart Ltd)
• Micro Business of the Year, sponsored by Bicester Chamber of Commerce & Bicester Vision – Oxford IT Solutions
• Small Business of the Year, sponsored by Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership – Butterflies Healthcare
• Apprenticeship of the Year Award, sponsored by Oxfordshire Apprenticeships – High Spec Composites
• Established Business of the Year, sponsored by Spratt Endicott Solicitors –British Bakels Ltd
• The Norbar Cherwell Business of the Year Award was awarded to British Bakels Ltd

Spratt Endicott was thrilled to learn British Bakels, the winner of its sponsored category, was also crowned the overall winner of the night, claiming the prestigious Norbar Torque Tools ‘Cherwell Business of the Year Award’.

Greg Woodhead, Product Development Manager at British Bakels Ltd  said: “Bakels celebrated our 25th anniversary in Bicester during 2015 and we also celebrated its most successful year ever, it felt natural for the management team to want to celebrate this and entering the Cherwell Business Awards seemed like a great opportunity. During the application and judging process, we have had the opportunity to meet with peers from very different businesses in the area and to share interesting perspectives of common factors which affect our very different businesses.  It has been, at every point, a very satisfying journey.  Although I think it’s fair to say that the judges would all make formidable poker players, such was the degree to which winning took us bysurprise.

Winning the Spratt Endicott ‘Established Business of the Year’ and the Norbar Torque Tools ‘Cherwell Business of the Year Awards’ is an acknowledgement of the hard work and commitment of the whole Bakels team over the past few years to build a forward-facing and growing company which is a responsible and valued member of the community.  The awards are especially gratifying given the high level of competition shown from the other businesses who were nominated.  Working in such a competitive and fast paced environment as the food industry can often lead to us all overlooking how much we are achieving; to have this recognised by respected peers in other companies is an incredible confirmation that we are following the right path.”  To find out more about British Bakels,please click here.

Winning a Cherwell Business Award can be a springboard to greater success and exposure in the local business community and Spratt Endicott is proud to support such a fantastic event.

John Spratt, Chairman at Spratt Endicott said: “We have been sponsors of the Cherwell Business Awards since their inception 5 years ago. During that time, we have achieved a greater presence in the Cherwell District with offices in both Banbury and Bicester. We believe these Awards are a great way to celebrate the success and achievements of our great business people living and working in the area.”

For further information,  please visit the Cherwell Business Awards website.

Photo: Tudor Photography.