Leicestershire's best in business revealed.
The semi-finalists of the ninth Leicestershire Niche Business Awards were announced to Leicester’s business community at the Menphys Hub in South Wigston last night (May 24).
More than 60 guests attended the networking event to hear the results of each of the 17 categories revealed by their category sponsors, who were responsible for selecting the semi-finalists.
Among the semi-finalists were large businesses that operate across the UK as well as family-run SMEs. Industries range from leisure to logistics and from education to environmental.
Cross Productions, a marketing agency that organises awards ceremonies, founded the Niche Business Awards in 2014.
Jenny Cross, CEO of Cross Productions, said: “Our category sponsors have worked exceptionally hard to select their semi-finalists. I know that several categories were particularly difficult to whittle down because the standard has just been so high this year."
An independent judging panel will now take over the process. They will conduct their own in-depth research into the semi-finalists, inviting each to a face-to-face interview on July 3. Finalists are to be announced later that month.
Bhumika Parmar, founder and director of BP Legal, which is the headline sponsor of the Niche Business Awards said: “We’ve loved working with Cross Productions on the Niche Business Awards 2023. We got behind the ethos of the awards many years ago and have sponsored the Businessman of the Year category in previous years.
"This year, our business has experienced another growth spurt making it the perfect time for us to take on headline sponsorship. I’m incredibly pleased with the judge’s results and really enjoyed meeting the nominees and semi-finalists at the announcement event.”
The Leicester ceremony is well-known for its quirky themes and for breaking down business formalities, bringing local professionals together to celebrate one another's success, rather than compete.
This year’s theme is carnival so guests can expect the ceremony to be full of colour, music, and dancing.
Jenny added: "The Niche Business Awards were set up to recognise the best in practice across the county. It’s genuinely mind-blowing to see not just the number of nominations received but the quality increase year on year. Leicestershire has a thriving business community, one that acts as a benchmark for other cities to aspire to.
"We’re very keen to welcome guests to the 2023 ceremony and finally get to reveal the surprises we’ve planned throughout the night. It’s a fantastic theme to celebrate Leicester’s culture and bring the community together.”
The Niche Business Awards 2023 will be held at Athena on Friday, September 8. Tickets can be purchased at nichemagazine.co.uk/awards.
And the semi-finalists are...
Best Family Business
Sponsored By Kazzoo
Fraser Stretton Property Group
Hollogram
MNV Block Management
Premier Logistics
The Handy Family
What A Goal
Eco Excellence
Sponsored by Michael Smith Switchgear
De Montfort University
Digital Ethos
EkoJoe
Enactus DMU
Red Monkey Play Ltd
Shrinker Digital
Best Small Business
Sponsored by Trident
Fraser Stretton Property Group
Healthy Stuff
Hollingsworths Solicitors
Intrusted Pensions
Mint Securities
Pattersons Commercial Law
Employer of the Year
Sponsored by KSAB Law
Bistro Live
ER Recruitment
Everards
PPL PRS
The Superbia Group
Teamwork Partnership
Customer Service
Sponsored by Fraser Stretton Property Group
Bistro Live
CRS Matrix
Furnley House
Inside-Out Laser Clinic
Paradigm Wills & Legal Services
Reason8
Businessman of the Year
Sponsored by BP Legal
Atul Lakhani
Barry Randall
Hitz Rao
Narinder Nijjar
Rik Pancholi
Utkarsh Thakkar
Hospitality
Sponsored by PPL PRS
Bistro Live
Knight & Garter
Novotel Leicester
The Griffin Inn
What A Goal
Winstanley House
Professional Services
Sponsored By Jerroms Miller Tax Specialists
Breedon Consulting
Paradigm Wills & Legal Services
Pattersons Commercial Law
Rowley Turton
Sarah Franklin - Motorsport Legal
Springfields Advisory
Best Large Business
Sponsored by Cymer Marketing
Bakers Environmental Solutions
Furnley House
Nelsons Law
PPL PRS
Premier Logistics
William Davis
Charity of the Year
Sponsored by HIT Technology
Charity Link
Help The Homeless Leicester
Hope Against Cancer
Lamp
Mission:Foodbank
Pedestrian
Entrepreneur of the Year
Sponsored by CRS Matrix
Cassie Davidson
Charles Bentley
Mark Smith
Pete Frost
Shahid Sheikh
Stefan Fura
Rising Star
Sponsored by Barratt Smith Brown
Anuj Ashar
David Rhodes
Kelly McCormack
Macauley Christopher
Selina Awty
Tracey Hallam
Businesswoman of the Year
Sponsored by Furnley House
Amanda Daly
Cassie Davidson
Harpreet Kashb
Jaz Kaur
Reena Bhalla
Sarah Higgins
Best New Business
Sponsored by Hollingsworths
Espanaro
Hamilton’s Honour
Holistic Family Mediation and Coaching
Karma Corner Gifts
Meesh Consulting
On Poynt Creative
Community Champion
Sponsored by The Bridge
Anita Rao
Greg Hollingsworth
Dean Weston
Team Lamp 2023 - Dave Green, Pete Martin & Greg Hollingsworth
Sean Baker
Bhavesh Sanghai
Creative
Anicca Digital
Giulia Mio Millinery
Hitz Rao Photography
Hickman & Smith Architects
Orange Fox Studio
Reason8
Business Growth
Sponsored by Aims
Fraser Stretton Property Group
ICS Electrical
Intrusted Pensions
Parity Legal
Teamwork Partnership
TML Solicitors
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