East Suffolk Business & Community Awards – winners announced!!

The 2019 East Suffolk Business & Community Awards took place on Thursday 3^rd October at The Hangar, Kesgrave Hall.  Organised by East Suffolk Council, the Awards celebrated a vast array of business and community successes and initiatives from the last 18 months.

The evening was hosted for the fifth time by Steve Allen, the comedian, writer and presenter of BBC2’s The Mash Report. Parker Communications provided a stunning set and flawless AV support throughout.

This year saw a record number of entries for the awards, with over 60 businesses and groups represented on the night – alongside the many individual finalists and distinguished guests.

Coderus, The Hearing Care Centre, Student Life and Woodbridge Rugby Club were among the winners. A total of thirteen awards were presented throughout the evening, covering categories including Customer Focus, Services to the Community, People Development, Encouraging Tourism and Business Growth (full list below). The winners received an eco-friendly wooden trophy and all the finalists were given a bottle of Prosecco with their certificates.

Guests enjoyed an impressive meal of smoked chicken and ham hock terrine followed by roast Silverside of Dedham Vale beef with vanilla panna cotta for dessert. After the awards guests celebrated with live music from The East Coast Collective.

Cllr Letitia Smith, Cabinet Member for Communities, Leisure and Tourism, said: “It was a real pleasure being able to celebrate the dedication and commitment shown by local groups, individuals and businesses in supporting their local communities. It says a great deal about the fantastic community spirit across East Suffolk and is one of the reasons it is such a great place to live.

“I would like to congratulate our well-deserving winners whose hard work and commitment has helped improve their local area and the lives of the people who live there.

“I would also like to thank our sponsors and those who took the time to nominate for these special awards.”

Kelly Scoot, owner of JoJo’s Kitchen & Bar, said: “We’re delighted to have won New Business of the Year and represent Lowestoft at these awards. We’ve had an excellent start for the business, made extra special thanks to the support of the Lowestoft community.  We would also like to acknowledge the support we have received from Magnus PR over the past 18 months, which has been outstanding.”

Louise Richardson from Student Life, enthused: “To win both the People Development AND Great Idea Awards is amazing! We’re thrilled with our success and the opportunities we provide, and we’re very proud to have earned the recognition and support of the East Suffolk community.”

Rob Simpson, Chairman of Woodbridge Rugby Club, added: “We’re celebrating 50 years of Woodbridge Rugby Club this year and are so proud of our club’s inclusiveness with teams for Men, Women, Boys, Girls, Vets and Wheelchair users. To win Club of the Year is a wonderful way to acknowledge and pay tribute to the tireless work of our committee, coaches and volunteers. Following the recent loss of some of the Club’s stalwarts, I’ve witnessed how, although a love of rugby is what brought us together, this Club is about so much more. It really is a family.”

For further information visit the East Suffolk Business & Community Awards website.

Photo credit:  Sarah Lucy Brown Photography