The winners of the 2020 Lisburn & Castlereagh City Business Awards in association with Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council and Power NI were announced at a glittering gala awards ceremony at the La Mon Hotel & Country Club on Friday 6th March.
Awards were presented across 15 diverse categories, demonstrating business excellence in areas such as customer service, marketing, innovation and export.
Alderman Allan Ewart MBE, Chair of the Council’s Development Committee, said: “I am proud to have the opportunity to support and work with businesses within the Lisburn Castlereagh area. These business awards are the ideal opportunity to acknowledge the business excellence and innovation being achieved by our local companies. Congratulations to everyone who entered the awards, our finalists and the winners.”
Amongst those honoured were Business Person of the Year, Robin Mercer of Hillmount, High Rise and Employers for Childcare won the Best New Business Award and Best Social Enterprise Business Award. The highly competitive Best Licensed Eating Establishment was won by The StillHouse @ Hughes Craft Distillery, Moira.
Robin Mercer of Hillmount said: “I’m absolutely humbled and extremely proud. When my name was announced as the winner of Business Person of the Year, my family saw me speechless for probably the first time in a very long time.
“It’s an honour to be recognised by Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council for being deemed the best trader in the local area, in a business opened by my grandfather 80 years ago this summer.
“This award is truly special. It’s for my wife Edith, our family, our staff and loyal customers who support my ambition, determination, drive and dedication to our business every day.”
The black-tie ceremony, which was hosted by BBC television presenter Holly Hamilton, also featured entertainment performances by Arco Electric and Irish dance group Slide Step.
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Business Awards
- Business Person of the Year Award (sponsored by Power NI) – Robin Mercer, Hillmount
- Rising Star Award (sponsored by Inspire Business Centre) – Wendy Ward, Wendy Ward Design
- Best Tourism Business Award (sponsored by Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council) – Ralph’s Moira
- Excellence in Customer Service Award (Non-Retail) (sponsored by NI Chamber) – Cartmill Stewart & Co. Chartered Accountants
- Excellence in Customer Service Award (Retail) (sponsored by Lisburn Bowl) – McCalls of Lisburn
- Best Family Business Award (sponsored by Plastec) – Pure Roast Coffee Ltd.
- Best New Business Award (sponsored by Lisburn Enterprise Organisation) – High Rise
- Excellence in Manufacturing Award (sponsored by Linamar Light Metals Belfast) – Datum Tool Design Ltd.
- Best Exporting Business Award (sponsored by HMC Global) – Decora Blind Systems
- Business Growth Award (sponsored by GMcG Chartered Accountants Lisburn) – KME Steelworks Ltd.
- Best Social Enterprise Business Award (sponsored by Social Enterprise NI) – Employers for Childcare
- Best Licensed Eating Establishment (sponsored by Ulster Tatler) – The StillHouse @ Hughes Craft Distillery
- Best Non-Licensed Eating Establishment (sponsored by Pure Roast Coffee) – FINE
- Innovation Award (sponsored by South Eastern Regional College) – Ad-Vance Engineering (Lisburn) Ltd.
- Commitment to Responsible Business Award (sponsored by OCS) – Hillsborough Castle Café and Stable Yard Tearoom Yellow Door at Hillsborough Castle
For more details and photos from the awards ceremony please visit www.lcccbusinessawards.co.uk
