Triple triumph for Engie at business awards

ROTHERHAM businesses enjoyed a night of glory at the Barnsley & Rotherham Business Awards, with firms from the borough picking up the lion’s share of awards.

Manvers-based regeneration company Engie was the toast of last Friday’s finals at Magna, taking three prizes including the business of the year.

Oliver Wilde walked away as the newly-crowned apprentice of the year and the business also landed the commitment to people development award.

Other Rotherham winners included The Elite Wax Group, based in Stag, for most promising new business, Hogen Systems Ltd, of Templeborough, for best use of technology, Swinton’s Corrosion Resistant Materials, for business growth, and LensGo Visual Media, of Bramley, for marketing campaign of the year.

Amanda’s Blinds, of St Ann’s, was rewarded for excellence in customer service.

It was also a successful night for Wombwell charity FareShare, which redistributes unwanted and donation food supplies to disadvantaged families. 

FareShare, which scooped a £3,000 donation from sponsors Fortem, was named charity of the year and won the community impact award.

Ted Lowe, who works at Electrical Safety UK Ltd in Templeborough, and has had a career that spans over 50 years in the electrical engineering industry, was been honoured with a lifetime achievement award.

The ceremony, compered by Emmerdale star Dean Andrews and hosted by Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, was attended by almost 600 people from the Rotherham and Barnsley business community.

Sheffield firms British Glass and Charles H Coward Ltd took the prizes for workplace wellbeing and manufacturing respectively.

Jonathan Morley of Sheffield’s Secure Power Ltd was named business person of the year.

The ceremony also recognised the longstanding achievements of a number of firms, with presentations for 100 years in business to Progress Rail Services UK and Westfield Health. 

Chamber chief executive Andrew Denniff said: “This year’s awards has seen a record number of entries, culminating in a sell out event which proved to be a memorable evening which celebrated the achievements of businesses of all shapes and sizes based in the region.

“I would like to congratulate the winners on the evening, especially our newly crowned business of the year Engie. 

“The success of the event illustrates some of the truly amazing work which is being undertaken in our region, from the new and promising companies who have a bright future ahead of them to established companies who are celebrating milestone anniversaries.”