Scarborough News Excellence in Business Awards celebrates best of business on Yorkshire Coast

Last night we hosted our annual business awards in the Grand Hall at Scarborough Spa.
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Now an established event, the awards celebrate the diverse range of businesses along the Yorkshire Coast and into Ryedale.

The night was attended by over 200 guests and was hosted by BBC Look North's Harry Gration.

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As in previous years the night's main sponsor was McCain Foods with additional sponsorship of awards from YH Training, West BS Bridlington, Plaxton, Lloyd Dowson, the University of Hull, Boyes and CU Scarborough.

The awards. Picture by Richard PonterThe awards. Picture by Richard Ponter
The awards. Picture by Richard Ponter

"After 50 years in Scarborough, McCain is proud to be sponsoring The Scarborough News Excellence in Business Awards 2019 –celebrating the best of business on the Yorkshire Coast," said a spokesperson from McCain.

The event had a Greatest Showman theme and the Grand Hall in the Spa was adorned with circus themed decoration including giant animal sculptures.

After an introduction from Editor-in-Chief Jean MacQaurrie and a three course dinner, guests enjoyed a performance from an acrobat before the awards ceremony began.

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With a strong set of entries there, competition was fierce but there could only be one winner in each category.

The Grand Hall in the Scarborough Spa. Picture by Richard Ponter.The Grand Hall in the Scarborough Spa. Picture by Richard Ponter.
The Grand Hall in the Scarborough Spa. Picture by Richard Ponter.

The Winners

See a picture gallery of the winner here.The Frank McMahon Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by YT Training - Olivia Hall

She’s hugely popular with the kids she coaches, and their parents, and Yorkshire Coast Football Academy is immensely proud of her.

That’s Olivia Hall, who is a role model and an asset to the company. She organised a Women’s World Cup event, with over 50 girls taking part, and coaches football and cheerleading.

An acrobatic performance. Picture by Richard PonterAn acrobatic performance. Picture by Richard Ponter
An acrobatic performance. Picture by Richard Ponter
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Company CSR Initiative of the year, sponsored by McCain Food - Cura Financial Services

Cura Financial Services supports its staff with charity events, as individuals and as a team, ranging from zumbathons to ‘virtually’ running, rowing, cycling and dancing 157 miles in one day!

It donates every month to a charity that, it says, “means something to us or our loved ones”, and its most recent charity event was for Mental Health Awareness Week.

Bridlington/ East Yorkshire Business of the Year, sponsored by West BS Bridlington - Burlington Care

Host Harry Gration. Picture by Richard PonterHost Harry Gration. Picture by Richard Ponter
Host Harry Gration. Picture by Richard Ponter
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Burlington Care Ltd employs 1,700 people at Carnaby and is taking on more for its new residential and dementia care homes, as well as its homecare business.

Over two years the company has invested £14million on projects in the Scarborough-Bridlington-East Yorkshire area, and will be investing £10million in upgrading its care homes.

Employer of the Year, sponsored by Plaxton - Cura Financial Services

A happy workforce is key to the aims of Cura Financial Services.

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The Cura ‘Family’ breaks down barriers, both in how it insures customers and in its own workforce.

Recently, everyone had their say at a strategy day, and its employee training is unique in the industry.

Flexible working is offered, and the emphasis is on nurturing a happy and motivated workforce.

Leisure/ Retail Business of the Year, sponsored by Lloyd Dowson - Escape Rooms Scarborough

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Whether it’s saving the world from dark wizards, or catching a serial killer on the London Underground, Escape Room Scarborough offers unique games in detailed settings.

Turnover in the year ending 31st August 2019 topped £100,000 and there are plans to expand.

The aim, say its two founders, is to become the biggest and best escape room in Yorkshire, or the North, or the country!

The Gary Ledden Memorial Entrepreneur of the Year - Richard Hoggart from Burlington Care

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Large Business of the Year, sponsored by the University of Hull - Saint Cecilia's Care Group

Saint Cecilia’s Care Group is celebrating its 30th year, and while others in the social care sector have been contracting, it has expanded and has just opened its fourth care home.

The hard work of staff and management has earned the company a sound reputation that the care it provides is of a high quality.

And in a struggling sector, its innovation and investment means the company is thriving.

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New Business of the Year, sponsored by Boyes - Roots of Yggdrasil

Roots of Yggdrasil CIC is a Community Interest Company that aims to improve the health and well-being of deprived and rural communities.

One of its key areas is taking exercise and massage into companies.

SME Business of the Year, sponsored by CU Scarborough - Town and Country (Whitby) Ltd

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Town and Country Care (Whitby) Ltd was started by Amanda Coates in her garage in 2007 with a team of four carers; that team has now grown to over 40, with the company now based at St Hilda’s Business Centre.

Revenue exceeded £1million for the first time in 2017, the same year in which a respite and recovery centre opened.

That operates alongside a non-profit day centre for adults.

Sustainable Business - The Crown Spa Hotel

Overall Business of the Year, sponsored by McCain Food - Cura Financial Services

Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by McCain Food - Tony Peers

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Over a 50 year career in showbiz, beginning as a Butlins redcoat, Tony Peers has reshaped entertainment in Scarborough.

Born in Wigan, Tony moved to the town in the 70s and has provided entertainment for tens of thousands of people over the years as both performer, and later producer and director.

A shrewd businessman as well as a natural entertainer, Tony has excelled in an industry notoriously difficult to succeed in, staging shows in theatres across the country.

Most notably, he took over the longest six-day summer season in the country at The Scarborough Spa and has been involved in over 2,500 shows there.

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His productions helped revive Scarborough's summer by drawing locals and tourists alike to the venues and the fact they continue to pull in the crowds year after year is testament to Tony's deep understanding of both the theatre and his audience.