It was a night to remember at the Royal Tunbridge Wells Business Awards 2016 last week – the culmination of a six-month search for the best companies and individuals in and around the borough.
It all started with the decision by the Times to recognise and honour the local business community and its contribution to the ongoing success of our town.
Within days the entries had started to arrive, and by the time the panel of judges was appointed the figure had soared to almost 200 entries across 11 categories.
Hours were spent scoring the entries and whittling them down to shortlists and then the eventual winners. And what an impressive line-up it turned out to be.
Winners ranged from the Childrensalon, which trades around the world and took the title of Outstanding Business of the Year, to Paul Chapman of the printers Signal UK, who won Business Hero of the Year for his support of Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre.
Outpourings on social media declared it a ‘fun night’ that was ‘great for local businesses’.
Guest of honour Edwina Currie told the audience: “If you do your best, be optimistic, take a chance and make the effort almost anything is possible. That is why I have so much admiration for those gathered here tonight.”
