Four Newcastle under Lyme businesses, including a bakery and web design company, have received cash boosts for showing resilience and adaptability during Covid 19.
The Business Boost Award, ran by volunteers from the local business community, Borough Council and Newcastle BID aims to inspire small and medium size businesses in the Newcastle Borough to grow and prosper. Currently in its 10th year, Business Boost this year wanted to celebrate the entrepreneurs within the Borough whose businesses survived or thrived during a pandemic.
Nominations for three award categories began in September. Following some tough decisions from the judging panel, the final awards ceremony was broadcast live on Youtube on Wednesday 2nd December.
Chair of Judges, Sarah Da Silva said: “The entries were truly inspiring and judging wasn’t easy. There was an incredible variety of entries and all had a pandemic story to tell. Covid-19 has led us to defer our normal Business Boost Awards but we wanted to recognise the companies who had gone the extra mile to strive and survive whilst support their staff and the wider Newcastle community during these very challenging times.”
The Newcastle-under-Lyme BID business went to Anasma Greek Bakery. Marianna Anastasiou, successfully took her market stall to shop during the pandemic and has been a hit within the community whilst also bringing in customers from the likes of Manchester and Birmingham for her authentic Greek cuisine.
Hollies Haberdashery picked up the Newcastle Town Centre Business Award and owner Sarah Griffin was celebrated for how she managed to adapt her sewing and crafting business to connected customers and created a community on and offline for those who felt isolated during lockdown and also created over 1,000 scrubs for the NHS.
Webdesign company CyberKiln scooped the Newcastle Borough Award due to the incredible success they’d had in tripling their client base and supporting companies in the North Staffordshire area and beyond. When asked about his approach to owning a business in a pandemic, Chris Daniels who started Cyberkiln is 2019 said “Adapt, pick a direction and just go. Keep moving. The world doesn’t stop so why should you?”
In addition to the three categories, a Special Recognition Award of £250 went to Mike Davies of Punx Puds and Castle Artisan Market. The Artisan Market was praised for attracting a large footfall into the borough on a monthly basis from Staffordshire and the wider borough.
The awards were sponsored by Newcastle-under-Lyme BID, Best of British Beer and Rydale Roofing.
A full list of nominees are below…
BID Award – Sponsored by Newcastle-under-Lyme BID
First prize £500 – Anasma Greek Bakery
Highly Commended
Newcastle Pet Supplies
Castletown Distillery
Amore Italian Restaurant
Newcastle Town Centre Award – Sponsored by Newcastle-under-Lyme BID
First prize £500 – Hollies Haberdashery
Highly Commended
Antique Forum
Baby Bump Luxe
Blink Digital
Brampton Recruitment
Cheeky Cheesecakes
The Cake House
Danielle Sharratt
Green Flamingo Food
Piccoloco
Punx Puds/Castle Artisan Market
Ridgways Hearing
Newcastle Borough Business Award – Jointly sponsored by Best of British Beer and Rydale Roofing
First prize £500 – Cyber Kiln
Highly Commended
Mondrem
Plant This Card
Strategi Solutions
Special Judges’ Award – Sponsored by Appointments Personnel
First prize £250 – Punx Puds / Castle Artisan Market
