Northamptonshire awards honours big names across the county
The Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards were held on Thursday
Hundreds of guests from across the region’s business community celebrated the success of innovators and entrepreneurs.
Leisure virtually became the theme of the awards ceremony, held at the County Ground on Thursday, November 7, where the likes of Whilton Mill Karting & Outdoor Activities, Northamptonshire Sport, Billing Aquadrome’s parent company Meadow Bay Villages, pub group Greedy Gordons, Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust and Memento Exclusives all went away with a trophy.
This year’s celebrity host was TV’s Taskmaster’s Alex Horne who took to the stage alongside his musical comedy band, The Horne Section to entertain more than 500 guests.
The award for outstanding contribution was renamed the David Laing Award in honour of the former Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire who died earlier this year.
Receiving the inaugural David Laing Award was Gavin Warren, who stepped down as Chairman of Northamptonshire County Cricket Club earlier this year.
Commenting on the prize, Gavin said:
“Firstly, thank you for this award. We have three professional sports clubs in this county, as well as Silverstone, and we should be very proud. We have a wonderful county, wonderful sport and to come together on an evening like this to celebrate in the way we have is amazing, well done everyone.”
Instrumental in bringing in many changes at the club, Gavin introduced the likes of T20 Blast to the County Ground and helped devise The Hundred, a faster, limited ball format.
Northampton singer Billy Lockett, who's recently appeared on The Voice on ITV, made a special guest appearance on the night to perform as it was announced that local mental health and suicide prevention charity, Kelly’s Heroes was the chosen charity partner for this year’s awards.