THEY ARE popular businesses in Kettering town centre. And four took centre stage at this year’s Kettering Business Awards.
Retailer of the Year went to The Bean Hive while Jamie’s Butchers took home the Food & Drink Business of the Year award. Next Step Podiatry was named the Service Industry Business of the Year while Beccy Hurrell Voice & Arts received the Community Award for bringing creative arts to the town centre.
They were among a total 24 finalists in the awards, held at the Kettering Park Hotel & Spa. Also among the winners this year were Desborough-based hair and beauty salon Emma’s Secret Retreat, which won the Start-up Business of the Year and Beauty Bar Desborough, winner in the Hair & Beauty Business of the Year category.
Mawsley’s Stefanie Jaynes, Northamptonshire’s largest stockists of Prom and Evening Wear, returned home with the Small Business of the Year Award. Holiday Inn Express Kettering collected the Business of the Year award while Northamptonshire Centre for Counselling Studies was named the Health & Wellbeing Business of the Year.
The evening, sponsored by Wilson Browne Solicitors, also raised money for family support charity HomeStart Kettering. The town’s mayor Cllr Keli Watts shared her personal experience from her time running her McDonald’s franchise businesses in Kettering and Rothwell before officially opening the awards evening.
MEET THE WINNERS
START UP BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Sponsor: Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce
Emma’s Secret Retreat
Runner-up: Geek Retreat Kettering
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Sponsor: Action Coach Oakham & Kettering
Holiday Inn Express Kettering
Runner-up: Elm Bank Care Home
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Sponsor: Business Times
Stefanie Jayne’s
Runner-up: Dot & Stripe
Finalist: Next Step Podiatry
FOOD & DRINK BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Sponsor: The Northampton Grocer
Jamie’s Butchers
Runner-up: Kafe Bloc
Finalist: Treat Box Desborough
HEALTH & WELLBEING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Sponsor: Nene Legal
Northamptonshire Centre of Counselling Studies
Runner-up: Next Step Podiatry
Finalist: Balance Health Club
HAIR & BEAUTY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Sponsor: Hair by DG
Beauty Bar Desborough
Runner-up: Emma’s Secret Retreat
Finalist: The Hair Studio
RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Sponsor: Bee Cool Air Conditioning
The Bean Hive
Runners-up: Stefanie Jayne’s
Finalist: The Northampton Grocer
SERVICE INDUSTRY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Sponsor: Evolve Coaching
Next Step Podiatry
Runner-up: Holiday Inn Express Kettering
Finalist: Dot & Stripe
COMMUNITY AWARD
Sponsor: Next Step Podiatry
Beccy Hurrell Voice & Arts
Runner-up: The Northampton Grocer
