Nominees announced for the 2020 Mansfield & Ashfield Chad Business Awards

Celebrating the best of business and community from across Mansfield and Ashfield, the awards ceremony will take place at the John Fretwell Centre on Thursday, December 10.

It will take the form of a hybrid event with limited numbers attending but also, for the first time, the event will be streamed live on social media platforms.

The awards will be judged independently by a selected panel of business experts.

This year’s panel is made up of Martin Rigley MBE, chief executive of Lindhurst Engineering and executive coach, Fardad Amirsaeedi, enterprise and investment, senior regeneration officer at Mansfield District Council and Matthew Relf, portfolio holder for place, planning and regeneration at Ashfield District Council.

Fardad Amirsaeedi commented: “This year has been a special pleasure to support local businesses when judging the Chad awards.

"At a unique and exceptionally challenging time we have seen entries from entrepreneurs who are passionate, resilient and maintained a drive to continue being successful and care for their community.

"I would like to congratulate and wish all involved including their hard working staff the best.”

This year’s awards has seen businesses, organisations, groups and people nominated in 10 different categories – Innovation, Community Contribution, Best Place To Eat/Drink, Independent Retailerof the Year, Professional Services, Customer Service, Education, The Big Thank You and Lifetime Achievement.

In all cases, nominees had show tremendous fortitude and often resilience in what has been the toughest of years for many people with the Covid-19 pandemic not only putting huge pressure on businesses, but on society as a whole.

Through this, we have heard many stories, and seen many examples, of community spirit shining through, of people and businesses adapting to new ways of thinking and working they never expected to have to do and above all, continuing to play as a full a part as possible in their communities and societies.

And this year’s awards will reflect that and be a celebration human spirit as much as business excellence.

This spirit is typified by one of last year’s big winners, Datsa Gaile, owner and director of Sequin Walls UK Official, Datsas Flowers and All Things Decor Ltd, who won both Independent Retailer of the Year and Business of the Year in 2019.

She said: “Our business has exploded.

"We moved into a new office/showroom, we employ five staff and eight more freelancers, our Instagram followers exceed 55,000, we’ve had seven million views of our TikTok account and I’ve been invited back to prepare a sequin wall for Amanda Holden’s Britain’s Got Talent dressing room two years running.

“Lockdown was a huge challenge for us but we remained determined to come through it better and stronger."

The judging panel for this year’s awards was chaired by Rob Hollingworth, managing editor of Sheffield Newspapers.

He commented: “I was delighted to chair the judging panel for the Chad Business Awards.

"The array of entries reflected a diverse business community which is adapting admirably in these challenging times.

“The judges had done their homework and engaged in an informed debate on who deserved these sought-after honours.

"Congratulations to all entered, you gave the judges much food for thought.

"We hope you enjoy the virtual awards ceremony and continue to do such impressive work.”

The full list of nominees is as follows:

Community Contribution

Bfs Accountants Ltd

English Rose Estate Agents Ltd

KuKu Connect

Let’s All Eat

Newcross Launderette

The White Swan

Innovation Award

English Rose Estate Agents Ltd

Mayborn Group

Superstar Speakers

Whitemeadow Furniture Limited

Customer Service Award

Central Computer Management Ltd

English Rose Estate Agents

RoundWorks IT

Trusted PPE

Victoria Rose Hair & Beauty

Education Award

Bright Sparks Day Nursery - Frankie Wood, Samantha Burr, Laura Hammond

Portland College Education Team

Independent Retailer of the Year

English Rose Estate Agents

Superstar Speakers

The Fashion Shop

Victoria Rose Hair & Beauty

The Best Place to Eat/Drink Award

Not Just Desserts

Porterhouse by Barlows

Sid and the Spoon

The Junction Pub Group

Professional Services Award

Bfs Accountants Ltd

CCM Group

Premier Care

The Big Thank You

Bright Sparks Day Nursery - Frankie Wood, Samantha Burr, Laura Hammond

The White Swan

Liz Barrett

Portland College

Ruth lamb

Stephen Paul Goddard

The Sid & Spoon

Lifetime Achievement

To be announced at the ceremony on the night