Ballymena businesses were out in force on Wednesday 19th October at the Gala evening in Tullyglass House Hotel to celebrate the 19th Ballymena Business Excellence Awards. The awards are organised annually by Ballymena Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the principal sponsor this year was Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. This year over 400 guests attended the glittering event which showcased the range of first class businesses in the Ballymena Area.

Chamber President Ms. Leigh Heggarty along with distinguished guests at the Gala Awards Evening 2022

The BBC’s Stephen Watson was the compere for the evening and his first duty was to invite Chamber President Leigh Heggarty to speak.

Leigh said ‘Tonight, is about celebrating the success of the Ballymena Business Community focusing on the huge contribution made by local businesses and to highlight the commitment made by many individuals. I am a local girl born and bred in Ballymena and I am passionate about helping our businesses develop and grow. As a Chamber we see the awards as an excellent platform to promote Ballymena to the rest of Northern Ireland as a great place to live, work and do business.

We are extremely proud of the fact that despite the challenges of the previous 2 years and the challenging economic times we are living in, over 400 guests are here tonight to prove that business in the Ballymena area is healthy and vibrant and that we are one of the centres of entrepreneurial excellence within the Northern Irish business community.

“I would like to thank all our sponsors, especially our principal sponsor Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. Chamber has had an excellent working relationship with the Council in recent years and we look forward to building on that relationship in the future. To our individual category sponsors, many of whom return year on year to support the awards, we really are grateful for your support”.

Leigh went on to thank Barbara and Russell Campbell from Barbara Campbell Training and Consultancy who had the difficult job of managing the judging process. All the staff at The Tullyglass House Hotel and our backroom team including Gillian Matthews and Festival Productions and I would like to thank them for all their efforts.

Leigh finished by thanking the Chamber’s Business Development Manager Tom Wiggins who organised the Awards process and The Gala evening assisted by his wife Adrienne and the Chamber’s Honorary Secretary Carol Wilson.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Noel Williams, said: “Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is proud to be the main event sponsor and we remain committed to working together to ensure that Ballymena remains a successful place to do business whilst providing opportunities for future growth and prosperity.

“These Awards acknowledge the excellence, resilience and sheer determination Ballymena businesses have shown to succeed through what has been, and continues to be, difficult and challenging times for us all.

“Congratulations to all the nominees and winners.”

Chamber would like to thank Tullyglass House Hotel for their excellent food and first class service. The highlight of the evening of course was the presentation of the awards and the atmosphere was electric.

During the evening Leigh Heggarty, Chamber’s President and Tom Wiggins, Chamber’s Business Development Manager presented a cheque to The NI Hospice and NI Children’s Hospice for £21,400 the proceeds of the Chamber’s 2nd Annual Charity Golf Day. This means that in the past two years Chamber has raised over £46,400 for these worthy causes.

The evening was rounded off with entertainment from The Harry McGarrity Band who soon had the guests on their feet dancing the night away.

During the evening a raffle was held with the proceeds going to the NI Hospice. Chamber would like to thank the following businesses for donating prizes for the raffle:

• Galgorm Spa
• The Adair Arms Hotel
• Galgorm Castle Golf Club
• Tom and Adrienne Wiggins

The raffle raised a fantastic amount of £2,400 for The NI Hospice and The NI Children’s Hospice.

You can view the gallery of award winners on the night by clicking here.