Ballymena businesses were out in force last Thursday (10th October) at the Gala evening in Tullyglass House Hotel to celebrate the 11th Ballymena Borough Business Excellence awards. The awards are organised annually by Ballymena Borough Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Principal sponsor this year was Ballymena Borough Council.

The President’s table at the Ballymena Business Awards

Front Row L-R: Fiona Paisley, Pamela Ballantine, Mayor Audrey Wales MBE, Anne Donaghy and Esther McKillen

Back Row: Ian Paisley MP, Alec Morrow, Mayor of Larne Maureen Morrow, Leo O’Reilly and Chamber President Thomas McKillen

Chamber President Thomas McKillen welcomed everyone. He said “On behalf of Ballymena Borough Chamber of Commerce and Industry, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all here tonight to celebrate our 11th Ballymena Business Excellence Awards. The fact that there are over 400 people present here this evening, clearly illustrates the high esteem in which the local business community hold this event.

Tonight is about celebrating the success of the Ballymena Borough Business Community and focusing on the huge contribution made by local Businesses and to highlight the commitment made by individuals. As a Chamber we see this as an excellent event to promote Ballymena to the rest of Northern Ireland as a great place to live, work and do business.

I would like to thank all our sponsors, especially our principal sponsor Ballymena 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”.

Ballymena Mayor Cllr. Audrey Wales MBE said “As Mayor of Ballymena, I am delighted to have been invited to speak at tonight’s awards. This is the 11th year of these Awards, the purpose of which is to demonstrate the commitment to excellence shown by many of the businesses within the Borough of Ballymena. 

As principal sponsor of the Awards, Ballymena Borough Council is fully committed to creating the environment that commerce can operate in. Ballymena can be a place for business excellence and we are proud to be home for some great globally recognised organisations. The Economic climate only makes us more determined to collaborate jointly and dovetail our strategies and plans together for the benefit of our local people. Such partnership working can assist and support the growth and prosperity, both now and in the future, for our people and our place – Ballymena”.

After an excellent meal came the highlight of the evening, the presentation of the awards. Pamela Ballantine was the compere and the atmosphere was electric and there were great scenes of jubilation as the winners were announced.

During the evening a draw was held for the Northern Ireland Hospice and the excellent total of over £3000 was raised. Chamber would like to thank the following companies who donated prizes for the raffle: Barrs Butchers, Energia, firmus energy, Galgorm Castle Golf Club, Galgorm Resort and Spa, Millside Restaurant (Gracehill), Michelin Tyre PLC and Tullyglass House Hotel.

You can view pictures from the Gala Evening on our dedicated gallery.