Ballymena businesses were out in force on 19th October at the Gala evening in Tullyglass House Hotel to celebrate the 15th Ballymena Business Excellence Awards. The awards are organised annually by Ballymena Borough Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the principal sponsor this year was Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

Mid & East Antrim Borough Council Chief Executive Anne Donaghy, Cllr Paul Reid Mayor of Mid & East Antrim and president of Ballymena Chamber of Commerce& Industry Ronan McCann are seen here with their special guests at Thursday evening’s Ballymena Business Excellence Awards 2017 in the Tullyglass Hotel. Back row L-R, Ronan McCann, Cllr Paul Reid, Robert Douglas, Chris Wales. Front, L-R, Mrs Mary Lawn, Mrs Niamh McCann, Mrs Carol Reid, Anne Donaghy, Sarah Travers, Cllr Audrey Wales MBE.

Sarah Travers was the compere for the evening and her first duty was to invite Chamber President Ronan McCann to speak.

Ronan 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 15th 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 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 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”.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Paul Reid, said: “Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is delighted and proud to be the principal sponsor of the hugely prestigious Ballymena Business Excellence Awards.

 “Council is fully committed to supporting business growth and development, and promoting an environment that encourages and facilitates investment in our Borough.

 “We have committed to creating a vibrant business culture and we are proactively seeking to build on our strengths in advanced manufacturing, retail and agri-food, while supporting the growth of new industry sectors, including digital, tourism, financial and business services.

 “Ballymena Chamber of Commerce and Industry is dedicated to a flourishing local economy and has been organising these awards for many years now, which contribute positively to overall economic development and prosperity.

 “We recognise this significant contribution and are proud to continue to support these awards which recognise the achievements of our local businesses and business people in helping us all to build a stronger economy for the benefit of all our citizens.

 “We celebrate the talent, entrepreneurship and ambition of our local business leaders and pay tribute to their unrelenting and inspirational commitment to Ballymena and Mid and East Antrim.”

Chamber would like to thank Tullyglass House Hotel for their excellent food and service. The highlight of the evening of course was the presentation of the awards and the atmosphere was electric. The evening was rounded off with entertainment by magician Rodd Hogg and dancing to the Bizz.

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:

• Ballymena BID
• Bank of Ireland
• Galgorm Castle Golf Club
• Galgorm Resort and Spa
• Michelin Tyre PLC
• NI Hospice
• Tullyglass House Hotel
• Chris and Audrey Wales

Chamber is delighted that £3250 was raised for the Hospice and thank everyone for their generosity.

You can view a full gallery of pictures from the gala evening by clicking here.