The 2018 Ballymena Business Excellence Awards were launched at a reception in the Braid on Friday 27^th July. This is the 16^th year of the awards which are organised annually by Ballymena Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is the principal sponsor for this year’s awards.

Sponsors of the 2018 Ballymena Business Excellence Awards with the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Cllr. Lindsay Millar.

Chamber President Alderman Robin Cherry MBE welcomed everyone to the reception and said “Little did we think that when we organised the first awards in 2003 that they would become such an important and prestigious event. Just looking around this morning, it is great to see so many sponsors and guests present – this demonstrates that the interest in the Business Awards is stronger than ever.  These awards help to celebrate the huge contribution made by our business community. The economic environment has been very tough in the last year, and these awards show the commitment of individuals and the business excellence that exists in the Ballymena Area.

I would like to thank Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for agreeing to be principal sponsor again this year and I assure you that Chamber will do everything to make this year’s awards the most successful to date. I would like to thank all the businesses who have sponsored awards or taken an advertisement in the Awards Brochure – without your support there would be no awards.

The judging this year will again be carried out by Insight Mystery Shopping – it is entirely independent of Chamber thereby ensuring the integrity of the awards.

The Awards Brochure will be circulated throughout the Ballymena area and I would also ask everyone here this morning to encourage your customers and business contacts to enter the awards. There are 21 awards this year so there is a category to suit everyone – large or small businesses, retail, hospitality, agricultural or industrial together with individual awards. I look forward to the Gala Evening on Thursday 18^th October”.

Tom Wiggins (Ballymena Chamber of Commerce and Industry) Cllr. Audrey Wales MBE, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Cllr. Lindsay Millar, Chamber President Alderman Robin Cherry MBE and Catherine Scott, (Insight Mystery Shopping).

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Lindsay Millar said

“Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is hugely proud to sponsor the prestigious Ballymena Business Excellence Awards. The Business Awards in Ballymena continue to go from strength to strength and I commend everybody involved in the organisation of the stellar ceremony. Ballymena Chamber of Commerce and Industry has consistently demonstrated its dedication to a flourishing local economy and has been behind these awards for many years now, which contribute positively to overall economic development in the area. 

We recognise this significant contribution and are delighted to continue to support these awards recognising 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. 

The awards celebrate the talent, entrepreneurship and ambition of our local business leaders and I wish all the entrants well ahead of this year’s event.”

The Gala Awards Evening this year takes place on Thursday 18th October in Tullyglass House Hotel. This is now a major event in the Ballymena business and social calendar, so put the date in your diary now. Last year almost 450 guests attended the Gala Evening and this year will be another great evening.

Awards brochures are now being distributed around the Ballymena area. If you have not yet received a brochure, please click here to view the brochure and download an entry form. If you have any queries, or to book your tickets for the Gala Evening, please contact Tom Wiggins at tom@ballymenachamber.co.uk.