Success at the Blackmore Vale Business Awards

We’ve won another TWO awards! Once again, Harts of Stur has reason to celebrate after our recent success at the Blackmore Vale Business Awards. The awards are established on the local business calendar as one of the most prestigious events to attend. They highlight and celebrate the many excellent businesses based in, and around, the Blackmore Vale. Around 330 people attended the event to see who would win each of the 13 categories. Furthermore, who would go on to become the much coveted Business of the Year. Our brace of awards proudly on display in the boardroom

The Evening

The glittering Blackmore Vale Business Awards had an Olympic theme. They were well attended by finalists, sponsor representatives and members of the business community. A diverse range of enterprises were represented, from a local charcoal producer to a science and computer-coding club. The impressive and capacious George Albert Hotel was to be the venue for the awards. Guests were greeted to a champagne drinks reception and once seated, welcomed by Clair Pengilly, publisher of Blackmore Vale Media. After a delicious meal there was a lively charity auction to raise money for evening’s chosen charity – Home-Start. Then the awards proper got underway.

The Blackmore Vale Business Awards

Guest speaker Olympian Nick Thompson presented The Blackmore Vale Business Awards, and congratulated them on their Olympic theme.  Nick sailed in the Laser class race at the Rio Olympics. For the last two years he has also been Laser class World Champion. We knew we were finalists in three categories. But what we didn’t know until the evening was we were also a finalist for overall Business of the Year. The categories were: Graham Hart and Philip Hart pictured with the Customer Service Awards certificate Customer Service Award – Awarded to the business that has provided the best customer service to the local community through their place of work. On-line Business of the Year – This new category celebrates the growth of on-line business in the Blackmore Vale region. The award recognises the importance of utilising new techniques to create innovative products and services to the very highest standards. Family Business Award – Open to any first generation family-owned business, multi-generational company or publically owned firm which founding families still hold a significant stake. We're delighted to announce we won both the Customer Service award and On-line Business of the Year award. Well done to fellow finalists and winners. Most of all, special congratulations should go to Actisense, winner of the Business of the Year award. Actisense design and manufacture hi-tech electronic equipment for the marine industry. Guests were invited to place some chips at the casino to raise more money for the featured charity once the awards had finished. A digital photo booth also proved very popular whilst others partied into the night. The Harts of Stur team celebrate their double award success

More Awards

We will have our fingers-crossed over the next few weeks because we're finalists at two more awards evenings. First up are the eCommerce Awards 2016. These awards, which are now in their eighth year, highlight the very best the eCommerce world has to offer. Categories include best online retailers, innovations, customer service, agencies and campaigns. The awards take place at the London Mariott Hotel in Grosvenor Square on Wednesday 28th September. We have made the finals in the Best Home & Garden eCommerce Website and Best eCommerce Customer Service categories. Finally, the other awards evening is The Excellence in Housewares Awards. This takes place on Wednesday 5th October at the London Lancaster Hotel near Hyde Park. The awards are now in their 17th year and are affectionately known as ‘The Oscars’ of the housewares industry. We’ve made the finals of the Excellence in Direct Retailing and Excellence in Retail Initiative categories. We’ll let you know how we get on.