North West Business Awards recognise best in class!

The North West Business Awards took place in June, celebrating the very best and brightest of the local business community across the Derry and Strabane District Council area! The City Hotel played host to over 300 guests on Friday 9th June, with 17 awards up for grabs, rewarding the best in class for sectors spanning retail, food and drink, hospitality, the green economy, and everything else in between.

It was an evening celebrating the strength and innovation in the North West with lots of surprises and recognition for local businesses. The ceremony was sponsored by

Loganair and invited nominations from businesses and entrepreneurs operating across Derry, Strabane, Donegal, and further afield. It was a brilliant night as well for some of our Chamber members who were recognised including Terex, the Waterfoot Hotel, The Playhouse, FinTrU, Da Vinci’s Hotel, the Walled City Brewery, and Declan Doherty from Derry Youth and Community Workshop.

This year’s awards were jointly organised by the Chamber and the City Centre Initiative (CCI), who thanked everyone who nominated, supported, and attended the event, recognising it as an evening of celebration, respect, and appreciation for some of the most industrious businesses and entrepreneurs within the region.

In a joint statement ahead of the ceremony, the City Centre Initiative and Londonderry Chamber of Commerce said, “These awards are about praising the great work that has been done over the year by our businesses and entrepreneurs, especially those who have taken that step beyond in innovation or best practice and contributed to the growth of the economy within the North West during a particularly difficult few years.

These awards will celebrate businesses and entrepreneurs from all walks of life and what we and the judges will be looking for at judging time is signs of dedication, improvement, innovation, and commitment to trading and developing the economy of the North West region.”

FinTrU were one of the big winners on the night, scooping the Overall Business or Entrepreneur of the Year as well as the Award for Contribution to the North West. Terex also walked away with two awards, one for their work on skills and education and the other for Large Business of the Year.

This year’s awards also recognised the invaluable work done by local hero Declan Doherty from Derry Youth and Community Workshop. Declan was named North West Business Hero for his work as Chief Executive of DYCW since 1990 in providing training and skills development in the city and enhancing the employment prospects of our local young people.

Congratulations to everyone who was nominated and our winners at this year’s North West Business Awards. And if you were unlucky to miss out on a gong this year, don’t fret – entries for 2024 awards will be open again before you know it!

The 2023 North West Business Award Winners

Young Business Person of the Year – Ava McDowell

The Educational Partnership Award – Terex

Restaurant of the Year – Artis by Phelim O’Hagan

Retailer of the Year – Cityman Menswear

Hotel of the Year – Waterfoot Hotel

Creative Industries Business of the Year – The Playhouse

Award for Contribution to the North West Economy - FinTrU

Visit Derry Ambassadors Award – Dr Mark Simpson, Ulster University

Innovation and Technology Award – Hawthorn Heights

Pub of the Year - Badger’s

The Eco Champions Award – Zero Waste Northwest

Creative Marketer of the Year – Da Vinci’s Hotel

The Taste of the North West Award – The Walled City Brewery

Business Hero Award – Declan Doherty, Derry Youth and Community Workshop

Small Business of the Year Award – Le Petit Village

Large Business of the Year – Terex

Overall Business or Entrepreneur of the Year – FinTrU