Finalists of the #NicheBizAwards

THE JUDGES AND FINALISTS OF THE NICHE BUSINESS AWARDS 2022 IN FULL

WORDS BY KERRY SMITH

The finalists of the Niche Business Awards 2022 were revealed at a Niche Networking event in July. Finalists and their families, sponsors, ambassadors and other supporters attending the event, which was at De Montfort University’s Innovation Centre, to hear for themselves who had made it to through to the finals.

Finalists have been through an extensive application and interview process with the independent judges, who have had their work cut out for them this year. Nominees across 15 categories were whittled down to six semi-finalists and then to three finalists. It’s been a enormous job for the judges and we’d like to thank them for all the time they’ve volunteered to supporting these local awards and SMEs.

Over 500 guests are set to be at the Niche Business Awards this year and movie fans among them will no doubt enjoy the Back to the Future theme. With special animated and 3D graphics designed exclusively for Niche Magazine, and plenty of on-theme surprises, this will be an event like no other.

The black-tie ceremony will be held on September 2 at Athena. The date means that by the time you read this, it’s likely that the winners will have already been announced. Huge congratulations are in order for our winners, as well as to all our nominees and semi-finalists – you all made it an extremely tough competition this year.

Nominations for 2023 will open in December.

THE JUDGES

Aime Armstrong – Kickstart Director and Managing Director at Ninja HR Ian Borley – Chief Executive Officer at Borley Consulting Ltd Matt Bull – Managing Director at ActionCOACH Loughborough Shelley Harvey – Partner at Macintyre Hudson Jake Karia – Managing Director at Jake & Nayns Nicki Robson – Managing Director at Breedon Consulting Emily Smith – Finance, HR and Health and Safety Director at Michael Smith Switchgear Darren Willoughby – Managing Director at 2XL Commercial Finance

THE FINALISTS

BEST NEW BUSINESS

Sponsored by Hollingsworths Fraser Stretton Property Group Isin The Gresham Aparthotel

FAMILY BUSINESS

Sponsored by Kazzoo IT Kal Sangra - Shonki Brothers Ltd Rutland Cycling Three Point Design

BUSINESS GROWTH

Sponsored by Torr Waterfield Food Attraction Urban Apothecary London VIP bottles

BEST SMALL BUSINESS

Sponsored by Ninja HR Ben’s Kitchen Clarke and Roskrow Styling Opticians EMA Training

DIGITAL BUSINESS

Sponsored by Take Me e-bate LoyalFree Shrinker Digital

COMMUNITY IMPACT

Sponsored by Leicester Children’s Holidays Hope Against Cancer Leicester Drama Society Menphys

RISING STAR

Sponsored by PPL PRS Laura Lane - Laura Lane Makeup Pete Talbot - Next Level Rugby Vikesh Mistry - DMU works

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Growth Partners Everards of Leicestershire Michael Smith Switchgear The Superbia Group

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE

Sponsored by Fraser Stretton Property Group Clarke and Roskrow Styling Opticians Kazzoo IT Stoneygate Eye Hospital

LEICESTERSHIRE CHARITY OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Mr H IT Lamp Mission:Foodbank The Zinthiya Trust

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Breedon Consulting Luke Tobin - Digital Ethos Narinder Nijjar - Fraser Stretton Property Group Sophie Hainsworth - LoyalFree

ECO EXCELLENCE

Sponsored by Beau Aesthetica Michael Smith Switchgear Soar Valley Press Three Point Design

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Sponsored by Jerroms Miller Furnley House Isin Shonki Brothers LTD - Kal Sangra

BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by BP Legal Gurdev Mattu - Fashion UK Kal Sangra - Kal Sangra - Shonki Brothers Ltd Rik Pancholi - Patterson’s Commercial Law

BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Tilton Conway Emily Smith - Michael Smith Switchgear Sadie Pollard - Charles Bently Sophie Hainsworth - LoyalFree