2024 Mayor's Awards Results | Castle Point News
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2024 Mayor's Awards Results
THE MAYOR’S BUSINESS AWARDS 2024
RECOGNISING BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE IN CASTLE POINT
The winners of the Castle Point Mayor’s Awards 2024 were announced at a presentation evening event at the Runnymede Hall on Friday 1st March. This year we saw a record number of nominations for the Awards, which also saw the introduction of four new categories, making it more competitive than ever before. The Mayor of Castle Point, Councillor Lynsey McCarthy Calvert, struggled to choose the winners from some very high-quality and unique businesses.
From this year’s impressive entries, the sixth-generation family run funeral directors, S.STIBBARDS & SONS won the coveted title of Castle Point Business of the Year. Stibbards have been trading for 156 years, and are a beacon of the community in Castle Point. Their investment last year, into their new, purpose built premises at Rayleigh Wier enabled them to provide an improved, peaceful meeting space for bereaved families, helping local people at what can be the toughest moment in their lives – losing a loved one.
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE was the very close runner up in the contest for the business award, and were awarded the ‘Highly Commended’ title. International House offers outstanding workspaces for small businesses. Since its opening in 2021, the quality of the spaces available has attracted many new, often highly innovative businesses to the Island, which has a tremendous knock-on effect for the borough.
The Young Businessperson of the Year title went to KATIE BALDWIN who created the concept for her business, Cakes Away from a simple school project. Katie bakes and designs bespoke cakes from her own, converted van out of the South Benfleet Social Club car park. She sells her cakes all over the local community, taking them to local fetes and markets at schools, dance schools, pubs and more!
The Community Awards recognised the outstanding dedication and commitment of Kate Brown and her team at Hair Pro 1 Training Academy on Canvey Island. Hair Pro 1 delivers education for ages and supports the local community with reduced salon prices or in some cases free (Men on Monday’s). As well as courses in hairdressing, they run free C.V writing workshops and employability skills courses, A-level courses in Maths and English. They even provide breakfast and lunch to their students to help them financially, and tools and equipment for learners are always provided.
We were delighted to award the winners of our new categories
Start-Up Business of the Year - Ready, Kelly, Sew
Health and Beauty Award - The Hair Studio, Hadleigh
Hospitality and Leisure Award - Monico Leisure
Green Business of the Year - Plant Faced Coffee Shop
The Business Awards provide a unique opportunity for local businesses to showcase their achievements and gain recognition in the local area.
The Awards are sponsored by The Federation of Small Businesses, WeRise, and Let’s Do Business Group.