Doncaster Business Awards: Resilience celebrated in a year like no other as winners revealed

Excellence despite adversity was celebrated at the Doncaster Business Awards, sponsored by Doncaster College and University Centre, on Friday 12 March.

Forced to pivot and go digital, a bespoke platform was created to mirror as much of the calendar highlight as possible, and it didn’t disappoint.

Welcome to Yorkshire CEO James Mason kept a Zoom room of finalists enthralled as an online audience looked on, with special recognition accolades to show the business community’s appreciation of the borough’s NHS workers and a special Doncaster Business Hero award that recognised contributions by the private sector to tackling the issues created by the pandemic.

The virtual ceremony brought a new dimension to the Doncaster Business Awards, but the raw reactions of winners live on screen as they were revealed were as powerful as they have been in the two decades prior of in-person event.

Over 100 entries were submitted for the 14 competitive categories including Large Business of the Year and Success through Innovation and Diversification. The winners were announced by sponsor judges having passed through a rigorous two-stage judging process that included a written application and interview.

The award ceremony was interspersed with NHS Recognition Awards, sponsored by ORB Recruitment. Nominees from Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust and Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were voted on internally at both organisations across four categories: Compassionate Care, Unsung Hero, Community Hero and Outstanding Contribution.

Jade Dyer, Business Director at Doncaster Chamber said, “The last year has been tough for every business, but we remain amazed at the high calibre of entries to the Doncaster Business Awards. The judges had a real challenge on their hands this year and every finalist should be very proud of their achievement.”

Jill Wood, Chamber President said, “We were delighted to shine a spotlight on Doncaster’s NHS heroes at the Business Awards. They have done so much to support Doncaster’s communities this last twelve months and we were honoured that so many NHS workers could join us to celebrate Doncaster’s success and resilience.”

Winners and runner ups of the Doncaster Business Awards 2020/21

Excellence in Customer Service, sponsored by Pristine Commercial Cleaning Services
Winner: Murray, Morrison & Knowles
Runner up: Merlinsoft

Marketing Campaign of the Year sponsored by HSR Law
Winner: Fellowes
Runner up: Plan.Grow.Do

Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility sponsored by Investors in Community
Winner: Keepmoat Homes
Runner up: ORB Recruitment

Business Engaging with Education sponsored by Opportunities Doncaster
Winner: Active Fusion
Runner up: We Can Grow

Excellence in People Development sponsored by ORB Recruitment
Winner: Concorde BGW Group
Runner up: Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals

Success through Partnerships sponsored by Ellgia
Winner: Cast
Runner up: Doncaster UTC

Success through Innovation and Diversification sponsored by Pegler Yorkshire
Winner: Navy Professional Limited
Runner up: NCM Auctions

Business Start Up of the Year sponsored by Finance for Enterprise
Winner: HD Forwarding
Runner up: Plan.Grow.Do

Third Sector Organisation of the Year sponsored by Atherton Godfrey LLP
Winner: darts (Doncaster Community Arts)
Runner up: South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation

SME Business of the Year sponsored by Keebles LLP
Winner: ORB Recruitment
Runner up: Navy Professional Limited

Large Business of the Year sponsored by Polypipe
Winner: Concorde BGW Group
Runner up: Carlton Forest Group

Young Business Person of the Year sponsored by VolkerRail
Winner: Tom Miller, Fellowes
Runner up: Daniel McLaughlin, Unipart Rail

Green Business of the Year sponsored by The Translation Energy Research Centre at the University of Sheffield
Winner: VolkerRail
Runner up: ENGIE

Apprentice of the Year sponsored by Doncaster College and University Centre
Winner: Own Cooper, St Leger Homes of Doncaster
Runner up: Michael Bent, Unipart Rail

Doncaster Business Hero
Lauren Cuttell, Club Doncaster Foundation

NHS Recognition Awards sponsored by ORB Recruitment

NHS Compassionate Care
Winner: Dr Ken Agwuh, DBTH

NHS Unsung Hero
Winner: Adam Tingle, DBTH

NHS Outstanding Contribution
Winner: Team DBTH

NHS Community Hero
Winner: Combined Planned & Unplanned Community Nursing Team RDaSH