This year’s Stockport Business Awards proved to be a resounding success as they recognised the achievements of the town’s biggest and brightest companies.
Over 340 of Stockport’s leading business figures attended the event at the Hallmark Hotel to celebrate the 2014 winners and help to raise money for this year’s chosen charity, The Together Trust.
Andrew Baggott, MD of Clarke Nicklin Chartered Accountants, sponsors and organisers of the Awards, said:
“After the success of the previous two years the Stockport business community has really embraced the awards. The event was really exciting and with a record number of entries we knew we had a shortlist to be proud of. The event quickly sold out so we were expecting another great night and we weren’t disappointed!”
The Stockport Business Awards is an event for businesses by business; Clarke Nicklin are main organisers, with Gorvins Solicitors, Orbit Developments and NatWest being headline sponsors of the event since its inception in 2012.
Stockport Business Awards 2014 winners:
- The Award for Most Innovative Business: Innova Design Solutions
Sponsored by Marketing Stockport
- Most Promising Young Business: Indian Tiffin Room
Sponsored by Leemic
- Business Person of the Year: Alasdair Gleed, DJS Research
Sponsored by Clarke Nicklin Chartered accountants
- Young Business Person of the Year: Nick Rose, Midshire Business Systems
Sponsored by Clarke Nicklin financial planning
- Employer of the Year: Rowlinson Knitwear
Sponsored by Stockport College
- Best Not for Profit Organisation: Borough Care
Sponsored by Inspired Recruitment
- Independent Retailer of the Year: Lord of the Pies
Sponsored by Stockport Express
- Best International Trade Company: Hughes Safety Showers
Sponsored by MAN Diesel and Turbo UK Ltd
- The Award for Developing Young People: Cheshire Scaffolds
Sponsored by Ashcroft Creative Design
- Business of the Year (Up to £1m): Essential Personnel
Sponsored by Gorvins Solicitors
- Business of the Year (£1-5m): DJS Research
Sponsored by Orbit Developments
- Business of the Year (Over £5m): Allied Bakeries
Sponsored by NatWest
- The Special Recognition Award: Tom Hogg, co-founder, CDL
Sponsored by SMBC
Tom Hogg is a Stockport businessman who has created a thriving group of companies that have enjoyed tremendous national success. A true entrepreneur, Tom founded CDL in 1977 with his wife Jessica, initially running the IT company out of their front room.
From these humble beginnings, Tom went on to win a major corporate contract to implement an international IT system for Brother. In the late 1970s, he spotted the opportunity to transform the insurance sector through technology and this has remained the core focus of the company ever since.
Today, CDL is a multi-million pound business, whose customers are amongst the most efficient and profitable in the industry.
Indeed, anyone who has ever purchased their car insurance online or over the phone will have interacted with CDL’s software at some point, and the company remains at the forefront of innovation using telematics and mobile technology.
This success has seen CDL grow to employ a workforce of over 470 skilled people, creating a range of skilled IT jobs, with employment opportunities including apprenticeships, graduate placements and experienced people.
Beyond this, Tom has remained committed to investing in Stockport, for example, establishing the CDL Fund in partnership with Forever Manchester, and supporting a range of community initiatives through this. He continues to look ahead to the future, last year launching an ambitious construction project to expand the company’s headquarters and create a state-of-the-art business campus at Kings Reach. It looks set to provide the platform for success for many years to come.