East Midlands firms join Chamber President for celebration event incorporating release of Business Awards shortlist
President of East Midlands Chamber Dawn Whitemore welcomed representatives of the region’s top businesses to highlight achievements over the last year and look to the future.
Held at the Renaissance at Kelham Hall on 9th October, the prestigious East Midlands Chamber President’s Celebration was presented with headline sponsor Ineedbroadband, speaker sponsor East Midlands Airport and drinks sponsor Browne Jacobson.
Long established as one of the most prominent events in the Chamber’s calendar, the evening, formerly the Chamber’s Annual Dinner, was hosted by TV, radio and events presenter Mark Dennison.
An inspirational talk from Britian’s first female fast-jet pilot Dr Jo Salter MBE was followed by a dinner, before finalists for the three regional Chamber Business Awards taking place in early 2025 were revealed.
East Midlands Chamber President Dawn Whitemore, speaking after the event said: “What stands out to me in the East Midlands is the diversification of the region. From fantastic small businesses to big food producers, a massive manufacturing centre and world-class employers and it’s the diversity that makes us so special.
“My very clear message to the East Midlands business community was around the process of education and how that is absolutely critical if we are to secure the growth of this region and nation. We have a million young people that are not in employment or education.”
Dr Jo Salter MBE, speaking after the event said: “There’s a great deal of change happening in the world. There’s a great deal of change with technology, for example. We need to stretch ourselves and not stay in our comfort zones. We need to learn to become comfortable in discomfort so that we can adapt and evolve and learn. We need to do it in a way where we are bringing people on that journey with us and helping them become the versions of themselves that they need to be.
“Sometimes the hardest thing to get over is ourselves. If we can do that, we can start to understand the impact we’re having on other people and then how we can help them on their journey.
“To me leadership, throughout organisation and the levels of it, isn’t about self; it is about the impact we have on the people around us and how we, again, take them to a different level.”
Host of the Evening Mark Dennison, speaking after the event said: “The interesting thing in the East Midlands is the real mix we have of businesses and industries, whether in Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire or Derbyshire.
“The way regions like this are made up and so many others round the country, often means people from neighbouring counties don’t often get together and talk – that’s not the case here where an event like this brings the business community together. That’s fantastic.”
Finalists for the Derbyshire Business Awards 2025/26 – in partnership with Vaillant
Apprentice of the Year Award
Rebecca Carter Vaillant
Ryan Gibbions West Special Fasteners
Anmol Kuriem Christeyns Professional Hygiene UK
Charlie White Global Brands
Tasha Mills Paragon Products (UK)
Collaboration of the Year Award
Solar Energy Collaboration
Vaillant
YMCA Derbyshire
Embark Federation
CSR Leadership Award
West Special Fasteners
Ascentant Accountancy
Duncan & Toplis
Upbeat Clean
Excellence In Customer Service Award
Engineering Consultancy Services
Certora Training
Citipost Mail
Longbow Venues
Kranlee Logistics
Education & Business Partnership of the Year Award
Althaus Digital
Chameleon School of Construction
Embark Federation
YMCA Derbyshire
Innovation of the Year Award
Renewable Innovations and Solutions
West Special Fasteners
Shawpak
DevTank
Digital Transformation Award
TrulySMB
IvyTech
DevTank
Commitment to People Development Award
Kranlee Logistics
Longbow Venues
C+A Design
Bloc Digital
Headway Derby
Small Business of the Year Award
Defib4Life
C+A Design
Truly SMB
Thompsons Group
Green Business of the Year
Penny Engineering
H2OiQ
Thompsons Group
Amber Valley Vineyards
Renewable Innovations and Solutions
Micro Business of the Year Award
Investigation & Examination Services
IVY TECH
StirLight
Broadhurst Digital
Juggling Octopus
Excellence in International Growth Award
Cosy Direct
Bloc Digital
Midland Lead
Penny Engineering
Kranlee Logistics
Finalists for the Nottinghamshire Business Awards 2025/26 – in partnership with Vertas
Apprentice of the Year Award
Oliver Whitehouse Murphy and Son
George Pursglove Vaughandale Construction
Leon Clark Your IT Department
Jak Bailey Express Recruitment
Ben King Portland College
Collaboration of the Year Award
West Nottinghamshire College
Murphy and Son
Charlie and Jane
Inspiring Leaders
CSR Leadership Award
Portland Charity
Champions Speakers
Klir Online
Duncan & Toplis
Cartwright Communications
Excellence In Customer Service Award
Champions Speakers
Blue Stamp Travel
Lion Secure Despatch
Copley Scientific
Anoki Nottingham
Education & Business Partnership of the Year Award
West Nottinghamshire College
South Nottinghamshire Academy
Access Training (East Midlands)
Innovation of the Year Award
BatFast
Air IT
Booth Station
Digital Transformation Award
Intelligent Decisioning
Champions Speakers
BlueStamp
Commitment to People Development Award
Your IT Department
West Nottinghamshire College
Vaughandale Construction
Wonderpack Eco
Duncan & Toplis
Small Business of the Year Award
Arctic Cabins
Childrens Sensory Therapy
Lion Secure Despatch
First Enterprise
Green Business of the Year
Buckles Law
Tithe Green Natural Burial
Baxter Freight
CM Ward
Eastwood Hall
Micro Business of the Year Award
Cosy Garden Rooms
Tithe Green Natural Burial
Step Recruitment
Sherwood Observatory Planetarium & Science Centre
Intelligent Decisioning
Excellence in International Growth Award
BatFast
Skins Sexual Health
Badgemaster
PAB Languages Centre
Finalists for the Leicestershire Business Awards 2025/26
Apprentice of the Year Award
Muhammad Sidat Wise Origin
Gedrick Moyo Samworth Brothers
Lauren Cropper 1284 Communications
Sofia Coviello IMA Architects
Julia Karbownik Samworth Brothers
Collaboration of the Year Award
Sanjib 8
HMP Fosse Way
Community Enterprise Engine
The Carpenter’s Arms (Midlands) Trust
CSR Leadership Award
Great Business Matters
Howes Percival
Better-IT
Scholars School System
Scope Construction
Excellence In Customer Service Award
Furnley House
Assured Energy
Datalink Electronics
Better-IT
Berkfield
Education & Business Partnership of the Year Award
Loughborough College Group
Pedestrian
De Montfort University
Innovation of the Year Award
Berkfield
Abacus Flooring Solutions
The Simulator Co
Love4Life
Creative62
Digital Transformation Award
Datalink
Berkfield
Better-IT
Commitment to People Development Award
The Carpenter’s Arms (Midlands) Trust
Samworth Brothers
Flogas Britain
Creative62
MHA
Small Business of the Year Award
Abacus Flooring Solutions
Datalink Electronics
Green Business of the Year
The Carpenter’s Arms (Midlands) Trust
Consultus
Abacus Flooring Solutions
Honest Inks
Micro Business of the Year
Templar Health and Safety Consulting
The Connected Care Programme
The Simulator Company
Excellence In International Growth
Coba
MHA LLP
Consultus
Savage Lighting
To discuss sponsorship opportunities for the East Midlands Chamber Business Awards 2025/26 email caroline.lucy@emc-dnl.co.uk
