THE winners of the Ilkley Business Awards 2019 were announced at a glittering dinner on Friday at the Kings Hall and Winter Gardens, Ilkley. The event was attended by the Lord and Lady Mayoress of Bradford as well as other local dignitaries and businesses.

The evening was a major celebration of the achievements of businesses in the LS29 area and a packed room saw the winners announced on stage by this year’s hosts, Stray FM.

The winners of each award were:

Apprentice / Trainee of the Year, sponsored by Walker Foster Solicitors - Jimmy Arnott from Cactus IT.

Best Customer Service of the Year, sponsored by Stray FM - Lishman’s of Ilkley. Business Personality of the Year, sponsored by LCF Law - Julia Forrester from TaxAssist. Employee of the Year, sponsored by RDC Solicitors -Charlotte Allum from Clip ‘n Climb Ilkley.

Established Business of the Year, sponsored by Bright Wealth Management The Wheatley Arms.

Food and Drink Business of the Year, sponsored by Stowe Family Law - The Little Tea House.

Health and Beauty Business of the Year, sponsored by Tennant & Darragh Jewellery Workshop - LFW Podiatry.

Independent Retailer of the Year, sponsored by The Wheatley Arms -The Carriage.

Leisure and Tourism Business of the Year, sponsored by The Clevedon at Ben Rhydding - Westwood Lodge.

Longstanding Business of the Year, sponsored by UDentistry - Virtual College

Micro Business of the Year, sponsored by Bistro Saigon - Paw Seasons Boutique Feline Hotel.

New Business of the Year, sponsored by Ilkley BNI - Leap Into Languages.

Professional Services Business of the Year, sponsored by O’Connor Chiropractic -

Handelsbanken.

The Winner of Winners, sponsored by SmartSearch - Virtual College.

In addition to the main categories, this year’s judges wanted to give a special award, ‘The Centenary Award’, in recognition of three businesses who are all celebrating their 100 year anniversary in 2019. These were presented to Burley Fisheries, The Art Shop and Walker Foster Solicitors.

The event was a complete sell-out with a waiting list of more than 70 people who would have liked to attend.

Headline sponsors were SmartSearch UK. James Dobson, Marketing Director at SmartSearch UK, said: “SmartSearch were pleased to be the headline sponsor of the brilliant Ilkley business awards evening. Congratulations to all of the winners. It was encouraging to see so many successful businesses in the area coming together to celebrate the thriving Ilkley business community. Long may it continue.”

In addition to the category sponsors, other event sponsors were Bluehoop Digital, Denton Hall, Erica Berry Flowers, Ilkley Business Forum, Ilkley Town Council, Love Brownies, Olicana Office, Sarah Siddons Financial Planning and TaxAssist.

A spokesperson from this year’s committee said: “We would like to say congratulations and very well done to all the lucky winners and indeed, this year’s finalists. We would also like to say a huge thank you to all of the sponsors who helped make this year’s awards possible. Special thanks go to our headline sponsor, SmartSearch UK.”