Business leaders, companies and charities in the Cherwell district have been honoured at the ninth annual Cherwell Business Awards, which took a different shape this year – the winners of the ten awards were announced during a virtual ceremony that was live streamed via YouTube on Friday 11th December.

Over 400 people, from the district and as far and wide as Canada, Washington, Maine in USA and Spain tuned in to watch the live stream and to celebrate the best and brightest of the business community within the Cherwell District, recognising the hard work, success and entrepreneurship of those operating across the region.

Cherwell District Council, the headline sponsor of the awards, opened the evening’s proceedings, whilst Lisa Simmons of BBC Radio Oxford hosted the ceremony.

During the evening the finalists and sponsors enjoyed a locally sourced hamper of goodies, supported by Bloxham Mill and put together and delivered by Oxford Fine Dining. Local singer, Rosie Samaras entertained watchers during the interval and at the end of the awards ceremony.

Finalists for each award joined via skype and were commended before each of the category sponsors announced the winner, who was invited by the host to say a few words of what winning the award means to them.

The winners of the 2020 Cherwell Business Awards are:

The Spratt Endicott Established Business Award

The High Spec Composites Small Business Award

The Oxford Innovation Innovation Award

The Oxford Technology Park New Business Award

The Bicester Village Retail Award

The Nicholsons Charity and Community Award

The Bicester Vision, Bicester Chamber, Wednesday Business Club Micro Business Award•

The A2 Dominion Sustainable Business Award

The Ellacotts Business Person of the Year Awards

The Overall Cherwell Winner Award 2020, sponsored by Norbar Torque Tools and selected from the finalists was awarded to The Sunshine Centre in Banbury.

Jill Edge, The Sunshine Centre Manager and winner of the Overall Cherwell Award 2020, said:

“We feel very honoured to have received the award for The Sunshine Centre. We accept it on behalf of everyone connected to the centre – the trustees, the staff, volunteers and most importantly the community. To have The Sunshine Centre recognised by such a high accolade means the world to us.”

Funds were raised throughout the evening via a Just Giving page for the winner of the Nicholsons’ Charity and Community Award – Bicester Baby Bank. Donations can still be made until the 8th January 2021 via: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/cbas2020charity when the Just Giving page will be closed and the payment made to the charity.

Placi Espejo, one of the four directors of the Cherwell Business Awards, said:

“The awards were in a very different format this year, in very different circumstances but we hope everyone who tuned in, enjoyed watching, to help us recognise and celebrate the outstanding businesses in the Cherwell District. Congratulations to all the winners and a huge thank you to all the sponsors and supporters of this year’s awards.”

The recording of the Cherwell Business Awards 2020 Ceremony can be watched via the CBAs YouTube channel, using the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyF6eBsvO48&t=910s