Sunshine Events wins ‘Employer of the Year‘ AND ‘Excellence in CSR‘ at the BIBAs 2017 business awards!
Preston’s Fun Equipment Hire business Sunshine Events is exceptionally thrilled to announce that they have just scooped an amazing two – yes TWO trophies at the prestigious Be Inspired Business Awards 2017 (the BIBAs) – They are still buzzing with all the excitement!
The BIBA awards are run by the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and are famed to be ‘the one they all want to win’. It is Lancashire’s largest and longest running business awards programme and was held at the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool on the 15th September 2017.
After a visit to the company’s offices by the BIBAs judges in June and a rigorous application process, Sunshine Events were nominated for three BIBA awards namely ‘Employer of the Year’, ‘Excellence in CSR’ and ‘Leisure Business of the Year’.
On the night of the awards, the Fun Experts were thrilled to find themselves seated in the beautifully themed Tower Ballroom (home of Strictly Come Dancing’s Grand Final) surrounded by 1,000 of Lancashire’s top business brains. The atmosphere was amazing and anticipation was in the air as celebrity presenter Nigel Havers took to the stage to announce the winners.
The Sunshine Events team was over the moon be be announced, not only the winner of ‘Employer of the Year’, but also ‘Excellence in CSR’ as they took to the stage for the second time that night. They were just pipped at the post for the final award – but hey – two out of three ain’t bad! Sunny Sandwell, Director of Fun at Sunshine Events said: “We are especially thrilled with our wins as it very rare for a company to get two trophies at the same ceremony – making the achievement even more special!”
The ‘Employer of the Year Award’, sponsored by Preston College, was a big achievement for the company. Being a good employer is a lot more than just being able to retain top talent – it’s about developing staff and nurturing their skills, being flexible and offering a great working environment and Sunshine Events provides jobs to over 50 local people. Ryan lee, HR and Asset Manager at Sunshine Events said: ”A happy workforce is so important to us. We are in business to make people smile – and this philosophy starts right within the heart of our team. We really value the contribution from every one of our amazing Fun Experts!”
What the judges say: Lis Smith – Principal & Chief Executive Preston’s College
Sunshine Events are proud to be the first carbon reduction events company of its kind in the UK, so really appreciate our new ‘Excellence in CSR’ BIBA award recognition, sponsored by The Community Foundation for Lancashire. All of their vehicles are fuel efficient and the logistics team work hard to reduce the impact of business miles each day by planting 10 trees in the North West of England each month to help offset carbon dioxide emissions. The company also like to help people who are not so lucky as ourselves and support Rock FM’s Cash For Kids campaign – and through our partnership with Buy1Give1, are able to help charitable projects all around the world.
What the judges say: Karen Morris – Community Foundation Lancashire
Babs Murphy, Chief Executive of the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce said: “To win a BIBA is an incredible feat, to win two is extraordinary. The BIBAs is one of the most hotly contended awards in the region. The business which reach the finals, and ultimately go on to be winners, are the exemplars of our local business community. Sunshine Events wowed the judges in both categories and richly deserve the accolades of ‘Employer of the Year’ and ‘Excellence in Corporate Socially Responsibility’.”
James Sandwell, Director of Fun at Sunshine Events said “It’s an amazing double achievement for us and these prestigious (and glamorous) awards stand for everyone who has helped us come so far as a business. We are so excited for the future!”
The evening was topped off by a performance from BoyzLife and music by Smooth FM, which got everyone dancing at the the after-party. What a night to remember!
View the BIBA video of the Awards highlights
