TALENTED young employees and focused businesses united for the first ever Solihull Business District (BID) awards.
The awards celebrated all that is great about the town centre and were hosted by TV newsreader Suzanne Virdee at the St John’s Hotel in the town centre.
Dignitaries included the Mayor of Solihull, Coun Glenis Slater, and Baroness Lorely Burt of Solihull.
Passionate apprentice, and Solihull Council employee, Shaun Dumigan was named Apprentice of the Year after showing a ‘thirst for knowledge’ according to his mentor Angela Roberts.
The 21-year-old – who is a customer services adviser in the council’s contact centre – said: “I’m passionate about business service and I love helping the public.
“Before getting this job I wanted to be in the police and saw this as a stepping stone to get there, but now I’ve found my position within the council I just want to keep working here.
“It’s a real team effort at the council and if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be here today.”
BID executive director Melanie Palmer said the awards show the ‘sense of pride and camaraderie’ among Solihull town centre businesses.
She added: “It’s been wonderful to see companies nominating employees and teams that they are proud of, or other businesses that they admire and respect.
“There is a tangible sense of community amongst Solihull town centre businesses and these awards are bringing that to the surface.”
Solihull BID Excellence Awards 2015 winners in full:
Best Independent: The Delhi.
Customer Service: Tina Hindoctcha, L’Occitane.
Marketing Excellence: Lori Henebury, Cineworld.
Hospitality and Leisure: Giraffe.
Innovation and Enterprise: Prime Accountants.
Apprentice: Shaun Dumigam, Solihull Council.
BID Director’s Award: Graham Lovsey
