A man who could roll out his own red carpet to match Buckingham Palace’s finest has been crowned Northern Lincolnshire Business Person of the Year, as his company was also honoured at a right royal bash.
Myles Shaw took the top personal honour as the South Bank business community helped kickstart celebrations of the Queen’s imminent platinum jubilee with a night dedicated to Her Majesty.
The prominent multi-channel carpet business owner was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016, with his Freeman Street-based GCW following up with the Business Excellence accolade in 2018.
Read more:Director General of British Chamber of Commerce’s high praise for Phillips 66
A proud ambassador of his Grimsby home town, the second generation business owner also saw the company take the North East Lincolnshire Business Development Award.
And after taking his parents Ivor and Evette on stage with him to collect the personal accolade at the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce event, he said: “I genuinely didn’t expect to win. I was asked how it felt when I won Young Entrepreneur, and I didn’t know what to say, on reflection I felt like I went from a boy to a man.
“Today, I know I am nothing but a product of my Mum and Dad, so to be able to do that meant so much. It is a pleasure to be here with them, especially as my Mum was really ill this time last year, with aggressive brain cancer. This award is for them, for all they have done.”
Myles Shaw, centre, with mum and dad Evette and Ivor Shaw, left and right, with North East Lincs Area Chamber Council chair Irene Keal and Wilkin Chapman partner Jane Eatock. (Image: Grimsby News And Pictures Agency)IMF Flooring incorporates the Grimsby store, online business RunRug and a new Lincoln outlet, opened last year, as well as domestic and commercial new build fit outs. It is backed up by 40,000 sq ft of storage.
“Business is great, testing, troubling, but we were positively affected through Covid, we got a lot more market share, so there was a financial stretch with more staff, more vans, more fitters and a need for more warehouse space.
“I said in 2014 the target was £10 million turnover, we’re still going for it; we’re at £7.5 million and we will achieve that target. Most importantly, I’m enjoying the journey, having fun and loving who I work with.”
Another familiar name at the Northern Lincolnshire Business Awards, also took a top accolade.
Construction partner in Scartho’s emerging King’s Park, JemBuild, kept the regal links flowing, taking the Forrester Boyd Business Excellence Award.
Managing director Paul Barker had been crowned Business Person of the Year when Mr Shaw took the Young Entrepreneur title, with 2016 also seeing the Humberston-headquartered firm take the North East Lincolnshire Business Development gong.
The JemBuild party, with Paul Barker, second right, and Mark Carroll, left. (Image: Grimsby News And Pictures Agency)The hat-trick was completed with the overall honour, which cannot be applied for, as it is awarded at the judges’ discretion.
“This is recognition of what we do, we’ve been after this for a long time, and it means a massive amount to me,” Mr Barker said. “We always want to be better, it is a massive achievement for us. We have work through to 2023, business is tough in construction but we are getting through, I have a great team, and it is all about the people we have. We’re so settled.”
The staff of 20 doubles with regular sub-contractors. Mark Carroll, contracts manager, added: “Excellence is what we strive for. It is the attitude that we carry into the way we work.”
Entrepreneurialism in arts and ‘craft’ had strong recognition too, with Francesca Young, Virtual Music Academy, Grimbarians and Docks Beers all winning categories.
Grimbarians were rewarded for four years of inspiring a community, with portrait-led introduction to champions of a borough.
Student pals Dan Clarke and Lindsay Cowie brought their photography and journalism skills together, launching on New Year’s Day 2018.
Lindsay Cowie and Dan Clarke, the duo behind Grimbarians, with Chamber president Mike Whitehead and North Lincolnshire area chair Paul Cooper. (Image: Grimsby News And Pictures Agency)“We hope we have had an impact, we are really proud of what it has become,” they said.
From monochrome images came an exhibition, public talks and a tie-up with Grimsby Town’s match programme, with more promised.
“It started as a photographic project and became so much more, celebrating excellence in the community,” Dan said – with both awkwardly proud of being in the spotlight themselves.
“The key thing was to bring positivity. People don’t shout about the good stuff enough.”
Part of that good stuff is Nic Till, owner of Riverhead Coffee, who was named Tilletts Business Woman of the Year.
“I’m really surprised, very pleasantly surprised,” she said “I think it is a lot to do with survival through the pandemic, being able to grow despite the difficult times.
Nic Till is flanked by Chamber North East Lincolnshire area chair Irene Keal, left, and sponsor Melanie Tillett. (Image: Grimsby News And Pictures Agency)“Support and the recognition from the business community is superb, just like the loyalty from our regular customers that support us.”
A third venue opened in Victoria Street late last year, and now catering and baking classes for kids are being brought forward after a commercial kitchen facility was added.
The awards flowed after West End professionals and Grimsby Institute performng arts students wowed with Queen tributes from the rock rather than royalty, closing with a flag-waving finale of Land of Hope and Glory and the National Anthem.
A message of support and congratulations from The Queen was also relayed by Chamber president Mike Whitehead.
Further reaction to follow.
2022 roll of honour:Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce Special Award
Winner: Phillips 66
HBP Systems Business Growth Award
Winner: Lindsey Lodge Hospice & Healthcare
Runners-up: Jembuild Ltd, Humberston; Know Film, Scunthorpe.
Wilkin Chapman Business Person of the Year
Winner: Myles Shaw, IMS Flooring, Grimsby
Runners-up: Ciaran Savage, Card Industry Professionals, Aylesby; Josh Walshe, Walshes Property Ltd, Scunthorpe
Technical Absorbents International Trade Award
Winner: Virtual Music Academy Ltd, Tetney
Runners-up: Medibiosense Ltd, Westwoodside; Ramsden International, Grimsby
Bridge McFarland New Business Award
Winner: BeGreatFitness, Grimsby
Runners-up: The Mortgage Space Ltd, Scunthorpe; Virtual Music Academy Ltd, Tetney
Docks Beers Young Business Person of the Year Award
Winner: Francesca Young, Francesca Young Art, Cleethorpes
Runners-up: Bailey Greetham-Clark, BeGreatFitness, Grimsby; Cameron Richardson -Eames, Virtual Music Academy Ltd, Tetney
North East Lincolnshire Business Development Award
Winner: IMS Flooring, Grimsby
Runners-up: Docks Beers, Grimsby; Nunnys Farm, Grimsby
North Lincolnshire Business Investment Award
Winner: HBP Systems Ltd, Scunthorpe
Runners-up: Know Media, Scunthorpe; Rapid Travel Group, Howsham
Grimsby Institute Training Excellence Award
Winner: Sylvester Keal Ltd, Grimsby
Runners-up: HBP Systems Ltd, Scunthorpe; JemBuild Ltd, Humberston
Excellence in the Community Award
Winner: Grimbarians CIC, Grimsby
Runners-up: Nunnys Farm, Grimsby; Ongo, Scunthorpe
Pepperells Innovation Award
Winner: Medibiosense Ltd, Westwoodside
Runners-up: Paragon Traffic Management, Scunthorpe; Virtual Music Academy Ltd, Tetney
Tilletts Business Woman of the Year
Winner: Nic Till, Riverhead Coffee, Grimsby
Runners-up: Rebecca Anderson-Hall, Rapid Travel Group, Howsham; Natalie Cook, Appoint Consulting Ltd, Grimsby
Business Live Pandemic Business Thrive and Survive Award
Winner: Docks Beers, Grimsby
Runners-up: The Culture House, Grimsby; Go Cruise, Grimsby
Forrester Boyd Business of the Year Award
Winner: JemBuild Ltd