VIDEO: And the winners are...

A SHOP chain has won the blue riband accolade at the Rising Stars Bedfordshire and Luton Business Excellence Awards.

Business people from across the county put on their gladrags for one of the top local business events of the year at a glittering ceremony at Bedford’s Park Inn Hotel on Thursday, November 11.

Chartered accountants Keens Shay Keens sponsored the Company of the Year award that was handed out to Houghton Trading Ltd.

The company has been successful in the highly competitive grocery market by adopting a community oriented and highly professional approach in its Nisa Local brand.

After being created 25 years ago in Hillborough Crescent, Houghton Regis, the brand is now grown to another outlet in Houghton, Toddington, Estree, Hemel Hempstead and Stevenage.

The business uses demographic data, consumer feedback, store design, space planning, analysing competition. Nisa locals work in partnership with local community and police and has 95 employees generating a turnover of millions.

> The International Business of the Year, sponsored by HSBC, was won by Invar Systems, based on Cranfield Technology Park.

Invar Systems is working alongside other businesses in the USA, Netherlands, China, Austria, Denmark and Japan. It designs, develops, implements and supports warehouse control and management systems. The company’s customers include the British Library and it has 14 employees.

> The Employee of the Year, sponsored by Preen CIC was won by lead solicitor Kuljit Lally of family law firm Adams Moore, based on Park Street, Luton.

She has been with family law firm Adams Moore, based on Park Street, Luton, for five years. She has ensured a 24-hour emergency line was staffed in four different Asian languages of which she speaks three. A trustee of Luton All Women’s Centre she has acted in numerous forced marriage cases and has been praised for her dedication to and care of clients.

> The Green Business of the Year, sponsored by Bedford Borough Council, was won by EcoStyle, based in the Luton Business and Innovation Centre, Butterfield, Luton.

EcoStyle makes educational models of renewable energy systems for schools. Its mini wind turbines and solar energy kits have helped promote the benefits of renewable sources of power. Passionate company director Simon Hall sat on a Green Dragon’s Den at Lea Manor School in Luton and plans to make more kits, including solar-powered cars.

> The Customer Care Excellence Award, sponsored by Premier Newspapers, was awarded to 5th Avenue Hair and Beauty Spa Ltd, in Bedford.

The business makes sure it cares for customers by employing the right people.

Record cards are kept for each customer and this includes remembering birthdays. Customers are allowed to swap members of staff if they are not happy with their treatments.
> The New Business of the Year award, is sponsored by Bedford Borough Council and was won by Love Mum X Ltd, of the Wedding Courtyard, North Street, Leighton Buzzard. It started in 2009 and employs two people at the shop.

The business grew so fast that founder Tonie Zanatti had to build a second changing room and alter the business plan. Accessories were added to the range.

> Pictons Solicitors LLP is sponsoring the award for Small/Medium-sized Business of the Year, won by Invar Systems Ltd, based on Cranfield Technology Park. It was Invar’s second success of the night.

Bedfordshire and Luton Local Resilience Forum is backing the Innovation and Strategy Award, which was won by ConsortiCo Ltd, on Bromham Road, Bedford. It is a consortium of charities working together to improve quality of life.

It was established by nine forward-thinking charities in mid 2009.

The Champions of Learning Award was won by Adams Moore Solicitors Ltd, of Park Street, Luton and Bromham Road, Bedford.

The company employs 60 people and was formed in 2004. Not only does it train its own staff in so-called soft skills to understand the emotional turmoil of clients it offers free training to all professionals, including competitors.

> The Entrepreneur of the Year award is sponsored by Specsavers in Midland Road, Bedford, and marked a second success for Toni Moore the driving force and MD of Adams Moore Solicitors Ltd, which has offices in Luton and Bedford.

Toni Moore was only eight years-old when she witnessed the heartbreak of her best friend whose mother was murdered by her stepfather.

A single mum aged 15 she has become the driving force and MD of Adams Moore Solicitors Ltd, which has offices in Luton and Bedford. After the man served 18 months for his second murder and seeing her friend so poorly treated she made it her mission in life.

Related topics: