Examiner Business Awards: What a night!
Harriet Steele, who has set up a highly successful millinery, make-up and hairstyle business aimed at brides-to-be, was a tearful winner of the category for New Business of the Year, while Barkisland-based Wright Angle Marketing was named Employer of the Year.
Sky News presenter Nina de Roy was the guest speaker – in place of Declan Curry who had to withdraw due to illness.
Nina, who presents on business issues for Sky News and Fox Business News as well as presenting news bulletins for radio stations like Capital FM and Classic FM travelled from London to speak at last night’s awards at less than an hour’s notice.
The presenter, who interviewed many of the figures at the centre of the recent banking crisis, said: "The credit crunch has added extra strain to businesses including manufacturing firms for which Huddersfield is famous.
"And it couldn’t have come at a worse time as firms were already having to contend with competition from the Far East, changes in environmental laws and employment laws."
Guests at the awards night included the Mayor of Kirklees, Clr Julie Stewart-Turner and her consort Darrell Turner, the award judges and category sponsors as well as leading figures from the local business community.
