Stars of Business – looking back at our winners from 2018

In the build up to this year’s Stars of Business Awards on Friday 4^th October, we’re taking a look back at some of the winners from 2018.

Cartmell Shepherd were judged as the winners of the prestigious Business of the Year Award for their creative, dynamic & dedicated team approach.  The panel also commented that the Cartmells Team see it as part of their business responsibility to have a strong commitment to the community and that their whole team embraces that ethos. 

Asked to reflect back on their win, Cartmell Shepherd’s Marketing Manager Terri Hope said “It’s wonderful to have been recognised for our passion and commitment to the local community so I was very proud when we picked up the Penrith Business of the Year Award.  It is so important to give back to the community and if we can be part of any volunteering projects or fundraising opportunities - we will always do our best to get involved!”

Despite strong competition from other well-established independent shops, Penrith’s Retail Business of the Year was announced as Sassy Nix.   The judges commented on the shop’s ability to make women feel fabulous and want to wear their underwear outside rather than inside!  They said that offering after care for breast cancer patients and post-surgery needs was a greatly needed for service to women in Penrith, and that they provide great customer service and lovely products.

Winner of last year’s Employee of the Year Award was Matt Bainbridge, Manager at the Alhambra Cinema.  The panel chose Matt as the winner as he had evolved through the ranks with a ‘fresh eyes approach’ to change and had lead that change and empowered the team with his charismatic approach.  They added that he was passionate about his work and makes a real difference to the business and his colleagues, raising the bar constantly.

Matt said recently “It was a lovely surprise to receive the nomination and award. I know many people in town put a lot of hard and impassioned work into the jobs they do, and I feel for that to be recognised can be an important reassurance that we're doing the right thing, particularly if that work is often in the background. Being a part of the awards has further opened up our relationship with other businesses in town, and to have that feedback from others, passionate about the future of the Penrith, is invaluable.”

So that was last year! Who will announced as the winners of the 2019 Stars of Business Awards? Still time to nominate your favourite businesses, employees and of course, the town’s unsung hero - click here!