Photo credit: Joanna de Guia
Budding entrepreneurs are celebrating after picking up honours at this year’s Mayor of Hackney’s Business Awards.
Seven winners, who were selected by a panel of local businesspeople, received their awards at a ceremony at the BL-NK creative hub in Shoreditch.
Hackney Mayor Jules Pipe hailed the “innovation, outstanding commitment and willingness to go the extra mile” of all the nominated businesses.
Best Hackney Entrepreneur was won by Victoria Park Children’s Bookshop. Owner Joanna de Guia said the accolade was “an unmitigated, lovely surprise”.
“We’re a business that prides itself on being a Hackney business,” she added. “I started it nine years ago when Hackney wasn’t established as a commercial area, and it’s lovely to have recognition after nine years of hard work.”
Meanwhile the coveted award for Best Creative Business went to Pearson Lloyd, a Shoreditch-based industrial design company.
Founder Tom Lloyd said: “We’re very pleased. Our client base isn’t particularly local but it would be nice if it was, and this award could help to develop that.”
It was a particularly successful night for Shoreditch businesses, with wireless Internet providers Optimity taking home the Best Hackney Business award, and digital creative agency Poke winning Best Business Contribution for their Tech City apprenticeship programme with Hackney Community College.
Poke’s co-founder Tom Hostler said: “We are very proud of the apprentices we have through Hackney Community College.
“They give us a youthful perspective and a genuine competitive advantage.”
Homerton mental health charity Core Arts collected the Best Sustainable Business award, while Clapton-based milkshake parlour Cave of Plunder received the Judges’ Special Commendation.
The People’s Choice Award, voted for by the public, was won by 90 Main Yard, a multi-purpose creative venue in Hackney Wick. Nearly 1,600 votes were cast, with 90 Main Yard emerging victorious by 600 votes.
Mayor Jules Pipe said: “These awards represent the vast diversity of businesses in the borough.
“From internationally renowned creative and design agencies to art galleries; from child-care businesses to firms arranging holidays for disabled people; from new apps to multinational digital enterprises, Hackney has it all.”
Related articles:
