The wait is finally over, with just few hours until entrants to the town’s biggest and most prestigious business awards find out if they are crowned industry award winners.

The North East Cheshire Business Awards were launched by Macclesfield Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the best in business across Macclesfield, Wilmslow and Knutsford.

The shortlist for 11 awards have been drawn, with the winners announced at a glitzy ceremony at The Mere tonight (Thursday, November 17).

They are:

  • Business of the Year t/o £5M+ (sponsored by NatWest): Direct Food Ingredients, Review Travel, Roberts Jackson
  • Business of the Year t/o up to £5M (sponsored by Orbit Developments): Big Brand Ideas, Cheshire Cheese Company, Motor Trade Delivery, Tyler Grange
  • Excellence in Customer Service (sponsored by SAS Daniels): Direct Food Ingredients, Equilibrium Asset Management, Mottram Hall
  • Team of the Year (sponsored by Harts Chartered Accountants): Boxed Red Marketing, Equilibrium Asset Management, The Rossendale Trust
  • Entrepreneur of the Year (sponsored by Leonard Curtis): Amy Mayers – Sylk Dance Academy, Colin Lawson – Equilibrium Asset Management, Marc Palmer – Eco Lighting Specialists
  • Start Up Business of the Year (sponsored by Macclesfield Chamber of Commerce): Nexus Dry Hire, NIA Fragrances, Optimise Management Solutions
  • Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by Macclesfield College): Lilley Deevey, Rachael Calthorpe, Ryan Coram
  • Innovation and Design (sponsored by RA Smart): Eco Lighting Specialists, Motor Trade Delivery, Terry Lifts
  • Best Design/Creative (sponsored by Williams and Crosby): ACASSI, Boxed Red Marketing, Venn Digital Best Use of Social Media (sponsored by Macclesfield Express): Boxed Red Marketing, One Minute Briefs/Big Brand Ideas, The Mere
  • Charity of the Year: Age UK Cheshire East, Disability Information Bureau, The Rossendale Trust.

Sue Bowden, from Macclesfield Chamber of Commerce, said: “It’s been another fantastic year for entries and the calibre and standard of entrants reflects the fantastic area we work in.

“Good luck to everyone who entered and have a fantastic night celebrating at The Mere.”