THE great and the good of the Skipton business community will descend on the Rendezvous Hotel tonight (Thursday) for Skipton Business Awards 2017.

Organised by Skipton Chamber of Trade and Commerce to mark its 120th anniversary, the awards are designed to recognise some of the best businesses who help to support the area’s thriving economy.

The awards were open to anyone in the BD23 area, and the Chamber was delighted to receive more than 80 entries across ten categories. The finalists were selected by a panel of judges and the winners will be announced during the ceremony tonight.

Billy Moffatt, President of the Chamber of Trade said: “We wanted to do something special to mark our landmark anniversary, so we thought it was timely for Skipton to have its own business awards. We’ve worked really hard behind the scenes to put this event on, and we are delighted that so many companies have got behind it, either through entries, sponsorship or by booking a table for the night. It’s clear the Skipton BD23 area has a lively and diverse business community, and we hope these awards will reflect that and become a regular feature on the calendar.”

The awards are supported by Skipton BID, headline sponsor High Corn Mill, associate sponsors The Pentelow Practice and The Mill Shop, winners’ champagne sponsor The Shepherd Partnership and 12 category- award sponsors.

The finalists were assessed by the judging panel consisting of independent business experts - Victoria Robertshaw, owner, Keelham Farm Shop; Alison Davies, head of digital, Skipton Building Society; Helen Clarke, area business manager for Leeds and Area, Barclays Bank PLC; Debi Hawkins, Skipton Centre Co-ordinator, Cancer Support Yorkshire and Matt Cornish, Marketing and Promotions Co-ordinator, Tyro Training.

Skipton Business Awards 2017 shortlist:

Best Health and Beauty Award (Barclays Bank PLC): Cream Skincare and Therapy Centre,

Sitting Pretty, Skipton Slimming World

Best Customer Service Award (Bizzie Lizzie's): Kingsway Veterinary Practice, Spear Travels Ltd, Thornton Hall Country Park.

Best Manufacturer/Engineering Award (Bluefin Insurance Services): Alan Northrop Label Printers Ltd, Hartleys Bedrooms, Norvap Ltd.

Best Apprentice Award(Craven College):

Maariya Arshad – Unicorn Bed and Breakfast;

Sophia Titorenko – Spear Travels Ltd;

Tom Krupa – Bluefin Insurance Services.

Best Professional/Financial Services Award

(Devonshire Hotels and Restaurants)

Finalists:AWB Charlesworth LLP; CCP (The Centre for Crisis Psychology); NFU Mutual Skipton.

Best Food & Drink Award (Keelham Farm Shop): Cake ‘Ole (The); Class One Fresh Produce, Grassington House.

Best Market Stall Award (Skipton Market):

Pro Canvas Studio, Nick Franklyn Art.

Best Retailer (Spear Travels Ltd): Magpie, Midgley Motor Cars, The Home Company