Best of Belfast on display at flagship awards

• Founder of SOS Bus service wins ‘Belfast Champion Award’
• Eighteen winners each receive limited edition Nuala statuette

The best of Belfast was out in force last night at the 5^th annual Belfast awards in the Waterfront Hall. This year’s sell-out event was the biggest ever as 2008 saw nearly 500 guests attend the gala evening to see who would walk away with the top prizes. This year’s Awards ceremony reached out to sectors across Belfast and recognised achievement in business, education, arts, technology, hospitality and contribution to the city.

For the first time this year’s prize winners received a genuine limited edition ‘Nuala’, a scaled-down statuette of the Lagan Lady crafted by its original designer Andy Scott.  Managed by Belfast City Centre Management, the main sponsors of the evening were Department of Social Development, Belfast City Council, KPMG and Ulster Bank.

Winners were as diverse as Barnabas Ventures Ltd, Victoria Park Primary School, the Duke of York Bar, and Sonic Academy. The 2008 ceremony was also the first year of the ‘Belfast Champion’ award was presented. This award recognises a person or organisation who, through their own initiative, has contributed the most to Belfast life. The 2008 winner was Joe Hyland, founder of the SOS Bus project, a not for profit organisation based in the City.  The SOS Bus is manned by a combination of volunteers and medics on Shaftsbury Square who assist young people in distress or difficulties in the city centre at the weekend.

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said “The skyline, streetscapes and economy of Belfast have been transformed over the past decade.

The Department for Social Development, as the regeneration authority for Northern Ireland, is delighted to co-sponsor these Awards.  Urban Regeneration continues to play a major role in driving economic growth in Northern Ireland and turning the Peace Dividend into something really tangible.  I am particularly pleased to sponsor the Award for the Best Regeneration Project, which recognises projects that have significantly improved and re-vitalised an area within the City.

 I want to see Belfast firmly established as a premier, European city, and I do not underestimate the role of individual talent and private entrepreneurship in achieving this objective.  Congratulations to all recipients.”

Lord Mayor, Councillor Tom Hartley, said Belfast City Council was delighted to play a role in recognising local champions: "Promoting  community spirit, excellence and entrepreneurship within Belfast is a key priority throughout my term as First Citizen. I applaud this opportunity for us to shine the spotlight on all that is best about this great city and the  wonderful people who set an example of good citizenship".  

Billy McGivern, Chairman, Belfast City Centre Management said: “These awards are a fantastic recognition of all those organisations and the important people behind them, who through their work help make Belfast the wonderful, vibrant successful city that it is growing into. I would like to congratulate all our winners and thank our funders Belfast City Council and Department of Social Development along with sponsors Ulster Bank and KPMG for their enthusiasm and support.”

Ends

Contact:

Carl Whyte/John Hart

Stakeholder Communications

02890 339949

Notes to Editors

The winners of the 2008 Belfast Awards are:

Best New Start Business Award – sponsored by Belfast City Council

Winner – Learning SPACE

Best Regeneration Project Award – sponsored by DSD

Winner – Multi Development UK Ltd

Highly Commended – Barnabas Ventures Ltd

Best Business Growth Award – sponsored by Ulster Bank

Winner – Belfast City Sightseeing

Excellence in Entrepreneurship – sponsored by KPMG

Winner – In Your Pocket Ltd

Highly Commended – Learning SPACE

Legacy to Belfast Award – sponsored by the Boyd Partnership

Winner – Barnabas Ventures Ltd

Best eCommerce Website Award – sponsored by flamegreen

Winner – Abacus Professional Recruitment

People Development Award – sponsored by Multi Corporation

Winner – Heat Limited

Highly Commended – Sellick Partnership

Customer Excellence; Service Sector – sponsored by NIE

Winner – Miller Hospitality

Customer Excellence; Multiple Retail Sector – sponsored by Victoria Square

Winner – Beaverbrooks

Customer Excellence; Independent Retailer – sponsored by Belfast City Council

Winner – Equinox

Highly Commended – Utopia

Best Marketing Initiative – sponsored by fireimc

Winner – W5

Best City Hotel/Guest Hotel – sponsored by BT

Winner – Premier Inn

Best Bar/Gastro Pub – sponsored by the Spaniard and Muriel’s Café Bar

Winner – The Duke of York

Highly Commended – The Errigle Inn

Best Restaurant – sponsored by Patterson Electronics

Winner – Ginger Bistro

Highly Commended – Mourne Seafood Bar

Best Innovative Use of IT – sponsored by Leaf Consultancy

Winner – McKay Pharmacy

Belfast Champion Award – sponsored by Westfield Castlecourt

Winner – Joe Hyland, SOS Bus NI

Contribution to Education – sponsored by George Best City Airport

Winner – Alison Ditty – Victoria Park Primary School

Creative Industries – sponsored by Laurus

Winner – Sonic Academy