Shopping centre manager encourages businesses to shout about their work at News awards ceremony

Community projects, team efforts and rising stars are all applauded for their great work, across 10 different nomination categories.

Now in their fourth year, the awards are sponsored by Fareham, Cascades, and Whiteley shopping centres, and are open to a wide range of businesses.

Mike Taylor, Fareham Shopping Centre’s manager (pictured), said: ‘I’m pleased we are able support The News Retail and Leisure Awards again this year.

‘I think that it’s a fantastic initiative.

‘A great deal of work and dedication goes into delivering enjoyable shopping and social environments.

‘These awards will give retail and leisure operators a great opportunity to be recognised as being top in class, motivating and bringing teams together to reflect on all their hard work.

‘I’m sure looking back over the past 12 months we can all see what our achievements have been and I encourage businesses, teams or individuals to enter themselves or their colleagues in one of the 10 categories.

Fareham Shopping Centre opened in 1976 and celebrated its 40th anniversary last year.

It’s undercover, all on one level, and is currently home to 73 businesses including Marks and Spencer, Next, Boots and New Look.

Mike began working at the centre in 2008 and became its manager in 2013.

During this time he’s seen the redevelopment of the multi-storey car park and Debenhams, the completion of customer toilet facilities and the refurbishment of centre entrances.

Mike added: ‘Shout about the great work you have done, whether this is business success, outstanding customer service or support in the community, it could even be all of these things.

‘By entering you have nothing to lose and everything to gain with a fantastic evening to celebrate with colleagues, friends and family and the winners will receive some great publicity in recognition of their achievements.’

Details about how to enter the awards can be found on the right.