Portsmouth businesses reign supreme at glittering awards night

BUSINESSES celebrated a glittering night of success after scooping top gongs at an awards evening.
Dynamite Recruitment Picture: Helen TinnerDynamite Recruitment Picture: Helen Tinner
Dynamite Recruitment Picture: Helen Tinner

Firms from the Portsmouth area proved to be among some of the region’s finest, as they romped to victory in the JP South Business Awards.

The scheme, backed by The News and sister papers from across Sussex, aims to celebrate to area’s best traders and businesses.

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Among the winners included Dynamite Recruitment, which clinched the Employer of the Year award.

Helen Lane, operations director of the Havant-based company, said the title would help in her aspirations to grow the business – and ultimately help bring more jobs to the area.

She added: ‘For us to win was quite unexpected. You go in with no expectations in a way because you’re unsure of the other entrants. But it was a fantastic surprise when we were told we had won.’

And Dynamite was not the only success story from the area. Southsea bridal boutique Creatiques scooped the Retailer of the Year for the second year running.

The Albert Road firm is run by Rob and Andrew Pearce.

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Rob said: ‘It’s great. It gives us recognition as a business in the city and recognition for our staff who work tremendously hard to give great customer service.

‘We’re a small shop with a big business. We have girls from all over the country coming to Portsmouth to shop at Creatiques.’

Portsmouth Marriott Hotel, in North Harbour, was presented with the Leisure Hospitality and Tourism title, at the ceremony in Brighton’s Grand Hotel.

Martin Waters, director of sales at the Marriott, was thrilled.

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He said: ‘We were really, happy to win. We were chuffed to bit to even be nominated but to go and win was incredible.’

Inspirational Southsea man David Oliver won the Lifetime Achievement accolade.

David, of Verisona Law, helped set up numerous charity projects and played a key role in the launch of the British Transplant Games – first held in Portsmouth in 1978.

He also helped found a leading bowel cancer charity, was the chairman of Parity Trust and is a trustee of the International Boatbuilding Training College, in Portsmouth.

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