Friday 27th November 2026
The County Cricket Ground, Northampton
Welcome to the
Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards
This year’s charity partner
The Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards have been
championing and celebrating local businesses since 2018.
At All Things Business, we are proud to offer one of the biggest Northamptonshire business awards, and we hold an Outstanding rating from the Awards Trust Mark Scheme. This scheme recognises ethics and transparency within award programmes, and scrutinises everything from criteria, scoring, feedback, transparency and judging.
As well as showcasing your talent and credibility to your customers and employees, earning a business award can provide great opportunities for networking, social media, and PR.
At our Northamptonshire awards, we love to bring finalists, guests, supporters and sponsors together to recognise the talent, entrepreneurship, and sheer hard work that makes such a positive impact on our local business community.
Award Categories
Sponsored by Northampton College
This award recognises apprentices who have made a real difference to their workplace. Entrants must demonstrate outstanding commitment to their professional development. They will have gone above and beyond their normal duties by taking on extra responsibilities.
Sponsored by DFA Law
For this award we are looking for a project that has had a significant impact on the Northamptonshire landscape, community or economy, and where consideration for the environment and innovative thinking have combined to have a positive impact. The project has demonstrated long-term sustainability and provided an extremely impressive outcome for the purpose intended.
Sponsored by ACS Staffing Solutions
For this award we are looking for a business that can provide examples of how the organisation has innovated to stay ahead of the competition, and demonstrated new ideas and concepts to evolve the business to address current client requirements. We are looking for a business that can provide information on a recruitment and development strategy and has clearly demonstrated a good culture and environment for its staff.
Sponsored by Apertus Group
This award recognises any projects, innovations or actions that have improved the sustainability of a business for the benefit of the environment as a whole. Entrants must demonstrate what they have done to improve their own carbon footprint and encourage customers or clients to do the same. The winner will have shown a commitment to ensuring a more sustainable future.
Sponsored by Tresham College
This award will recognise employers that have created an outstanding workplace based on a set of values that has led to a committed, effective and motivated workforce. The judges would like to hear about what sets you apart and how that has benefited the business and its people.
Sponsored by More Driver Solutions
This award will be presented to a businesswoman who has had a positive impact on a business. They will have shown how they have exceptional drive to succeed and have been integral to making the business or businesses a success. The winner will have made a major contribution to the financial success and performance of an organisation. The panel of judges will assess their different skills, abilities, influences and achievements.
Sponsored by Simply Techspace
Outstanding products coupled with great people, innovative marketing and customer service to be proud of are the kind of strengths we are looking for. Impressive financials to prove that your business plan is working are also key. This award will be given to an outstanding business employing fewer than 250 people.
Sponsored by MHA
Outstanding products coupled with great people, innovative marketing and customer service to be proud of are the kind of strengths we are looking for. Impressive financials to prove that your business plan is working are also key. This award will be given to an outstanding business employing more than 250 people or with a turnover in excess of £20m.
We are OUTSTANDING!
All Things Business holds an Outstanding rating from the Awards Trust Mark Scheme, which was established with the aim of encouraging more award programmes to focus on their own ethics and transparency.
The scheme scrutinises everything from criteria, scoring, feedback, transparency and judging. This means that all entries are scored against set criteria and marked through a bespoke software-based scoring system before finalists are selected. The finalists will then be considered by the independent judges to choose a winner.
2026 Sponsors
Our 2025 Winners
Delapré Abbey
Biovate Hygienics
Equitech Group Ltd
Northampton Town Football Club
Spraylat International
The JPP Group
Veronica Vornicescu
Jim Wright
Paul Meadows
Zeynep Guzelkasap
Garry Summers
Simply Techspace
Emplas
Stephen Pack
Previous Hosts
Russell
Kane
2025
Alex Horne
& The Horne Section
2024
Rob
Beckett
2023
Paddy
McGuinness
2022
Sir Trevor
McDonald
2021
Ben
Thomas
2020
Stephen K
Amos
2019
JIMMY
CARR
2018
The Independent Judges
Nick Hewer – Former British television presenter, company director and former public relations consultant.
Star of TV’s The Apprentice Nick Hewer has once again agreed to head up the judging panel for this year’s Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards. Nick’s PR company first represented Amstrad in the 1980s, and Nick built a long working relationship and friendship with Alan Sugar, who eventually asked him to sit alongside him on The Apprentice.
Morcea Walker MBE – Retired Vice Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire
A former teacher, education co-ordinator and Equalities Advisor, Morcea holds positions as Pro Chancellor of the University of Northampton and as a school governor and is a former Vice Lord Lieutenant for the county.
She has been involved in co-ordinating language and cultural classes in schools and various communities. She is a trustee of, among other projects, Northamptonshire Black History Association, Street Pastors and Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust.
Stuart Branch – MBA Chartered Fellow CIPD – Executive Board Director at Weetabix
Stuart has over 10 years of executive-level experience across various sectors, including hospitality, retail, financial services and manufacturing. His customer-centric and commercially focused approach is well-suited for the fast-paced FMCG industry. Currently, he oversees the organisation and effectiveness of people, systems, technology, culture and performance at The Weetabix Food Company. Stuart is dedicated to making Weetabix a great, safe and effective workplace while being mindful of environmental and community responsibilities.
Before joining Weetabix in 2012, Stuart held several key positions, including European HR and Customer Services Director at Masco Corporation, Interim HR Director at Thomas Cook, and Group OD Director at Boots PLC. He believes that HR, IT and EHS teams add significant value through support services and business partnerships.
Stuart lives in Silverstone with his wife, Christine, and their twin daughters, Megan and Sarah. He is also an avid fundraiser and enjoys participating in triathlons, swimming and endurance sports.
See the Judging Process CLICK HERE
2025 Awards Gallery
