Inner city firms take award honours
Bristol Evening Post, Nov 27 2002
The achievements of inner city businesses have been recognised at the first annual awards run by BEST (Bristol East Side Traders).
The organisation words with small businesses in Ashley, Easton and Lawrence Hill as well as local residents in those wards who are thinking about setting up in business.
Area development support officer Tamsin Harcourt said the award ceremony, whose aim is to promote a positive image of business in the inner city, was held at the organisation's annual general meeting this week.
She said: "We wanted to celebrate some of the businesses that we have."
The winner of the business of the year award, presented to an outstanding organisation that has shown exceptional growth, strategy and leadership, was Pak Foods and runners up were Café Maitreya and Brunel Associates.
Pak Foods sells halal meat and poultry to the Muslim community and started out 11 years ago with a shop on St Mark's Road. Later expansion led to a second shop on Roman Road, Easton, selling a wider range of food. Now Pak Foods is looking to open a third.
The creative industries award went to Gynormous Rawkus, with runners up Deasy Bamford and GLO Arts.
New business of the year was Smart Décor, with runners-up the Medley Hair Salon and Omni Productions, while the employer of the year was Thomas Silveys, with runners-up Alide Plant Services and Imagination Solar.
And the community investor award went to the Bristol Tavern pub with runners-up Pak Foods and the Rhubarb Tavern pub.