Tag Archives: awards

By Local Democracy Reporter

2023 was a year of celebration and recognition in Lincolnshire, as Stonebow Media, publishers of The Lincolnite and MyLocal, brought thousands of the county’s brightest minds together for a series of awards ceremonies, honouring the tireless work across many business sectors in the last 12 months.

Just how do you fit seven awards ceremonies, each with hundreds of nominees to choose from, and a charity quiz event with 150 attendees, in the same year? Well, when it comes to celebrating the brilliance on display across Lincolnshire, the sky’s the limit for us here at The Lincolnite and MyLocal, so we pulled out all the stops to recognise the fantastic efforts of each and everyone in our local area.


Read the full story on MyLocal, the new home of The Lincolnite.

By Local Democracy Reporter

The 2023 awards season was completed in style on Thursday night, as the Lincolnshire Enterprise Awards, organised by The Lincolnite and MyLocal, brought together hundreds of the most innovative minds and businesses for an evening of celebration and recognition.

Lincoln’s Engine Shed again played host to a fabulous evening of awards on Thursday, December 7, with over 300 people in attendance for a Barbie/Christmas-themed event that celebrated the shining lights in our county’s enterprise sector, and encouraged guests to rock their best pink or Christmassy attire.

A total of 12 awards were given to worthy winners across a range of categories, from tech start-ups to inspiring entrepreneurs, and standout apprentices to businesses displaying admirable growth and ambition.

Over 300 people were in attendance for the awards. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Our host for the evening — Kamal Ellis-Hyman. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The evening was compared by motivational speaker Kamal Ellis-Hyman, the founder of Aim A Little Higher, which seeks to prepare young people for the life of work. He brought his typical charisma and energy to hosting duties, keeping the audience engaged and entertained throughout.

Awards were handed out between a delicious three-course meal, courtesy of award-winning caterers Salted Orange, who served a seasonal, festive menu of a beetroot soup starter, a turkey dinner for main, and a plum dumpling for dessert.

A seasonal beetroot soup starter. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

In the true spirit of Christmas, it had to be a turkey dinner for main. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The Curious Theatre School performed a medley of Christmas hits to get people in the spirit, while the decorative photo area had santa hats and wrapped present designs to provide the backdrop for pictures.

There was also a fun and interactive game of heads or tails with a festive twist, with audience members invited to guess either Rudolph’s nose or tail on the coin toss. Finalists for the game were brought onto the stage for a showdown, with the winner receiving a bottle of champagne.

A festive medley by the Curious Theatre School. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Louis Jones of Surprise Shirts was the winner of our festive heads or tails game, which proved a big hit with everyone in attendance. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The Lincolnshire Enterprise Awards was The Lincolnite and MyLocal‘s seventh ceremony of 2023 to recognise the excellence of our county, following the success of the Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards, the Lincolnshire Health & Beauty Excellence Awards, the Lincolnshire Education Excellence Awards, the Destination Lincolnshire Tourism Awards, the Lincolnshire Food & Farming Excellence Awards, and the Lincolnshire 30 Under 30 — all of which took place earlier this year.

Katrina Burrill, Director of Stonebow Media and MyLocal, remarked, “The Lincolnshire Enterprise Awards this year were a high point of a busy year, supporting local businesses across our county. We have welcomed thousands of guests, looked over even more applications, and celebrated with over 400 bottles of Prosecco. These celebrations were a big part of our year.

“All of this wouldn’t have been possible without the help of our sponsors and partners. Their support was key to making these events a success. I want to say a big thank you to all of them for their help and support.

“Whilst our awards season might be over for 2023, we’re not stopping there. We’re now starting nominations for the Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards. Thank you to everyone involved this year. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Biff Bean. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Events like this are only possible thanks to the support and contributions of amazing sponsors, so we give thanks to Lincoln Science & Innovation Park, Streets Chartered Accountants, Duncan & Toplis, Fizzco, Streets Heaver, Regus, Visual Print & Design, The University of Lincoln Research & Enterprise, Lincoln Be Smarter, and Pals Battalion CIC.

You can also check out a full gallery of pictures from the event, captured by Steve Smailes Photography and available to purchase from this link.

Below is a list of all the finalists and winners at the 2023 Lincolnshire Enterprise Awards, and you can read the full individual stories of all the winners on the MyLocal website or mobile app:

Growth/Scale-up Business of the Year

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • ADHD 360 – WINNER
  • CM Civils & Surveys
  • Old Farm Spa
  • Rebecca Heald
  • SuperFOIL

Business Innovation

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • Contora – WINNER
  • InLine Therapies
  • Number 75 Design
  • Starglaze Windows and Conservatories
  • Wilson Architects

Apprentice of the Year

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • Lauren Fryer, Hope Meadows Equine Assisted Recovery CIC – WINNER
  • Callum Ecobichon, Lincolnshire Marketing
  • Mia Owen, West Lindsey Landscapes Limited

E-Commerce Business of the Year

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • Baa Baby – WINNER
  • Gifts from Handpicked
  • Valley & Peak

Taking on the World

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • Hooper Haulage – WINNER
  • Recovery Coach Academy
  • Surprise Shirts
  • SweetDoughThings
  • View Shift Productions CIC

Entrepreneur of the Year

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • Dela Media – WINNER
  • 3 CATS Ltd
  • Lincolnshire Marketing
  • Marc Rhodes Marketing
  • Rebecca Heald

Tech Business of the Year

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • Saga Robotics / Thorvald – WINNER
  • Eagle Eye Innovations
  • ERP Assistance
  • Liz Drury Voiceovers
  • Streets Heaver Healthcare Computing

App/Product of the Year

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • Light Dynamix – WINNER
  • Live Like Loyalty
  • Louth to Mouth
  • Zebedee Any Angle

Start-up of the Year

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • Pragmatics 3D – WINNER
  • Light Dynamix
  • Louth to Mouth
  • The Mysterious Jeweller
  • Tok Agency

Business for a Purpose

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • Krantz Designs – WINNER
  • Laser Red
  • Reuseabox

Transformation Through Technology

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • Eagle Eye Innovations – WINNER
  • 1 Stop Spas
  • Live Like Loyalty
  • Saga Robotics / Thorvald

Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • Ringrose Law – WINNER
  • Chestnuts Retirement Home
  • J & S Plumbing and Heating
  • Live Like Loyalty
  • Reuseabox

By Local Democracy Reporter

Hundreds of Lincolnshire’s finest examples of dining and agriculture were brought together for the Lincolnshire Food & Farming Excellence Awards 2023, organised by MyLocal Lincolnshire, The Lincolnite and its publisher Stonebow Media.

More than 200 people gathered at The Engine Shed in Lincoln on Friday, November 17 to recognise and commemorate the tireless work of Lincolnshire’s agricultural experts and fine dining maestros over the last 12 months.

A total of 12 awards were handed out across a number of categories in the food and farming industry, varying from food and drink producers to restaurants and farm shops, as well as the eagerly anticipated Lincolnshire Chef of the Year. You can watch our video of the Chef of the Year competition on the MyLocal Play tab, either on your mobile app or the dedicated website.

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The event began with a Prosecco reception and a live performance from the Curious Theatre School, before our host for the evening — local radio royalty John Marshall — took to the stage on compare duties.

Awards were handed out between a delicious, locally-sourced three-course meal by award-winning caterers Salted Orange. For starter it was a seasonal leek and potato soup with chives and crisp onion, while the main course options were Revesby Estate venison pie with baby onions and colcannon potato, or a vegetable pot pie with champ potatoes.

For dessert, it was apple tarte tatin with vanilla ice cream, and after meals and awards were finished, the disco commenced!

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Katrina Burrill, Director at Stonebow Media, said: “Congratulations to each of the winners and finalists at the Lincolnshire Food & Farming Awards!

“Friday night was not just a celebration, but a showcase of the fantastic produce that Lincolnshire is renowned for.

“I, along with my colleagues at Stonebow Media and MyLocal, feel a deep sense of pride in supporting the businesses that bring Lincolnshire’s exceptional agricultural and culinary heritage to the forefront.

“The dedication to quality and sustainability evident in our local produce is truly inspiring.

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to the sponsors for their unwavering support. Your commitment plays a crucial role in highlighting and honouring the excellence of Lincolnshire’s food and farming sector.

“We are already looking forward to next year’s event, where we can once again celebrate the extraordinary produce and the people behind Lincolnshire’s esteemed food and farming sector.”

Our thanks go out to the sponsors of this event, without your support these ceremonies and celebrations cannot be possible. The sponsors for the Lincolnshire Food & Farming Excellence Awards 2023 were Barclays Eagle Labs, Duncan & Toplis, Masons, Visual Print & Design, Fizzco Projects, Sills & Betteridge and the event organisers, Stonebow Media & The Lincolnite.

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

You can check out and purchase more of the pictures from the night, captured by Steve Smailes Photography, here.

Below is a full list of the finalists and winners for their respective categories, and you can dive deeper into the stories of each individual winner on our MyLocal app or website.


Food Producer of the Year

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • Alfred Enderby – Winner 2023

  • Cogglesford Watermill

  • Madz for cake

  • The Uplift Grazing

Drinks Producer of the Year

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • The Alvingham Coffee Roasters

  • Louth Distillery

  • Pheasantry Farms & Brewery

  • Seven Districts Coffee

  • Tipplemill Distillery – Winner 2023

Street Food / Takeaway of the Year

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • The Hungry Plaice

  • Mockingbird Street Food – Winner 2023

  • Roco BBQ

  • Slow Rise

  • Twisted

Farming Innovation Business of the Year

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • Lincolnshire Farm schools

  • LJ Fairburn – Winner 2023

  • Noble Foods

  • Petsville Farm CIC

  • Stourton Estates Ltd

Sustainable Business of the Year

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • JRH Water Management

  • Hill Holt Wood

  • Lincolnshire Pork Co – Winner 2023

  • Mint Lane Cafe

  • Saga Robotics / Thorvald

Farm Shop / Market of the Year

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • Fishers farm shop

  • Fulbeck Craft Centre

  • Holmes farm

  • Silver Apple Showroom

  • Vine House Farm – – Winner 2023

Restaurant of the Year

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • The Bottle & Glass Harby

  • Julianos Italian Restaurant Grantham

  • Lawsons Lincoln

  • San Pietro Restaurant Scunthorpe Winner 2023

  • The Tower Hotel / No.THIRTY8 Lincoln

  • Washingborough Hall Hotel

Pub / Bistro Food of the Year

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • Bistro Bar and Kitchen

  • The Pig & Whistle at Healing Manor

  • The Plough, North Kyme – Winner 2023

  • The Queens Head Bar and Restaurant, Kirkby-la-Thorpe

  • The Sycamore, Lincoln

Bar / Pub of the Year (Wet Sales)

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • Cognito Lincoln

  • Lincoln Jazz Café – Winner 2023

  • The Queens Head Bar and Restaurant

  • Vice & Co Lincoln

Cafe of the Year

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • Colbournes’ Cafe Saxilby/Lincoln – Winner 2023

  • Little Lincoln

  • Monks Road Cafe Lincoln

  • Tasty Toast

  • The Oaks Lincoln

Future of Farming

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • Billy Billings, G Lowry

  • Lizzy Wells, Riseholme Park Farm

  • Middle World Farms

  • Riley Taylor, R G Taylor & Sons – Winner 2023

Farm to Fork

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • Gelston Lamb – Winner 2023

  • Lincolnshire Pork Co

  • Salted Orange

  • Uncle Henrys

  • W H Munton & Son – Mill Farm

Chef of the Year

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

  • Barry Liversidge, The Queens Head Bar and Restaurant – Winner 2023

  • Darren Rogan, by Darren Rogan

  • Juliet Chadfield, Juliet’s Restaurant

  • Paul Hugill, Serendipity

  • Ross Leighton, Roco BBQ

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