MEMBERNEWS IN BRIEF


Accolades from spectators for city’s racecourse


The keenest horse racing fans in Britain have hailed Nottingham Racecourse for its viewing facilities and refreshments. The Racegoers Club recently


announced its annual awards and its members said that the spectator views and food and beverage offering at the racecourse were high class. This is the latest accolade after


the country’s racehorse owners named the track as being the best small racecourse in Britain for 2016. James Knox, General Manager,


Nottingham Racecourse, said: “We are always striving to make the experience of visiting the racecourse as welcoming and friendly as possible, so we are delighted that Britain’s most enthusiastic followers of racing have highlighted our efforts. The most satisfying accolades are certainly those which come from customers.


Romax’s President and CEO in awards win


Romax Technology’s President and founder, Dr Peter Poon, and its CEO, Andy Poon, have been jointly awarded the 2017 EY Entrepreneur of the Year International Category Award for the Midlands region. The tightly-fought category


saw stiff competition from many elite entrepreneurs within the region. Several rounds featured in the award application process, including interviews and roundtable discussions, with final judging carried out by an independent panel. Romax Technology was


founded by Peter Poon in 1989, based on his vision to engineer a better world through the power of computer simulation.


Brexit boost for The Preparation Group


Since confirmation of the UK’s departure from the European Union in June 2016, and despite international economic uncertainty, The Preparation Group has enjoyed a 20% growth in business, primarily within its sales department. Following this growth, The


Preparation Group has also expanded its personnel, taking on three new members of staff. Amanda Legate, Finance and


Operations Director, said: “We are encouraged by the successes within The Preparation Group and we continue to seek to grow the business further, particularly within the contracting department.”


10 business network September 2017


Family footwear firm wins national award


Fresh off the back of picking up three awards at the International Professional Clothing Awards, the second generation safety footwear manufacturer Rock Fall has collected another prestigious award. The National Family Business


Awards took place at Wembley Stadium recently, with the event attended by some of the largest and longest-running family businesses across the UK and Ireland.


‘The company has experienced a sustained surge in its order book’


The awards received over 200


nominations and welcomed over 350 guests to the London ceremony, making it the biggest awards evening for the organisers since establishing the awards eight years ago. Rock Fall was presented with the


Best Small Business in the Midlands Region, reinforcing the 2015 win at the regional equivalent, the MFBAs. There is a strong heritage and


history behind the Rock Fall brand. It is recognised in the industry as a


The Rock Fall team celebrate their win


brand that creates fairly-priced footwear of the highest quality. The company has experienced a sustained surge in its order book, growing 387% in the past five years. Director, Richard Noon, said: “We


are delighted to have won the Midlands Best Small Family Business Award. We’ve already been recognised on a national level


Award win for Grant Thornton adviser


Dan Millichip (pictured), Tax Assistant Manager at the East Midlands office of business and financial adviser Grant Thornton, has scooped a national award from the UK’s leading professional body for tax advisers, the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT). Dan has been awarded The John Wood


Medal, given by the CIOT in recognition of the highest mark in the Advisory Paper on Advanced Corporation Tax, in the Chartered Tax Advisory examinations that Dan took in May. As well as the award, Dan’s top marks have won him a distinction for his


‘exceptional level’ of achievement and standard of his examination paper, making him the only candidate from across the UK to achieve this highest mark in the paper nationally, and one of only four out of more than 1,000 candidates taking the exams this year. Dan said: “I am really surprised to have won this award, as preparing for


and sitting the exam was very tough, but Grant Thornton provides great support for its people throughout the study and examination process – the culture here is very supportive, which was extremely beneficial.” Chris Frostwick, Partner and Practice Leader of the Leicester office, said:


“I’m grateful to Dan for acknowledging that the environment we strive to create for all of our students has helped him achieve this exceptional result. But there is no taking away from what is an outstanding individual achievement.” Dan will collect his award at a formal presentation dinner at London’s Drapers Hall in November.


The marquee at Shottle Hall


Society wedding inspires new trend


One of Derbyshire’s most popular wedding venues has invested in a new state-of-the-art marquee after being inundated with enquiries from brides who want to recreate Pippa Middleton’s big day. Shottle Hall, in Belper, has spent


over £30,000 on a permanent marquee with glass windows and doors after a dramatic increase in requests following the society wedding of the year. Managing Director, Joanne Nicol,


said: “There is just so much scope with a marquee and couples can start with a blank canvas.” Shottle’s Coach House Marquee


can accommodate 150 guests for the wedding breakfast.


twice in 2017, a clear sign of the progress the business is making. The application process was thorough and enjoyable and we’d like to commend the organisers for a fantastic evening. As a proud family business these nights are a fantastic opportunity to reflect on, and celebrate, the great results we have been having.”


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