The event celebrated outstanding businesses and individuals across the North West, with many surprises and acknowledgments for local enterprises.
Sponsored by Bank of Ireland, the awards welcomed nominations from businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the North West region.
The City Centre Initiative (CCI) and Derry’s Chamber of Commerce (LCC), the event organisers, extended their gratitude to everyone who entered the awards, and attended the event.
They emphasised that the evening was a celebration of the industrious spirit of the region's businesses and entrepreneurs.
Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Jim Roddy, CEO of City Centre Initiative and Anna Doherty, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, said: “I think everyone tonight would agree that we have some of the finest examples of business in the North West here this evening. Our winners and shortlisted nominees are very deserving of these awards.
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our main sponsor, Bank of Ireland, and our individual category sponsors for supporting local business and their achievements, without them we would not be able to host these awards.
“Selecting winners from the nominations we receive is always extremely difficult, and our panel of judges worked rigorously through the nominations to select very worthy winners for these awards. Not only our winners, but those shortlisted should be very proud to represent the best of the North West this year. To those who didn’t make the shortlist, we encourage you to keep applying, 2025 could be your year!”
The evening’s top honour, the Brilliance In Business Award, went to Millennium Forum.
The accolade came after a recent study reported that the Millennium Forum, which opened back in 2001 in the city centre, contributed a massive £16.2million to the North West economy over the course of 2023.
The 2024 North West Business Award Winners were:
Young Business Person of the Year – Kira McLaughlin, Scoil Mhuire Buncrana
Educational Partnership Award – FinTrU & Ulster University Business School
North West Restaurant of the Year – Walled City Brewery
North West Retailer of the Year Award – Little Acorns Bookstore
North West Hotel of the Year – The Ebrington Hotel
North West Creative Industries Business of the Year – Alleycats TV
Contribution to the North West Economy Award – Waterside Credit Union
Visit Derry Ambassadors Award – Des Rainey, Irish National Teachers Association
Innovation & Technology Award – Foods Connected
North West Pub of The Year – The Cosh Bar & Grill
Sustainability Champions Award – Translink
Creative Marketer of The Year – Millennium Forum
Taste of The North West – Carrick Foods
North West Business Hero – Declan Moore, Claudes Café
North West Small Business of the Year – North West Pest Control Ltd
NW Large Business of The Year – FinTrU
Strabane BID Business of The Year – Bejewelled At Soul
Brilliance In Business – Millennium Forum
For more information on the North West Business Awards, visit the social media pages @NWBizAwards on Facebook and Instagram, or check out the websites www.cciderry-londonderry.com and www.londonderrychamber.co.uk.
17. Ian Crowe, Secretary of CCI and Greg McCann, President of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce with Odhran Dunne, Chief Executive of Visit Derry, presenting Des Rainey with the Visit Derry Ambassadors Award
Ian Crowe, Secretary of CCI and Greg McCann, President of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce with Odhran Dunne, Chief Executive of Visit Derry, presenting Des Rainey with the Visit Derry Ambassadors Award. Photo: nwpresspics
18. Aidan O'Kane, Director of IT Operations at Allstate NI, presenting Foods Connected with the Innovation & Technology Award, alongside Greg McCann, President of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce
Aidan O'Kane, Director of IT Operations at Allstate NI, presenting Foods Connected with the Innovation & Technology Award, alongside Greg McCann, President of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce Photo: nwpresspics
19. Alleycats TV team presented with Creative Industries Business of The Year by Hugh Hegarty, Chairman of CCI, Andrew Fleming, Vice President of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, and Greg McCann, President of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce
Alleycats TV team presented with Creative Industries Business of The Year by Hugh Hegarty, Chairman of CCI, Andrew Fleming, Vice President of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, and Greg McCann, President of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce. Photo: nwpresspics
20. Winners of Strabane BID Business of The Year, Bejeweled At Soul, pictured with Strabane BID board members, Michael Kelly and Debbie Deans, alongside Ian Crowe and Greg McCann
Winners of Strabane BID Business of The Year, Bejeweled At Soul, pictured with Strabane BID board members, Michael Kelly and Debbie Deans, alongside Ian Crowe and Greg McCann Photo: nwpresspics