Business Awards 2009: BGL Group & Iain Crighton and Iain Forsythe
The judges found the contribution to the community award a particularly challenging decision to make and to this end have split the award into one corporate winner and two special awards to individuals for their continuous support to the community.
The judges found the contribution to the community award a particularly challenging decision to make and to this end have split the award into one corporate winner and two special awards to individuals for their continuous support to the community. CORPORATE: BGL Group
BGL Group's success was described by Jeremy Moll as "a truly fantastic achievement and is testament to the hard work and dedication that our employees put into supporting the local community with fundraising activities and volunteer projects."
Jeremy heads up the Central Regional Community Team which is responsible for co-ordinating regional charity and community activity for BGL Group.
Founded in 1992, The BGL Group has since become one of the UK's largest personal lines insurance intermediaries.
BGL is committed to making a difference to the communities it operates in and has donated more than 100,000 to national, local and employee-nominated causes over the past year. Its target is 1 million over the next three years.
Via a company wide vote, the NSPCC is its nominated charity and has so far raised more than 90,000 towards a target of 100,000.
BGL supports its employees by match funding any monies raised and allows every employee up to a day's paid time off each year for community volunteering activities.
More than 50 local causes have received cash donations of up to 400 each from BGL in 2009, equating to more than 11,000 in the Peterborough area.
The Great Fen Project will also benefit from a 66,000 donation over the next three years.
Business Awards 2009: A night to celebrate city business success - meet all the winners
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INDIVIDUALS: Iain Crighton and Iain Forsythe
Iain Crighton was "very flattered" to have received his award saying that it was "nice thing" that people think you are doing something worhtwhile.
The name Crighton has been synonymous with Peterborough business for more than three decades as, for much of that time, the family-run Saab and Mitsubishi dealership.
Managing director Iain Crighton is at the head of the now Mitsubishi only franchise which, after 35 years is the longest-running Mitsubishi franchise in the country.
About 30 years ago the Peterborough firm was one of the first dealerships to be allowed two franchises, when it took on Saab. It disposed of the Saab brand at the beginning of 2009.
Crightons has sold and serviced Mitsubishis for 35 years and for a time, Iain, and his father, George, drove them in rallies, which gave them "plenty of experience of their qualities."
More than five years ago, Cartell MOT World joined the Crightons Group.
Crightons was one of the first garages in Peterborough to sign up to the Motor Industry Code of Practice which gives customers confidence in the work being carried out.
Iain is chairman of the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and chairman of Peterborough SportsAid Foundation.
Contribution to the Community Award, sponsored by Peterborough City Council: This award is given to the business and/or individuals who honour the tradition of putting something back into the community.
Iain started his Premier enterprise in 1992 in a room in his and wife Alison's family home.
They then rented office space in Padholme Road East, Peterborough, and in its first year, the company was selling and installing a small number of kitchens, and managed to turn over 256,000.
It wasn't long before the company moved to St David's Square, Fengate, as Premier Home Improvement Centre incorporating Premier Kitchens & Bedrooms.
The first showroom opened in November 1993 and the company doubled its turnover in the next three years.
Premier opened its second showroom in 1996, in Westgate House, Corby. Two years later, a showroom opened in King's Lynn, followed a year later by one in Lincoln.
In 2002, it opened a fifth showroom in Bedford and,two years later, one in Wellingborough. Premier continued to grow, hitting a turnover of 5 million in 2006.
In September 2006, it set up a new-build head office, plus four other showrooms for allied trades, at Cygnet Park, Hampton.
Two more new stores opened at Wisbech and Cambridge at the back end of 2007, the Corby store closed and re-opened in a different location.
Since the business began, Premier has installed more than 11,000 fitted kitchens and bedrooms and is still totally focused when it comes to giving its customers the best possible personal service and real value.
Contribution to the Community Award, sponsored by Peterborough City Council: This award is given to the business and/or individuals wh0 honour the tradition of putting something back into the community.
People Development award winners Andrea Olseski, Doug Green and Su Howe of Fusion, with Richard Carey and Sir Trevor McDonald.
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