Finalists of the ninth Eastside Awards in association with Belfast City Airport, have been arrived at from a diverse range of entries received across all categories.
Eight of this year’s Eastside Awards 'favourites' categories were opened to a public vote and over 20,000 votes were cast online via Belfast Live as the public supported their favourite beauty business, food destination, hairdresser/barber, primary classroom assistant, sports coach/trainer, post-primary school hero, tourist attraction and volunteer of the year.
Jonathan McAlpin, Chief Executive of East Belfast Enterprise and Chair of Eastside Awards Committee, said: “The Eastside Awards is embedded in the local community as an annual celebration of recognising all that is good about East Belfast and this year’s finalists should be delighted to get this far.
“For the public vote to have been so popular, with an increase on last year to over 20,000 votes cast, proves to me that, as a community, East Belfast people are proud to support local people and businesses and wish them to succeed.
“Our finalists are all worthy winners in my mind and I know there was a great deal of deliberation between the judges who were faced with delivering a shortlist of finalists from a diverse range of entries. I am looking forward to congratulating the finalists and celebrating with the winners at our glittering awards ceremony in January.”
Eastside Awards in association with Belfast City Airport finalists are:
- Eastside Award for Best Company To Work For sponsored by Fleet Financial: John Minnis Estate Agents, Pacem Advisory, Titanic Hotel Belfast
- Eastside Award for Business Growth sponsored by We’resure Insurance Services: Nelson’s Newsagents, Refresh NI, YWE Installation
- Eastside Award for Business Start Up sponsored by Belfast City Council: Alist Tutoring, Eden Consultancy NI, Worthy @ Orchardville
- Eastside Award for Community Impact sponsored by Belfast Harbour: EastSide Learning, Oasis Caring in Action, Orchardville NI
- Eastside Award for Contribution to the Arts sponsored by EastSide Partnership: Ashfield Girls’ High School, Fighting Words NI, Green Shoot Productions
- Eastside Award for Environmental Project of the Year sponsored by Translink: Encom Energy, Refresh NI, Sustain Exchange
- Eastside Award for Excellence in Health and Wellbeing sponsored by Phoenix Energy: CI Ladies Hockey Club, Dundonald Primary School & Nursery Unit, Survivors of Suicide
- Eastside Award for Favourite Beauty Business in East Belfast sponsored by Belfast Live:
- Beauty Culture, The Guinot Salon East Belfast, Hands On Beauty
- Eastside Award for Favourite Food Destination in East Belfast sponsored by Finlay Wealth Management: Flout!, Sixty Nine Burgers & Filth, Wing It Ballyhack
- Eastside Award for Favourite Hairdresser/Barber in East Belfast sponsored by Solv: LaVeau Hair, Strength & Honour, Urban Roots
- Eastside Award for Favourite Primary Classroom Assistant of the Year sponsored by Open College Network: Andrew Floyd, Elmgrove Primary School; Rebecca Hanna, Strandtown Primary School; Jonathan Myles, Victoria Park Primary School
- Eastside Award for Favourite Sports Coach / Trainer sponsored by Better: Darren Baine, DB Fitness; Aodhan Mulholland, Orchardville Disability Football Club; Blaine McMillan, Bloomfield Football Club
- Eastside Award for Favourite Tourist Attraction in East Belfast sponsored by Reid Black Solicitors: CS Lewis Square, Templemore Baths, Titanic Belfast
- Eastside Award for Post-Primary School Hero of the Year sponsored by The Open University: Deborah Carlisle, Lagan College Belfast; Joanne Porte, Our Lady and St Patrick’s College; Laura Snowden, Ashfield Girls’ High School
- Eastside Award for Trainee / Apprentice of the Year sponsored by Plumb Centre: Eamon Curran, Totalis Solutions Ltd; Harry Johnston, Specialised Fire & Security Ltd; Lenin Stevenson, Thales UK Ltd
- Eastside Award for Volunteer of the Year sponsored by East Belfast Mission: William Graham, Hospice Heroes, Cheyanne McCann
- Eastside Award for Young Person of the Year sponsored by Belfast City Airport: Rebecca James, Ashfield Girls’ High School; Ellie Stewart; Kalum Vann, Fighting Words NI
- A special Outstanding Contribution award sponsored by East Belfast Enterprise will be announced at the awards ceremony, chosen by the committee. This individual will be awarded for the outstanding contribution they have made to the East Belfast community.
Hosted by television presenter Tara Mills, winners will be announced at the glittering celebration in Hastings Stormont Hotel on Friday 31 January. In the spirit of the Eastside Awards, finalists will each receive two complimentary tickets to the ceremony and an invite to the VIP drinks reception sponsored by Catalyst.
For further information about the Eastside Awards ceremony or to purchase a ticket, visit: https://www.eastsideawards.org/
