This week Chamber members won big at the Arts and Business NI Awards, sweeping to victory in five of the eight categories available, while the Wild Atlantic Distillery celebrated success at the World Gin Awards.

The Arts and Business NI Awards celebrate outstanding creative partnerships and innovative individuals who have gone above and beyond to support Northern Ireland’s creative and cultural sector. Entries were shortlisted by a panel of judges which included representatives from KPMG, A&L Goodbody, LCC group, Lyric Theatre and Kids in Control.

Damian McFarland (Chair Arts & Business NI), Cara McCartney (Millennium Forum), Karen Sullivan (Millennium Forum), Mags Anderson (Millennium Forum), Liam Hannaway (Arts Council NI), Mary Nagel (CEO Arts & Business NI)

The awards took place at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast, with the Ulster Youth Orchestra kicking off a brilliant night that saw Chamber members The Playhouse and Alchemy Technology Services win the Creative Workplace Award, the Millennium Forum and Aircoach win the Creative Communications Award, Alchemy Technology Services win A&B Business of the Year,  the Millennium Forum win the A&B NI Arts Organisation of the Year and Translink win the Creative Community Engagement Award in partnership with Golden Thread Gallery.  A special mention must also go to Le Foyer des Artistes and Alchemy Technology Services who were highly commended in the Creative Community Engagement category and Derry Credit Union who received a nomination for the Creative Communications Award in collaboration with The Playhouse.

Elsewhere, there was further success for Chamber members on the world stage with Wild Atlantic Distillery’s ‘Wild Strawberry and Elderflower’ gin being crowned the best flavoured gin produced anywhere in Ireland. The World Gin Awards had 900 entries from 47 countries in 12 categories, but it is no surprise to us that the North West has come out on top!

Jim Nash and Brian Ash proudly display their award.

The Chamber team would like to congratulate our members who have won or been nominated for awards; we are so proud of how our community continues to fly the flag for North West business. With plenty more awards ceremonies on the horizon, we are certain this round of victories will not be the last of 2024.