There were 16 award winners.
City goers spotted an unusual vehicle outside Athena on Friday night. Movie fans would have recognised it as the DeLorean from that famous time-travelling movie franchise.
The famous car fit perfectly with our past and future theme for this year's Niche Business Awards.
On the night, Jenny Cross, CEO of Cross Productions, said: We have the absolute honour of hosting an evening where the whole place is filled with the most driven and ambitious of our community. I cannot begin to tell you how proud that makes me. A room full of genuine winners."
This year's theme symbolises the look back to the past that small businesses have taken to the confusing challenges and hardships they've faced to get to where they are today.
Guests ventured back to the 80s, with hints of the 50s throughout, and into an iconic 'Enchantment Under the Sea' prom, the ultimate nostalgia of being back in college celebrating with peers.
They also took part in the classic 'heads or tails' game. It was renamed 'past or future' for the purpose of the theme, for which everyone put on 3D glasses to view some cinema style 3D animated visuals.
The annual event recognises Leicestershire businesses with its prestigious awards each year, but the event is also well known for its uniquely themed ceremonies that inject fun and light-heartedness into the local corporate network, giving business owners a night to truly relax and celebrate their success.
Headline sponsor Leicester Castle Business School teamed up with the event organisers Cross Productions this year. The partnership has strengthened the education provider's bond with local businesses and helped to grow its Help to Grow: Management programme that educates business people to lead their teams well into the future.
Dyneshia Johnson, Programme Director of Help to Grow Management at Leicester Castle Business School said in her speech: "Business owners… to say you have had it rough is an understatement. But the resilience and talent we have observed in the region has really brought into focus De Montfort University and Leicester Castle Business School’s purpose and role as an anchor institution in nurturing the local enterprise ecosystem and supporting growth."
Sixteen businesses and individuals were awarded on the night. The Community Champion award, which is the only award not open for public nomination, was given to the compere of the evening Ian Stringer.
As part of her opening speech, Jenny said: "The past year has thrown us some curveballs. Just as we found our feet and began moving again something else hits us.
"The rug is pulled out from underneath us. It’s not about what happened to you in business. No one escapes adversity. No one lives free of discomfort or misfortune, or struggle. No, it will always be about what you do with what happens to you in business. In other words, it’s not the event… it’s the response.
"It’s not the obstacle, but the ability to navigate around it. It’s not the waves, but the ability to ride its momentum to something greater. It’s not what happens to you it is what you do about what happens to you."
The full list of winners
Best New Business
Sponsored by Hollingsworths
The Gresham Aparthotel
Best Family Business
Sponsored by Kazzoo IT
Three Point Design
Business Growth
Sponsored by Torr Waterfield
Food Attraction
Best Small Business
Sponsored by Ninja HR
Clarke and Roskrow Styling Opticians
Digital Business of the Year
Sponsored by Take Me
LoyalFree
Community Impact
Sponsored by Leicester Children’s Holidays
Leicester Drama Society
Rising Star
Sponsored by PPL PRS
Pete Talbot – Next Level Rugby
Employer of the Year
Sponsored by Growth Partners
The Superbia Group
Leicestershire Charity of the Year
Sponsored by Mr H IT
The Zinthiya Trust
Best Customer Service
Sponsored by Fraser Stretton Property Group
Clarke and Roskrow Styling Opticians
Entrepreneur of the Year
Sponsored by Breedon Consulting
Narinder Nijjar - Fraser Stretton Property Group
Eco Excellence
Sponsored by Beau Aesthetica
Michael Smith Switchgear
Professional Services
Sponsored by Jerroms Miller
isin
Businessman of the Year
Sponsored by BP Legal
Gurdev Mattu – Fashion UK
Businesswoman of the Year
Sponsored by Tilton Conway
Emily Smith – Michael Smith Switchgear
Community Champion
Specially selected by Cross Productions
Ian Stringer
