DB SHOES LIMITED - Chamber Awards 2004 winner

£25,000 Award for Outstanding Business Achievement, courtesy of Microsoft and the Microsoft Award for Innovation through Technology.

DB Shoes, a shoe manufacturing and distribution company specialising in extra wide fitting shoes, was presented with the Microsoft Award for Innovation through Technology and the 'winner of winners' £25,000 Award for Outstanding Business Achievement at the very first Chamber Awards in November 2004.

DB Shoes, a member of the Northamptonshire Chamber, had been close to receivership and part of the company's strategy for recovery and survival included the development of a Manufacturing Database. This database assisted in the reinvention of DB Shoes by revolutionising the company's manufacturing operation. Since winning the £25,000 cash prize, DB Shoes has been able to invest heavily in the business by purchasing a second moulding machine and further sets of moulds which has increased the output of the company as a whole.

David Denton, Director at DB Shoes said, "Everyone at DB Shoes was genuinely delighted about the awards. It has been a long hard slog over the last seven year as everyone had experienced the downturn and had seen the company facing closure. Winning the awards has improved morale amongst the workforce, and the prize money enabled us to reward our staff with a additional bonus last year."

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SP, global manufacturer of advanced composite materials and technology solutions, was named Business of the Year at the Chamber Awards 2004.

Due to its growing involvement in the wind energy industry, SP, a member of the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce & Industry, increased its turnover from £6 million in 1998 to £70 million in 2003. The company is also responsible for developing SPRINT®, a new materials processing technology that was revolutionary and award-winning in the composites industry. It was this vision, drive, ambition and innovative technology that led the company to be recognised as Business of the Year.

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Chamber of the Year and Best Use of IT to Improve Business Performance

The North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC), based in Durham, won the much sought after accolade of Chamber of the Year at the Chamber Awards 2004. It was also presented with the award for the Best Use of IT to Improve Business Performance.

NECC is unique as it is the only Accredited Chamber to represent an entire region. With more than 5,000 members across the North East it is recognised as the leading business voice in the region.

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Anthony Moloney of Anthony Alan Foods
Entrepreneur of the Year sponsored by Barclays

Anthony Moloney, co-founder of Anthony Alan Foods - a member of Barnsley Chamber of Commerce & Industry - was awarded with the title of Entrepreneur of the Year at the Chamber Awards 2004. His vision and business acumen led to the creation of a company in the healthy eating cakes market, originally set up with no money, no manufacturing facility and no means of distribution. The success has been phenomenal - Anthony Alan Foods grew to sales of £12.5m in just over two years.

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XTREME BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
Most Promising New Business sponsored by BT

The title of Most Promising New Business at the Chamber Awards 2004 was awarded to Scotland-based communications company Xtreme Business Solutions. Within its first year of trading Xtreme was the first company in Scotland to be accredited to install, commission and service advanced LaserBit Technology.

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Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Increasing Diversity in Membership

The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry received the award for Increasing Diversity in Membership at the Chamber Awards 2004.

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