Middleton charity store triumphs on big awards night

A diabetes charity store has emerged as the overall winner of the Arun Business Partnership Awards.

Dizzy, a boutique shop with branches in Middleton, East Preston and Littlehampton, also retained the title of disability awareness

organisation of the year.

More than 300 people gathered at the Hilton Avisford Park for the tenth anniversary of the awards, which saw a number of successes for Bognor companies.

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The awards, which are co-sponsored by the Observer series, recognise local businesses which have led the way in terms of enterprise,

innovation and success over the past 12 months.

Director of the winning firm, Jools Chaffer who runs the business with his wife Jane, was delighted with the company's success.

He said: "It's amazing that as a charity we have been given

mainstream business recognition. Our judging peers have recognised our efficiency as well as our aim as a charity which is to raise awareness of diabetes."

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"We started the business four years ago as my wife has chronic diabetes and was suffering from considerable discrimination in the workplace, so we thought we had to get out there and do something about it and make people more aware of the condition," added Mr Chaffer, whose business gained a prize of 2,000 worth of newspaper advertising.

Among those celebrating on the night were Bognor Regis company Just Wood Flooring which claimed the best small business award. There were also successes for Beachcroft Hotel in Felpham, gaining the best website of the year, and Bognor firm Thermo Floor achieving the best new business.

Guest of honour on the night was Arun District Council's chairman, Cllr Don Ayling.

He said: "I want to offer my personal congratulations and thanks not just to all the worthy winners on the night, but to all those who were nominated and to all our local business people who are struggling against one of the most difficult financial backdrops we have ever known.

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"Times are tough. Never before has it been so important to support and celebrate local businesses."

The awards were organised by the Arun Business Partnership, which represents the interests of businesses across the district, and supported by Arun District Council's economic and cultural development unit.

Each of the 17 award categories was sponsored by a local company.

More than 260 was also raised for local charities on the evening.

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Miriam Nicholls, Arun's business development manager, said: "There is always such enthusiasm among our local businesses for the success of others which is always so good to see.

"As always, the judging panel had their work cut out this year because the quality of the nominations was just so good."

Arun District Council won the Healthy Workplace Award, a new category this year, for its initiatives around health at work, including a dedicated Health at Work Month run recently, and students from Felpham School were given their awards for coming top in the Arun Enterprise Challenge, held earlier this year.

For more information about Arun Business Partnership visit

www.arunbusinesspartnership.co.uk

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