Julie Laming celebrates Mad4Dance being named overall Business of the Year at the inaugural Christchurch Business Awards. Picture: Paul Collins/PC Visuals.
Published: July 1, 2022 | Updated: 2nd July 2022
What a birthday!
Julie Laming had never won anything like it in her life.
Until Tuesday, June 28.
On her 45th birthday.
The Principal of Mad4Dance dance school received the top Business of the Year award at the inaugural Christchurch Business Awards.
Mad4Dance, founded by Julie in 2004 and now with 300 students a week aged three upwards, was also named Health, Beauty and Fitness Business of the Year.
Julie, who is the Founder of the charity Helping Young Minds, said: “I feel quite overwhelmed.
“It was great to win the health, beauty and fitness category – and it means a lot to me – but to be the overall winner when there are so many amazing businesses here was unbelievable really.”
Husband Mark added: “I’m really, really proud.
“She’s done so much over the last 15 years so to be recognised in this way makes it feel really special.”
A total of 14 awards were presented at the lunchtime event, held at the Captain’s Club Hotel & Spa.
Christchurch Mayor Avril Coulton, pictured with the winners, described the event as “absolutely fabulous”.
She added: “I’m amazingly proud of Christchurch and its businesses.
“Christchurch has my heart.”
Nigel Reeve, pictured, of MW Events, which organised the awards – one of 12 in towns across Dorset – said he had been surprised by both the number, and variety, of entries.
He said: “As with our other awards, there was a huge increase in the number of entries in the Green/Eco category.
“The range of businesses taking part was also very impressive.
“Overall we had 202 entries and nominations which for an area the size of Christchurch is huge.
“When the votes started coming in, and we started to see who were the winners, it was the range of businesses that really surprised me.”
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The full results were (all pictures by Paul Collins/PC Visuals):
New Business of the Year, sponsored by Streetwise HR: Bridge Health and Wellbeing
Independent Business of the Year, sponsored by Williams Thompson Solicitors: Pro2col
Local Artisans and Produce of the Year, sponsored by Christchurch BID: The Artful Baker
Employee of the Year, sponsored by Bridge Health & Wellbeing: Alice Smee of Hoburne Group
Family Business of the Year, sponsored by TC Filer Knapper: The Noisy Lobster
Leading Customer Service of the Year, sponsored by Bournemouth University Business School: Christchurch Derma Spa
Professional Service Provider of the Year, sponsored by Miller Bros and F.P.Butler: Williams Thompson Solicitors
Cafe, Pub and Entertainment of the Year, sponsored by NFU Mutual (Bournemouth): The Thomas Tripp (winner unable to attend)
Best Place to Work, sponsored by Yellow Buses: Captain Cod
Green/Eco Business of the Year, sponsored by Pro2Col: Eco Sustainable Solutions
Health, Beauty and Fitness Business of the Year, sponsored by Christchurch Chamber: Mad4Dance
Retail Business of the Year, sponsored by Dorset Biz News: Azzediari Boutique (winner unable to attend)
Leading Community Support, sponsored by Captain’s Club Hotel: The Water Lily Project
Overall Business of the Year: Mad4Dance
