Entries open as Ballymena Business Excellence Awards return with 20 categories and gala celebration

Ballymena Business Excellence Award Sponsors. (From the back L-R): Melanie Christie-Boyle, Ballymena Business Centre, Carol Wilson, Chamber’s Honorary Secretary, Iris Houston, The Adair Arms Hotel, Naomi Taylor Galgorm, Clive Edgar Fuelwise.

(Middle Row L-R): Noel Mulholland, Michelin Development Ltd, Sharon Gallagher Pilgrim’s Europe, William Walker Country Garage BMW, Gillian Wilkinson Riada Resourcing, Lisa Walsh Clarke, Laura Hughes, Power NI.

(Front Row L-R):

Michael Braniff Kinecx Energy, Genna McGilton Bank of Ireland, The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Alderman Thomas Gordon, Chamber President Peter Houston Danske Bank, Russell and Barbara Campbell Barbara Campbell Training and Consultancy.

Ballymena’s business community is being encouraged to put its success in the spotlight as entries officially open for the 2026 Ballymena Business Excellence Awards, with organisers promising another major celebration of local enterprise later this year.

Backed once again by principal sponsor Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, the annual awards aim to recognise the achievements of businesses of every size and sector across the Ballymena area, while highlighting the vital contribution they make to the local economy and community.

The awards culminate in a gala evening at Tullyglass House Hotel on Thursday, 22 October, where hundreds of business leaders, entrepreneurs and employees are expected to gather to celebrate excellence across 20 award categories.

Celebrating Ballymena’s business success

Launching this year’s awards, Ballymena Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Peter Houston of Danske Bank said the Chamber remains committed to supporting local businesses while providing a platform to showcase the very best of the area’s commercial success.

He said:

“I am delighted to announce that Ballymena Chamber of Commerce have launched the 2026 Ballymena Business Excellence Awards. As a Chamber we are committed to working hard for our businesses and our local community.

“We hope that the Ballymena Business Excellence Awards will give businesses, their customers and the local community the opportunity to showcase everything that is great about business in the Ballymena area.

“These awards help to celebrate the huge contribution made by business to our local community.”

Ballymena Chamber of Commerce President, Peter Houston Danske Bank, with The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Alderman Thomas Gordon and Chamber’s Honorary Secretary Carol Wilson.

Mr Houston also thanked Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for returning as principal sponsor and acknowledged the many businesses that have sponsored individual awards or supported the event through advertising.

He stressed that businesses do not need to be Chamber members to enter, noting that many previous winners have come from outside the organisation’s membership.

Simple application process and wide range of categories

The judging process will once again be managed by Barbara Campbell Training and Consultancy, with organisers highlighting a straightforward online application system designed to make entering as accessible as possible.

Applicants will also have the option of completing their interviews via Zoom.

With 20 categories available, the awards recognise achievement across retail, hospitality, agriculture, manufacturing and industry, alongside individual honours recognising outstanding people and workplaces.

Awards brochures are now being distributed across the Ballymena area to encourage businesses to submit their entries.

Record gala expected once again

Ballymena Chamber Vice President Gary Thompson of Riada Resourcing said organisers are looking forward to welcoming the local business community back to Tullyglass House Hotel for what has become one of Northern Ireland’s flagship business events.

Last year’s gala attracted more than 480 guests — a record attendance — and this year’s event is expected to build on that success.

Mr Thompson said:

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with The Tullyglass House Hotel where we will host our glittering Awards Gala evening.

“The Gala evening will be on Thursday 22nd October and it will be an opportunity both to have a great night out and to celebrate all that is good about business in the local area.”

Popular Cool FM presenter Pete Snodden will return as compère for the evening.

Charity fundraising milestone

Alongside celebrating business excellence, the Chamber will also use the gala evening to present a significant donation to the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice following another successful Charity Golf Day.

The Chamber’s sixth annual charity golf event, held at Galgorm Castle Golf Club, raised more than £16,500 for the charity.

Chief Executive Tom Wiggins said the presentation would take place during the awards evening.

He said:

“We were delighted to have hosted our sixth Annual Charity Golf Day which raised over £16,500 and we will be presenting the cheque to Hospice staff at the Gala evening on the 22nd October.

“Indeed, taken together with previous year’s Golf Days we have now raised over £118,000 for the Hospice and Children’s Hospice. I would like to thank all of our sponsors who supported the event.”

How to enter

Businesses wishing to take part can obtain an awards brochure by contacting Tom Wiggins at tom@ballymenachamber.co.uk.

Applications can be submitted online via ballymenabusiness.awardsplatform.com.

The same contact email can also be used for general enquiries or to book tickets for the Gala Evening on Thursday, 22 October.

As entries begin to arrive, organisers are encouraging businesses from every sector — whether established companies, family firms, new start-ups or social enterprises — to take the opportunity to showcase their achievements in what has become one of the biggest celebrations of business success in Northern Ireland.

Award categories and sponsors

• Principal Sponsor – Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

• Customer Service Retail Sector – Fuelwise

• Sustainability Award – Power NI

• Best Use of Digital Media – Bathshack

• Best Restaurant Award – Pilgrim’s Europe

• Team of the Year Award – Clarke

• Customer Service Award (Service Sector) – Riada Resourcing

• Customer Service Award (Hospitality Sector) – Kinecx Energy

• Business Premises Award – Country Garage BMW

• Skills Development Award – The Gallaher Trust

• Employee of the Year Award – Wrightbus

• Right Place to Work – Galgorm

• Most Promising New Business Award – Bank of Ireland

• Best Innovative Small Business Award – Michelin Development Ltd.

• Family Business of the Year – Danske Bank

• Social Enterprise of the Year Award – Ballymena Business Centre

• Involvement in the Community Award – Cranswick Country Foods

• Best Young Person in Business Award – Fairhill Shopping Centre

• Business Growth Award – Leap

• Diversity and Inclusion Award – Robinson’s Supermarket

• Commitment to Ballymena Award – Mid and East Antrim Borough Council