From brilliant small businesses and inspiring leaders to charities, community champions and people who have simply grafted their socks off, the finalists for the 2026 Crème de la Crème Cheshire Business Awards have been revealed.
There’s something rather lovely about seeing people you know or businesses you regularly buy from, recommend or follow receive a little recognition.
And there are certainly plenty of familiar Cheshire names on this year’s Crème de la Crème Cheshire Business Awards shortlist.
Now in their fifth year, the awards were founded by The Cheshire Club’s Joanna Scott-Aspray to celebrate the entrepreneurs, businesses, charities, leaders and individuals making a difference across Cheshire.
Following entries and nominations from across the county, the 2026 shortlist is officially out and now it’s over to us to help decide who wins. Public voting is open until 2 October 2026.
A new award for 2026
In fact, the response this year was so strong that organisers have introduced an entirely new category.
The Making a Difference Award has been created following the volume and quality of entries from people whose work is having a particularly positive impact on others.
There’s another new trophy joining the line-up too. Following the launch of INSIDE Cheshire magazine, Joanna will personally select the winner of the first INSIDE Cheshire Magazine Best Article of 2026, recognising the story that has made the biggest impression during the magazine’s inaugural year. Unlike the main categories, this one won’t be decided by public vote.
And the finalists are…
There are a lot of them which perhaps says something rather nice about the amount of talent we have on our doorstep.
Dynamic Duo of the Year
Rebecca & Ben Moss, Ella and I; Gareth & Naomi Caple, Yoga Life UK; Megan Malone & Sophie Hocking, We Are Rootstock; Helen Lythall & Sarah Lilley, Brandily; Kyle Stokes & Sophie Holt, Market Movers; Aimee Brown & Belinda Tyler, Euphoric Arts; Josh Griffiths & Suzy Valerie, Josh Griffiths Studio; Rachel Rodgers & Marilyn Gilchrist, The Canine School of Trailing; Samantha & Dean Lomas, DC Lomas Limited; Ian Burns & Tony Turner, Smarter Home 4U; and Aisha Ahmed & Haaris Shariff, Sale Dental Spa.
Charity of the Year
Hilary Baxter & Lisa Williams, Alsager Animals In Need; Martin Neal, Genies Wish; Hannah Grahame, Children’s Adventure Farm Trust; Bethan Kelly, Signpost For Carers; John Galloway, Speed Of Sight; Damian Ridpath, Swinton Lions Community Sports Foundation; and Debbie Thomas, Platform For Life.
Outstanding Personal Transformation
Jo-Anna Pountney, Live Brave Marketing Solutions; Sarah Lilley, Brandily; Kyle Roberts, KWR Auto Spa; Nichola Booth, Daughterhood UK; Dani Fairhurst, Nureleya; Nikki Holliday, Nikki Nailed It; Avril Magee, Busk Properties Ltd; and Sharon Taylor, Parago Print & Marketing Solutions.
Community Champion
Gena Moors, Splash of Pink; Bethan Kelly, Signpost for Carers; Andy Venables, Hillsgreen; Claire Steele, Cheshire Medical Aesthetics; Jake Cliff, Ellesmere Port News; Matilda Ellis, Life In Chester; Debbie Anne Turnbull MBE, River & Sea Sense CIC; and Lisa Harper, Victoria Young & Estelle Maher, Love Events.
Start-Up of the Year
James Higgins, PH Brickwork & Construction; Emma Guy, The Growth Orchard; Chloe Wade, Chapter Bridal; Lauren Orme, Wreaths Of Cheshire; Emily Evans, Gleaming Cleaning; Praise Olowoyo, Prismavista Properties Ltd; Catherine Lovell, Urban Bloom Flower Studio; James Williams, Wills Mobile Valeting; Dr Catherine Harris, Your Chester Spa; Kerrie Burgoyne, PQA Wilmslow; Heidi Ford, Partyonastring1; and Ben & Melissa Mews, Holmes Chapel Zoo.
Excellence in Customer Service
Lisa Williams, Vanillafudge Lingerie; Sophie Fox, The Mobberley Ice Cream Company; Gareth Boyd, Walking Food Tours UK; Matthew John Roche, Jensten Insurance Brokers; Katrina Young, Katrina Young Bespoke; Vikki Wray, Bollington Printshop Ltd; Sharon Dobson, Little Bigheads; Mandi Beesley, Sale Dental Spa; Becki Petrondas, Purple Penguin PA; Julia Morris, Curzon Park Dental; Matt Berry, Repair and Ride; and Kristian Bentham & The Team, Aqueous Digital.
Wellness & Wellbeing Champion
Sophie Tolley, Joy in Motion; Bee Taylor-Shah, Bee Taylor Shah Homeopathy; Sarah Jane Jones, Sacred Space; Dr Catherine Harris, Your Chester Spa; Dani Fairhurst, Nureleya; Hayley Ryder, HR Elite Fitness; James Ford, JT Motiv; Laura Naylor, The Breast Awareness Clinic; and Sue Wilde, Rejuvenate Gym.
Inspirational Female Leader of the Year
Donna Morton, Lomarton; Andrea Atkin, Divorce Coach Andrea; Sharon Dobson, Little Bigheads; Emma Guy, Aqueous Digital; Susan Vonledebur, Insights Development Ltd; Leisa Roberts, BROW HQ; Charlotte Montgomery, Satya Sanctuary; Helen Scott, Arcana House; Marie Piercy, The Fusion Growth Company; Millie Peel, Stable Minds CIC; Samantha Jackson, Clay-Zy Day Studio; and Gemma Taylor, Managed Ink.
Inspirational Male Leader of the Year
Thomas Barton, Everybody Health & Leisure; Luke Emmett, Guilden Sutton Day Nursery; Mike Newman BEM, Speed Of Sight; Tony Turner, Smarter Homes 4 U Ltd; Ian Norton, Confidence Architect; Richard Thrower, Operation Reset / Motion Focus Media; David Girvan, The Firs School; Glenn Cavill, Glenn Cavill Architecture; Jez Nicholls, Crave Coffee; and Josh Griffiths, Beyond Stamping.
Trailblazer of the Year
Kyle Stokes, Market Movers; Sharon Whiston, Sharon Whiston Family Law; Alice Walter, Wonderland Socials; Dalya Perry-Bernstein, Cheshire’s Luxury Estate Agent; Penny Dee, Letaidoit.Shop; and Victoria Quance, VQ Lifestyle.
Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year
Sharon Whiston, Sharon Whiston Family Law; Nicole Mckenzie, Cole Does Nails; Anna Main, Revolve Real Estate; Debbie Marks, House of Verve; Claire Steele, Cheshire Medical Aesthetics; Tony Moore, Moore Health & Protection; Richard Thrower, Operation Reset; Fern Gresty, IPET Network; James Higgins, PH Brickwork & Construction; Maria Shah, Witchwood Crafts; and Jamie Sarsfield, Yourhippo.
Leadership & Empowerment Coach of the Year
Rob Moors, Rob Moors Consulting; Ian Norton, Confidence Architect; Mark Russell, Team Chongi Academy; Madalina Ciceu, Body Therapy Sculpt; Rosie Burrows, Impulse Dancers; and Susan Vonledebur, Insights Development.
True Graft Award
Emma Vernon, Finella Fancies; Tom Newey, Layers Treats; Kyle Roberts, KWR Auto Spa; Dan Coppock, Clearview Cheshire External Cleaning; Samantha Jackson, Clay-Zy Day Studio; Wendy Ludlam-Woods, Mereside Candle Co; Sam Robson, Sam Robson Art / Lymphomalass; Lucy Allan, Dream Space Staging; Emily Evans, Gleaming Cleaning; Donna Morton, Lomarton; Vikki & Matt Wray, Bollington Printshop Ltd; and Michael Wiles, Wiles Tree & Garden Care.
Small Business of the Year
Oliver Gibney, Oliver Gibney Hairdressing Ltd; Sarah Birdsey, Nicholls Solicitors; Gareth Boyd, Walking Food Tours UK; Victoria Taylor, Tec Hut Ltd; Jacqueline Wilson, Jacqueline Wilson Independent Funeral Services; Estelle Maher, Tauk Publishing; Laura Davison, Pink Spaghetti Mid Cheshire; Emma-Jane Adams, Cheshire Dog Lady; Adele Carr, Adele Carr Recruitment; Janet Jones, House Of Colour Chester & Deeside; Joseph Terry, The Laundry Lounge; Natalie Gina O’Brien, Abbots Wood Salon; Jon Campbell, Define Food & Wine; and Ruth Hetherington, McAllister Family Law.
Making a Difference Award
And finally, the brand-new category for 2026: Amanda Randall, Cheshire Cleaning Services; Julie Nicholls, Groomingtails Groom School & Dog Spa; Oana Stoica, AVG Education; Susan Maddock, Sam Dale & Sons; Sue Waterworth, Bespoke Care Cheshire; Robyn McQueen, Space Dance Studios; Helen Williams, Miy Training; Sara McCarthy, Costx Holistic / Coached By Saz; Emily Hamand, The Wharf Inn; and James Ford, JT Motiv.
Time to have your say
Speaking about this year’s finalists, Joanna says the standard continues to surprise her, with entries uncovering stories of people building businesses, overcoming challenges, supporting their communities and “quietly achieving extraordinary things”.
And we rather like that last bit.
Because awards aren’t only about the biggest business, the loudest person in the room or the name everybody already knows. Sometimes they’re an opportunity to say, we’ve noticed what you’re doing – and we think it matters.
So if there’s someone on the list whose business you love, whose work has helped you, or whose story you think deserves a little more recognition, go and give them your vote.
Voting closes on 2 October, with the winners revealed at the Crème de la Crème Cheshire Business Awards at Carden Park Hotel on Saturday 14 November 2026.
Cast your vote:
Vote in the 2026 Crème de la Crème Cheshire Business Awards
