Alternative Business Awards 2025

The Alternative Business Awards returned for the 7th time on Wednesday 11th June 2025; to The Y Theatre and was hosted by comedian Patrick Monahan.

 

The event provides an opportunity for the business community to come together, show their fun side and help to raise funds to support the work of Big Difference (the charity behind Leicester Comedy Festival and The UK Kids’ Comedy Festival). The Awards Ceremony aims to recognise individuals and groups in a number of comical, warm hearted, celebratory and ‘alternative’ business award categories.

 

The Alternative Business Awards 2025 were thrilled to have the support again of our Associate Sponsors ER Recruitment Ltd and Red Monkey Play. We were also delighted to announce the continued support of Niche Magazine who returned as Media Partner for the event.

Photography for 2025’s event was provided by Pete Martin Photography.

 

A BIG thank you to all the Sponsors, nominees, winners and everyone who joined us and supported the event.

 

Please take a look at our Winners on the night below. Congratulations to all nominees and winners!

We’ll be setting a date soon for next year’s event and we hope you can join us!

For more information please get in touch with: michael@bigdifferencecompany.co.uk

All category winners from The Alternative Business Awards 2025 stand on stage for a group photo.

Contribution to the Community

For the person/team who brings the biggest smiles

The winner is...

Nick Taylor, Eileen Richards & Patrick Monahan stand on a theatre stage as he is presented an award.
Nick Taylor - Juice Creative Design

Double Trouble!

For the pair who get into the most mischief when working together

Nominees:

  1. Mandy Bradbury & Greg Hollingsworth - Hollingsworths Solicitors
  2. Lucy Cervasio & Ruth Johnson - The Bodie Hodges Foundation
  3. Stephen Goddard & Philip Brooks-Stephenson - KuKu Connect
  4. Sue Ellis & Becs Donohue - Flogas
  5. Stacey Wragg & Anthony Woodward - Voyager

The winner is...

Patrick Monahan, Simon Winfield & Caroline Hood stand on a stage receiving an award for Double Trouble.
Stephen Goddard & Philip Brooks-Stephenson - KuKu Connect

Content Catalyst

For the strategic storyteller who creates compelling content to connect and spark debate

Nominees:

  1. Danny Gohil - Pencil and Coffee
  2. Pete Martin
  3. Sanjib Sahota - Sanjib8
  4. Tim Grayson
  5. Amy Orton - 1284 Communications

The winner is...

Pete Martin stands with Patrick Monahan for a photo with his winners certificate
Pete Martin

In at 9 gone by 5

The most productive person

Nominees:

  1. Jean Mountain - Little Bloomers Flower Shop
  2. Alex Daly - MRTC Ltd
  3. Bruce Graham - Tudor Rose
  4. Ayesha Fay - The Hub/Charnwood Nursery
  5. Nick Megson - Abacus Flooring Solutions

The winner is...

Ayesha Fay is presented her winners certificate by Patrick Monahan
Ayesha Fay - The Hub/Charnwood Nursery

Switched On

The person who is switched on and always has their finger on the pulse

Nominees:

  1. Laura Kearsley - Nelsons
  2. Rachel Hall - Falcon Support Services
  3. Jodie Greenwood - Flogas
  4. Libby Sidebotham - Tudor Rose
  5. Rob Spence - Paragon Sales Solutions

The winner is...

Laura Kearsley receives her certificate on stage from Patrick Monahan
Laura Kearsley - Nelsons

Glass Half Full

The person who is forever the optimist

Nominees:

  1. Sarah Thomson - De Montfort University
  2. Laura Till - AMBITION Sports Coaching Ltd
  3. Shelly Palmer - Tudor Rose
  4. Sam Hagger - The Beautiful Pubs Collective
  5. Joanne Spain - Mattioli Woods

The winner is...

Sarah Higgins presents the award on stage with Patrick Monahan
Sam Hagger - The Beautiful Pubs Collective

Too Hot To Handle

The business person who likes it spicy & who you'll most often find networking in our favourite curry restaurant

Nominees:

  1. Christina Wigmore - Social Gallery
  2. Sarah Thomson - De Montfort University
  3. Iain McKenzie - Mattioli Woods
  4. Nick Megson - Abacus Flooring Solutions
  5. Sandra Wiggins - Women on Boards CIC

The winner is...

Sarah Thomson is presented with her winners certificate by Patrick Monahan
Sarah Thomson - De Montfort University

Alternative Business Person

The person who has a quirky approach to business

Nominees:

  1. Nick Megson - Abacus Flooring Solutions
  2. Amber Hickman - Tudor Rose
  3. Chris Greenwell
  4. George Oliver - 1284 Communications
  5. Rob Barsby - Aerosparx

The winner is...

Chris Greenwell is presented with his winners certificate by Patrick Monahan
Chris Greenwell

Fun where you'd least expect it

The group/person who create fun where you'd least expect it

Nominees:

  1. EMA Training
  2. Richard Humphreys - Tudor Rose
  3. Emma Hanson - Edge Business Advisory
  4. BP Legal
  5. Nelsons

The winner is...

Richard Humphreys is presented with his winners certificate by Patrick Monahan
Richard Humphreys - Tudor Rose

Top Table Favourite

The person who's always at every event

Nominees:

  1. Dave Graham - Anthony James Insurance Brokers Ltd
  2. Nash Chhatralia - The Bridge East Midlands
  3. George Oliver - 1284 Communications
  4. Dr Yasin El Ashrafi - HQ
  5. Maz Patel - Scope Construction

The winner is...

Nash Chhatralia is presented his winners certificate by Patrick Monahan
Nash Chhatralia - The Bridge East Midlands

Team with the ROAR Factor

The team who have worked together to achieve something really special

Nominees:

  1. Charnwood Nursery Group / The Hub
  2. Kazzoo IT Solutions Helpdesk Team
  3. Welly's Workplace / Sunny Skies
  4. UOCEAN 2050 - The Heights of Possibility
  5. Leicester Tigers

The winner is...

Charnwood Nursery Group are presented their award on stage by Patrick Monahan
Charnwood Nursery Group / The Hub
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