BII Licensee of the Year semi-finalists named
Since the launch of the awards in January this year, licensee-operators have been entering the competition, which is partnered with Sky Business, showing judges evidence of how they have been building their businesses and communities, with a focus on their resilience, sustainability, diversification and commitment to their teams.
This year, the entries and quarter-finalists have been of a particularly high standard, making it even more difficult for the team of judges to decide who made the semi-finals.
Selected from a field of more than 300 entrants, the 12 semi-finalists have got this far based on exceptional entry forms, social media and web presence audits, as well as mystery customer visits.
Hard-fought award
Head judges Amanda Hemming FBII and Ashley McCarthy CBII will be making their way across the country during the next few weeks to meet all of the semi-finalists in person to experience their businesses first hand.
BII CEO Steven Alton said: “Our Licensee of the Year Award is the most prestigious and hard-fought award, showing the excellence in our sector; our semi-finalists are of a fantastic standard.
“We are proud that the awards process this year, more than ever, is offering a value-added experience to all those involved with business insight and the chance to evaluate your business available at every stage.
“In addition to the mystery customer visits, facilitated once again by HGEM, we have this year been supported by useyourlocal who have been promoting our entrants to consumers across the whole of the UK.
“With Cask Marque auditing cellars in addition to the visits from our head judges Amanda and Ashley, the competition this year will provide more value to contestants than ever before.”
Field to be cut to six
Following the judging visits, the finalists will be announced in mid-May.
All six finalists will be presented with a trophy at the BII Summer Event on 18 June, where the overall winner of Licensee of the Year 2024 will be crowned.
The 12 semi-finalists are:
Andrew Goodall – Rose & Crown, Severnstoke – WR8 9JQ
Benjamin Bullman – The George IV – W4 2DR
Chris Michaelas – The Dartford Sports Bar – DA1 2DJ
Emma Harrison – The Three Hills – CB21 4PW
Harry Seccombe & Nicholas Humphrey – Chaplin’s & The Cellar Bar – BH1 4AG
Helen Paterson – The Cherry Tree – ML2 0BP
Justine Lorriman – The Royal Dyche – BB11 3BW
Max Shaw & Kelly Deary – The Castle Inn – DE74 2PP
Paul Dexter – The Old Swan – NN6 0NA
Sarah Godwin – The Lamb Inn – BS26 2AP
Steve Banks – The Woodman, Ruislip – HA4 7SE
Victoria Williams & Zac Williams-Wolfe – Fletchers Arms – M34 6EG
