Pictured above: (l-r) Caroline Mairs from Keele University Science & Business Park announces Becky Shenton from Knights Solicitors llp as finest Young Professional of the Year, whilst Gordon Banks presents the award

So overwhelming was interest in the second year of the "Recognising Our finest Awards" that the glittering black tie ceremony had to be moved to a  much bigger venue than last year. 

The annual awards are a showcase of the excellence in the business and professional services community in North Staffordshire. Last year's inaugural awards, held at the Wedgwood Museum, Barlaston, was such a roaring success that this year's was even bigger. So it was moved to Stoke City's Britannia Stadium.

Which couldn't have been a more fitting place to hold the awards following the previous week's appearance of Stoke City in the historic FA Cup Final. Guest of honour and international sporting legend Gordon Banks OBE presented specially commissioned Wedgwood vases to finest member firms which demonstrated outstanding achievements in several categories. The winners were:

finest Environmental Champion Award: The Co-operative Bank

finest Employee Development Award: Mitten Clarke Ltd

finest Employee of the Year Award: Michaela Daly, Begbies Traynor

finest Collaborative Partnership Award: Wardell Armstrong

finest Young Professional of the Year Award: Becky Shenton, Knights Solicitors llp

finest Ambassador for North Staffordshire Award: Mitten Clarke Ltd

Chairman of the highly regarded North Staffordshire network, Phill Dann said of the glittering occasion: "The Recognising our finest Awards event is a great opportunity to honour outstanding finest members, to provide a showcase for member firms and to celebrate the success of our achievements.  

"One of the best kept secrets within our region is that many of our members demonstrate sector excellence and recognition that puts North Staffordshire on the map. Our awards ceremony is intended to bring this knowledge to the forefront of the business world by building on last year's success. To ensure this we introduced three award categories this year: Environmental Champion, Young Professional of the Year and Employee of the Year."