Hippodrome boss wins coveted Ambassador award at The Masters
BIRMINGHAM Hippodrome chief executive Stuart Griffiths was crowned Ambassador of the Year at TheBusinessDesk.com’s West Midlands Business Masters Awards 2014 last night.
Griffiths was handed the coveted award – which rewards a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the business sector and regional economy over the last year – at a glittering, gala awards dinner at Edgbaston Stadium, hosted by BBC news reporter Sarah Falkland and attended by more than 200 guests.
The judging panel was unanimous in its decision.
Presenting the award, TheBusinessDesk.com editor Andy Coyne told the audience: “The link between culture and business isn’t always immediately apparent but, if you think about it, it’s a very vital link indeed.
“The shows that are put on in the area’s theatres and concert halls attract people in their thousands. These people spend money in restaurants and bars, use local shopping facilities and stay in local hotels.
“On another level a city’s appeal in terms of its cultural offering can add to its reputation nationally and internationally. That reputation is an important factor when international businesses are making key decisions about relocation or expanding their network – or when organisations are making decisions about where to stage their conferences.
“Stuart Griffiths, the recipient of the Ambassador award this year is well aware of the importance of these links and has done as much as anyone from within the cultural sphere in the West Midlands to forge close links with the area’s business community.
“For this he is to be admired and it certainly played a part in the judging panel’s thinking but it is arguably his ability to lead a team that has consistently put lots of bums on lots of seats and brought people into Birmingham in their thousands that has won him this award.
“His theatre has announced a record-breaking 12 months, which saw the venue sell more than 625,000 tickets in the 2013/14 financial year, a rise of 23%.
“The theatre has reported an average of 85% capacity, driven by a blockbuster season including Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King and War Horse. Not to mention a hugely successful pantomime starring Gok Wan.
“Stuart is very worthy recipient of this award.”
Griffiths said: “This is most unexpected but it exemplifies what you said. We are part of the business community and we are a serious business in our own right.
“We have the biggest cultural sector outside London and it is important that we create the right conditions for all businesses to thrive.”
