Bacon wins Downtown’s Entrepreneur of the Year award

LIVING Ventures co-founder Tim Bacon was named as Entrepreneur of the Year at the inaugural City of Manchester Business Awards last night.

The event, held by business networking group Downtown Manchester in Business (DMIB), attracted around 400 guests to a ceremony at Manchester Cathedral.

DMIB chairman Frank McKenna also gave out a Tony Award – named after the late journalist and record company boss Tony Wilson – for services to regeneration to Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese.

Accepting the award, Sir Richard joked about the nature of his relationship with Wilson.

He said: “The last time I saw Tony I’d been sharing a stage with him  and he’d agreed with me, which was strange because it was something that he’d never done before.”

Earlier, council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein had praised Sir Richard’s leadership skills in steering the city through what he’d described as “a very, very challenging time”.

A full list of the winners:

Tony Award: Sir Richard Leese

Entrepreneur of the Year: Tim Bacon

Business Personality: Ray Evans, Kitbag

Marketing campaign: Journey9UK

Property company: Pochin

Young Entrepreneur: Jamie Anderson of Pickled Walnut

Best Law Firm: Russell Jones & Walker

Best PA: Kate Saville of RDPR

Best Financial Services company: Centric Wealth Management

Best Business Advisor: Barbara Hodgson of Co-operative Bank

Best Newcomer: Journey9UK

Sexy Networker Female: Clare Lawrence, MC2

Sexy Networker Male: Gary Chaplin