SLTC Awards 2026: Past winners hail impact of awards success

Previous winners of the Chamber’s SLTC Awards have described the positive the impact success has had on their business – ahead of the milestone 2026 event.

The tenth edition of the awards – organised by the Royal Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield and Tamworth and Cannock Chase Chambers of Commerce – take place on Thursday 12 February at Statfold Country Park near Tamworth.

More than 40 businesses and individuals have been shortlisted across eight categories.

Increased profile, boosting confidence and validating their commitment to doing business are among the ways in which previous winners have benefitted from the SLTC Awards.

Sharon McCormick from the Listening Centre – who won the Lichfield Small Business of the Year category in 2022 and 2025 – said awards recognition has featured prominently in future tender submissions and client conversations.

She said: “Winning in 2022 and again in 2025 validated our commitment to doing business differently - prioritising people over profit whilst maintaining commercial excellence.

“Being recognised locally matters enormously when you're challenging industry norms.

“The awards provided credibility markers that reinforced our positioning as Lichfield's leading workplace wellbeing provider. Our award wins have featured prominently in tender submissions and client conversations, demonstrating independent recognition of our quality standards.”

Lichfield’s Garrick Theatre won the 2023 Large Business of the Year prize.

CEO and artistic director Daniel Buckoyd said the triumph reinforced the organisation’s commitment to high standards – while also giving them the confidence to seek national recognition.

He said: “Sometimes when you work in the arts, particularly in the not-for-profit sector, it’s easy to think of ‘business’ as being something slightly different and the idea of winning an award for being the ‘best large business’ as … well, unthinkable.

“So, we were blown-away by this recognition that, alongside all the overtly charitable things we get up to, we really do put our hearts and souls into running a tight ship, looking after our staff and customers, contributing to the local economy and so on.

“Ultimately, this award reminded us that charitable can also mean highly professional and that we can and should take pride in both aspects of who we are as an organisation.

“This award in 2023 gave us the confidence to start throwing our hat into the ring for other local and regional awards – we’re particularly proud of having subsequently been recognised in two Midlands Marketing Awards categories and for a recent nod for Community Impact in Lichfield.

“Confidence breeds confidence and, inspired by some brilliant UK-benchmarked performance data and taking our first ever touring show the length and breadth of the country, we’re starting to eye up some national awards as well.”

Charlotte Gibson, group marketing manager at Moor Hall Spa & Hotel, said being crowed Sutton Coldfield Large Business of the Year in 2020 was an important milestone for the family-run business.

She said: “The award was an important moment of recognition for the business. As a family owned and run hotel, it celebrated the consistency, professionalism and hard work of the team, as well as the role Moor Hall plays within the local economy and community.

“Winning provided reassurance that we were on the right track with our standards, service and investment.

“It gave us confidence internally and externally, supporting our reputation with guests, partners and suppliers and giving our team a sense of pride in the work they do every day.”

2025 Entrepreneur of the Year John Fogarty hailed the visibility awards success brought to his business JPF First Aid.

He said: “This recognition is a milestone in my journey with JPF First Aid and validates the commitment I have made to building a business that empowers people with life-saving skills.

“The award has provided greater visibility and encouragement to continue expanding the reach and impact of my work.

“I am sincerely grateful to the Chamber for celebrating entrepreneurship and recognising the contribution of small businesses.”

Snap up your ticket for the 2026 SLTC Awards now.

Pictured: Lichfield Garrick receive the 2023 Large Business of the Year award