And The Winner Is . . .

A huge congratulations to Toby and Sarah Murray of Beechwood Fine Foods in Tring for their superb win at the Business Heroes awards last month.

Run by Dacorum Borough Council, Beechwood were up against stiff competition in the Retail Hero category, which was aimed at rewarding retail outlets that make shopping pleasurable, including Little Gaddesden Post Office & General Store, Maples Flowers and Tring’s very own G Grace and Son.

But Beechwood won the award, and we’re thrilled to bits for them.

‘We are amazed and delighted to have won the inaugural Dacorum Retail Business Hero 2018,’ said Toby. ‘We were told that this was one of the toughest categories; there are so many great high street businesses in the borough, many doing great things in the local community. It proves that despite all the doom and gloom spoken about the high street that it is still very much alive and vibrant – but it needs the continued support of the local residents and visitors to remain this way.’

The awards ceremony was held at Shendish Manor, and there was also an inspirational speech by Ian Rose Paralympian.

Congratulations also go to Tring Brewery who were nominated for the Business in the Community Hero award for companies who give something back to the community, and to Oakman Inns who were nominated for the Environment Hero award.

Dacorum’s Den also handed grants to eight entrepreneurial businesses to help them grow, including Maddi Saunders and Emma Donabie, of Tring, who are growing a bespoke paper cut illustrations business. They were awarded £2,000 to buy a cutting machine and an iPad-based design application.