Meet the 2025 West Norfolk Mayor’s Business Awards winners
Now in their 36th year, the West Norfolk Mayor’s Business Awards, which were presented on Friday 7 March 2025 at King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, are a highlight of the local business community’s calendar.
Complete Commercial Finance has been involved, initially as a sponsor and more recently as a judge of the awards, for four years and is proud to be part of the programme which recognises the achievements of local firms. On Friday evening, director Karl Lanham presented this year’s Independent Retailer Award.
Read our round-up of those celebrated in 2025’s awards and join us in raising a celebratory glass to toast their well-deserved success.
Winner: Steele Media
Established in King’s Lynn in 2020 by Gary Steele, Steele Media is a full-service marketing support agency and consultancy. Working with a wide range of clients across many industries, it provides a one-stop approach to provide marketing services for its clients including The Purfleet Trust, West Norfolk Rugby Union Football Club, Palm Paper and Radio West Norfolk, among others.
Winner: Smartlift Bulk Packaging
Established 20 years ago by managing director Trevor Bland, the Terrington St Clement- based, family-run business provides packaging solutions, ranging from bulk bags, pallet covers, sandbags and stretch wrap, in the UK and across Europe. It merged with long-standing overseas factory Commercial San Bags Ltd in 2024, enabling it to develop and widen its product range. A carbon neutral business, the team has more than 80 years’ combined experience in the sector.
Winner: Emily Phipps of The Angel at Watlington
Having taken on the Watlington pub six years ago, Emily Phipps of The Angel at Watlington was recognised for her efforts in transforming the village local with a complete refurbishment. The pub previously won the Leisure and Tourism category, sponsored by Complete Commercial Finance, at the West Norfolk Mayor’s Business Award in 2023 and its apprentice Tyler Pease also won an award in 2024.
Winner: GH Hair Design
Innovative hair salon GH Hair Design was crowned the winner for its focus on health and wellbeing as it grows its services. With a wide range of holistic treatments, the business’ team has expanded to include reiki, reflexology, yoga and counselling, with the development of a relaxation suite at its King’s Lynn premises. The company has won multiple awards in recognition of its growth and success, including as a previous recipient of several West Norfolk Mayor’s Business Awards.
Winner: Mars Food UK
Home to the evolution and innovation of the Mars Food & Nutrition portfolio, King’s Lynn is known for being a ‘Ready to Heat’ rice factory, producing Ben’s Original and Dolmio products for the UK and 14 export markets. Over the past ten years, Mars Food & Nutrition has invested over £50m into the site, on new production lines, factory facilities and the office space. The King’s Lynn factory sends zero waste to landfill, in line with Mars Inc. purpose commitments, and 100 per cent of the electricity it uses comes from renewable sources.
Winner: Livvi Hodges from the College of West Anglia
Winner: King’s Lynn Residential Care Home
Managing director Tom Lyons, deputy managers Sumer Taylor and Denisa Odica, and co-managers Jodi Collins and Sally Haynes received the Customer Care award on behalf of the team of the King’s Lynn residential care home, based on Kettlewell Lane. Judges recognised the vital role that the home provides to the community, including high-quality care for older people, especially those living with dementia.
Winner: Watatunga Wildlife Reserve
Opening to visitors in 2020, Ed Pope and his wife, Anna, began transforming 170 acres of farmland in a wildlife reserve in 2017, which is now home to 24 ungulate species, water buffalo, Great Bustard and a variety of ducks. With plans to expand the visitor experience with photography and sunrise tours, a barbecue hut and pop-up restaurant in 2025, judges recognised the ongoing innovation of the couple and their team.
Winner: Conor Clark from Mars Food UK
Winner: The Norfolk Deli
The recipient of multiple awards over many years, Hunstanton’s coastal deli was named Independent Retailer, presented by Karl Lanham of Complete Commercial Finance, for its hugely successful business, which works with more than 80 local producers. The company’s website also enables customers across the UK to build their own hampers of Norfolk produce, delivered straight to their door.
Winner: Kip McGrath
Established in Australia in 1976, Kip McGrath helps primary and secondary school age children around the world to improve or extend their learning. The King’s Lynn centre is based in Norfolk Street.
