Award for Essex events firm

ESSEX-based event management specialist The Journeyman Company has beaten off competition from some major national names to help take the title of Best Business Event at this year's Visit London Awards.

The firm, based at Aldham, near Colchester, organises the Havering Business Awards on behalf of the London Borough of Havering.

Claire Hunt, Journeyman's managing director, entered the awards on behalf of the local authority and is delighted at the result.

“We are ecstatic,” she said. “This is the first award we have entered, so to be voted top first time around is a great coup for us and a terrific boost to morale, especially when you consider some of the big names we were up against.”

There were eight finalists in the Best Business Event category, including major players such as The Brit Awards, The Orange British Academy Film Awards Gala Dinner, the British Airways Club Launch 2006 and, in the business to business arena, premier venue exhibition International Confex.

The winner was decided by readers of Event magazine by voting online at the Visit London website.

Yvonne Bendall, regeneration officer (business development) for the London Borough of Havering, says: “We are really proud to have won this award against such tough opposition and to have put the London Borough of Havering on the map as truly the place to do business.

“Our event is growing year by year and its continued success is due to the sheer hard work, determination and enthusiasm from Havering's regeneration team, coupled with the fantastic support from local businesses and the expert event management provided by The Journeyman Company.”

Businessman and Dragons' Den regular Duncan Bannatyne presented Claire and representatives of Havering Council with their award at a gala dinner held in the prestigious O2 arena in London. The event was hosted by radio presenter Margherita Taylor.