The keynote speaker for this year’s Chamber Business Awards, taking place at on Wednesday, December 6, has been announced as Weatherbys GSB Director, Simon Cooper.
Simon has been Director of The General Stud Book at Weatherbys since 2016 and is also the Company Secretary of Weatherbys Ltd. Before 2016, he spent 12 years as Company Secretary for New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and prior to that he worked for Attheraces TV in London for three years and the Hong Kong Jockey Club for eight years in administration, corporate governance and communication roles at a senior level. His international roles include Vice-Chairman and International Stud Book Committee, and he is a Fellow of the UK Corporate Governance Institute.
Simon will join attendees at the Chamber Business Awards ceremony from 8am to 10am at Harrowden Hall, Wellingborough Golf Club.
He said: “As we celebrate the achievements of local businesses, I am delighted to share the story of a local company – Weatherbys’ – at this year’s Chamber’s Business Awards. A story of organic growth from the beginnings of horseracing in 1770 to the City of London.
“I’m looking forward to a great ceremony and presenting the well-deserved trophies to the outstanding award winners.”
This year, there are five categories up for grabs in the Chamber’s Business Awards; Services Business of the Year, Retail Business of the Year, Industry Award, Chamber Community Award and Excellence Award. In each category, businesses must demonstrate excellence, specifically how they have made a pioneering approach to business as well as showing a commitment to furthering the prosperity of the area.
The Weatherbys Group, which is sponsoring the Excellence Award, is a UK conglomerate involved in a wide range of activities largely within banking and horse racing. The original business was founded by James Weatherby in 1770 and in 2020 the organisation celebrated its 250th anniversary of a successful and uninterrupted union between Weatherbys and horse racing’s regulators.
Few businesses remain active and within their original family custodianship beyond three generations. According to Simon, “James Weatherby could never have imagined such longevity nor impact for the business he established”.
Today, Weatherbys Ltd is primarily responsible for providing racing services to the BHA, along with racecard production, pedigree research, printing, publishing, marketing and ticketing services to a range of clients. The organisation consists of 160 members of staff, all based at Wellingborough HQ.
During the Chamber Business Awards ceremony, there will also be a gift collection by Chamber member Chelton Brown as part of Northamptonshire Health Charity’s annual campaign, Christmas Gifts for Patients, brightening the festive season for patients who find themselves in the hospital during Christmas. Typical items that are perfect for patients include toiletries, small puzzle books, bed socks, in-date sweets and chocolate. To maintain infection control standards, all donations must be new, in their original packaging, and not gift wrapped. Feel free to donate a gift during the awards ceremony and bring joy to patients at Christmas!