The annual awards are a prestigious event that honour those individuals who have achieved outstanding success in their chosen fields, including showbusiness, sport, finance, arts and design, hospitality, and all businesses. This year saw the third ‘Local Legend’ Award, which celebrates the incredible effort to help people in the local area of Manchester.

The night included live entertainment from Roy Carter previously of Heat Wave, and X-Factor finalist Lascell Wood.  The amazing children from the Liverpool Signing Choir had everyone on their feet applauding and using sign language to the Musical hit This is Me. There was not a dry eye in the house.

The Liverpool Signing Choir

Victoria, Becky, and Hannah from WEDO Tennis joined us to thank our guests for their generous wheelchair donations. There was also an auction to raise funds for Variety, the Children’s Charity. The evening raised a spectacular £112,000 to help improve the lives of disabled and disadvantaged children in the Northwest.

Teddy Sheringham MBE, Arlene Phillips DBE, Lemn Sissay OBE, Sam Quek MBE, PC Paul Spinks, Jack P. Shepherd, Heather Small, Barry McGuigan MBE, and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen

A huge congratulations to the 2023 award winners:

Dame Arlene Philips CBE – Dance & Choreography

Laurence Llewellen-Bowen – Interior Design

Barry McGuigan MBE – Boxing

Teddy Sheringham MBE – Football

Heather Small – Music Industry

Lemn Sissay OBE – Poetry Literature

Sam Quek MBE – Hockey

PC Paul Spinks – Local Legend for Bravery

Jack P. Shepherd –  Acting/Television

Victoria, Becky, and Hannah from WEDO Tennis

Lyn Staunton, Development Director of Variety, the Children’s Charity, commented:

We are always humbled by the outstanding achievements of each recipient of our Legends of Industry Awards, who have all excelled themselves in their chosen fields.

The Legends of Industry Awards are sold out months in advance because it is known as such a great event in the calendar.

The event raises funds to provide positive experiences for disabled and disadvantaged children and young people. Variety provides practical help, including Variety Sunshine Coaches, Variety wheelchairs, and specialist equipment through its grant programmes, in addition to creating memorable childhood experiences through Variety Great Days Out.

The Legends of Industry Awards

Variety, the Children’s Charity would like to thank our event sponsors for all their generous support:

Headline Sponsors:

Michael Josephson MBE Stocks 2015 Ltd.

The Geddes-Wood Family Trust

Awards Sponsors:

Close Brothers Invoice Finance

4 Syte

a2e

Davenham Asset Finance

Grant Thornton

Kroll Advisory Ltd

Russell Partnership Collection

Brochure Sponsor:

eCapital Commercial Finance