Member Article

Flying the flag for Dorset Business: Bridge Health & Wellbeing shortlisted in Family Business of the Year awards

Family-run clinic Bridge Health & Wellbeing in Christchurch, Dorset is delighted to be shortlisted in the Family Business of the Year awards - South & South West region. It is the only Dorset business to make the shortlist.

The Family Business of the Year Awards were created in 2012 to celebrate the UK family business sector. They recognise the diversity of family firms across the country and celebrate the contribution that they make.

Paul Andrews, founder of Family Business United, the awards’ organisers, said, “Each year we are amazed at the entries received and there are always some real gems that are fabulous ambassadors for the family business sector. The entries come from all over the UK and this year in particular, given all of the uncertainty and business challenges caused by the global pandemic, Brexit and the general trading climate, we are delighted by the number of entries and the diverse sectors that they represent too.”

Founded by husband and wife Paul & Louise O’Connell, Bridge Health & Wellbeing is very proud of being a family run business. Paul said “In 2019, my wife Louise and I were finally able to realise our dream of creating a welcoming wellbeing community in Christchurch, Dorset. Bringing our skills in Physiotherapy and Pilates together, we opened the doors to our state-of-the-art health and wellbeing centre. It has certainly been a rollercoaster since, dealing with the impact of COVID19. But our clients have been amazing and made it all worthwhile.”

The awards culminate in a ceremony taking place in June with awards for various categories, sectors and regions.

Louise added, “We are looking forward to attending the event and celebrating with all the other finalists. We can’t quite believe that from all the amazing family firms across the entire South & South West we made the shortlist! As well as being shortlisted for the regional title, we have been shortlisted for the ‘People’s Choice Award’. This is determined solely by public vote, so we are hoping people will get behind us and vote. It only takes seconds but would mean the world to us.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Caroline Saunders .