THE Brunel shopping centre celebrated a year of retail success with its first formal awards ceremony for retailers and staff.

Centre manager Tony Wilkes, who joined The Brunel in 2009, set up the awards to acknowledge the effort and creativity shown by retailers and centre staff during the past 12 months. At the black tie event, which was held at Menzies Hotel, independent food outlet Roma pipped Argos and the Early Learning Centre for Retailer of the Year award and the Marketing Initiative award went to Boots.

Argos won the operational/environmental award and mall promotion of the year went to Guardian Jewellery. Support staff were also recognised – Cleaner of the Year award went to Giosue Pulieri, Security Officer of the Year was Rob Faulkner and Paul Denyer picked up Maintenance Person of the Year award. The Centre Manager’s award went to cleaning manager Colin Roberts.

Mr Wilkes said his team worked closely with retailers on marketing and that the ethos at the centre is of cooperation. He said: “This was our way of thanking the retailers for their teamwork, and giving recognition to those staff who really do go that extra mile for their companies and customers.”