Business

Annon honoured by Belfast Chamber for life’s work

Trevor Annon (centre), chairman of Mount Charles, with his lifetime achievement award. Looking on are Paul McClurg, head of business banking at Bank of Ireland, with Cool FM presenter Pete Snodden
Trevor Annon (centre), chairman of Mount Charles, with his lifetime achievement award. Looking on are Paul McClurg, head of business banking at Bank of Ireland, with Cool FM presenter Pete Snodden

THE founder and chairman of business support solutions company Mount Charles has been recognised with a lifetime achievement award at the Belfast Chamber Awards.

The awards, which seek to reward all areas of business in all sectors, took place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, when Trevor Annon was chosen by the judging panel for his celebrated contribution to business life in Northern Ireland.

An EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist in 2017, he has collected numerous awards on behalf of his company and has been the recipient of an outstanding contribution award at the 2016 Janus Awards and the lifetime achievement award in 2018, at the Aer Lingus Take Off Foundation Business Awards.

Mount Charles Group,the north’s largest independent catering and business support services provider, was founded by Trevor in 1988, and has since established itself as the leader in contract and retail catering, cleaning, vending and security services.

It currently employs 2,500 staff servicing 400 clients across the UK and Ireland, working with companies such as Down Royal Racecourse, Belfast International Airport, Ulster Rugby, ICC Belfast, RTE, Griffith College, Maynooth University, Ordinance Survey Ireland, Abbey Theatre and Custom House in Dublin.

Citing Trevor’s achievements Simon Hamilton, chief executive of Belfast Chamber said: “His story is one, quite simply, of three decades of business success.

“Mount Charles is an innovator developing new products, services and brands that supports some of the biggest and best-known businesses, sporting venues educational facilities and healthcare organisations in Northern Ireland and further afield.”

Mount Charles currently sources approximately 85 per cent of its food from Northern Ireland suppliers, attributing to a contribution of £50 million per annum to the region's economy. It recently announced a new addition to its portfolio of service offerings, Craft Event Co., which will specialise in weddings and corporate functions

Receiving his award, Trevor said: “To be honoured by my home town Chamber is a wonderful achievement and it reflects the results of 33 years of hard work.”

As well as building his family business, Trevor has also served as chair of crime fighting charity Crimestoppers for 12 years, was an independent board member of the Irish Football Association and until recently was the chair of the National Football Stadium in Belfast, where he spearheaded the development its new world class stadium.