The word legend is often used out of context, but that couldn’t be said for Congleton’s Dawn Gibbins last week as she accepted a prestigious award from the Variety Club of Great Britain. The successful entrepreneur and philanthropist was awarded with the Legend of Industry Award at a black tie event at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester. She received congratulations in front of a packed audience of influential business figures and celebrities.


Dawn with the Variety Club Chief Barker

The awards from the children’s charity were held to recognise the finest and leading examples of men and women in the North West for their outstanding achievements in their own industries. Guests were wowed from television impressionist Leslie Gibson and entertained by Manchester’s King of Swing Cole Page and Mr Soul Motown man, Steve Charles. The Legends of Industry Awards was an enormous success, with an amazing auction with items that included a trip to “This Morning” television studios with Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby and a private dinner party with producer David Gest and Engelbert Humperdinck.

The Variety Club has raised over £200 million over the last 6 decades to improve the lives of more than a million children and young people. They concentrate on giving help where help is needed and being the small change which is the huge difference to the lives of the children they work with.

Dawn is the daughter of Great British Inventor Peter Gibbins and set up her family company Flowcrete with her father in Cheshire in the early 1980’s. It quickly expanded from a small start up to a global multi-million pound empire that changed the flooring world, with the company gaining contracts with the world’s most iconic spaces, including the 02 Stadium.

"I am so thrilled to be recognised alongside such a venerable group of North West entrepreneurs and successful business peopl," says Dawn. "It was intersting to see how each one attributed 'giving to others' as a key lement in their own success."

Other people that received honours on the evening were Sir Michael Bibby of the Bibby Line Group, Tom Bloxham MBE of the Urban Splash Group Limited, Joe Dwek, William Lees-Jones of W Lees Brewery, Michael Oliver DL of Oliver Valves and Meena and Kirit Pathak OBE of AB World Foods. The money raised on the night will benefit children less fortunate than others in the North West region.