A WOMAN who took the initiative to help a wedding venue grow in popularity won the Rising Star accolade at the 2022 Telegraph & Argus Retail, Leisure and Hospitality awards on Sunday night.

Elizabeth Ambler, who works at Headley Venue, on Headley Lane, Thornton, won the Rising Star award, sponsored by Idle Travel.

Celebrating with her colleagues on awards night, Ms Ambler was surprised to win the honour.

“It’s just totally unexpected,” she said.

“We are a big team and family and to get the recognition is fabulous.

After the company’s general manager left in June, Liz said she and a colleague ran the venue between them.

“We’ve been at the forefront of the management team.

“We’re a golf club and a wedding venue, and we’re aiming to be the number one wedding venue in the area.”

Ms Ambler is currently a supervisor at Headley Venue, and because of recent changes she has taken the initiative to work in the manner of assistant manager to help the business to continue to do well and grow.

After she was nominated, a spokesperson for Headley Venue said: “She will always go above and beyond to help any of the team members both within work and out of work in any way she can help.

“She works extremely hard and probably doesn’t realise how much of an asset she is to the team.”

The T&A organisers of the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality awards were pleased to announce that this year the Rising Star was a new award category which aims to recognise those that are growing in a business and making a difference.

Nomination criteria was they do not have to be a manager or leader, just someone that has made a real impression.

Judges were looking for someone showing signs of being a great employee, potential management material or a top trainee. They wanted nominees to be a person who has impressively grown and developed their role in the company during the past year.

Judges were also looking for evidence of what difference this person has made at their company to make them a real star colleague.

Headley Venue is a wedding venue that aims to go above and beyond to ensure a couple’s special day is an unforgettable experience.

On the company website, it says: “Your wedding day is as important to us as it is to you. That’s why we go out of our way to ensure your vision comes to life.”