The National Skills Academy for Retail has announced the winners of its Independents’ Day competition.

Open to all independent retailers in the UK, the competition celebrates diversity on the high street and retailers who make contributions to their local area.

List of Winners:

Christine Hanson, Bookmark, Spalding, Lincolnshire (Bookshop)     

Graham Palmer, The Square Corner, Wimborne, Dorset (Cards, Gifts & Chocolates shop)

Jenny Craven, Velotive, Newquay, Cornwall (Bicycle shop)

John Cant, Maru Market, Beverley, Yorks (Butchers and fishmongers)

Kamal Thaker, Stop Shop News, London (Newsagent)

Ruth George, Eden, Edinburgh (Clothing and footwear)

Sian Roberts, Pets Pantry, Warrington, Cheshire (Pet shop)

Sunder Sandher, Londis, Leamington Spa, Warwicks (Convenience store)

Sylvia Winter, Creaton Post Office and Store, Creaton, Northants (Convenience store)

Tracey Langford, NewsPlus, Bexhill, Sussex (Convenience store)

Winners included two Convenience Store Champions, Sylvia Winter of Creaton Post Office and Store in Northamptonshire and Sunder Sandher of Londis Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

All winners receive the National Skills Academy Guide to Successful Retailing workbooks as well as access to a business diagnostic tool to help them analyse where their business can be improved.

The prize also includes a one-to-one mentoring session with experienced retail business mentor, Rowland Gee, former chief executive of men’s clothing store, Moss Bros, and founder of Grey4Gold.

The competition was sponsored by Mondelez and supported by trade organisations including Association of Town and City Centre Management, British Independent Retailers Association, National Federation of Retail Newsagents and Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association.

Mondelez UK trade communication manager Susan Nash said: “The Independents’ Day campaign celebrates the success of independent retailers and recognises their hard work in striving to give their customers the best possible experience. Through our involvement we were able to support some of these retailers in this quest by offering them business support and training they might not otherwise be in a position to access.”