The general manager of a North Yorkshire cinema has won a prestigious award.
Dan Westgarth, of The Station Cinema, in Richmond, was presented with the "Transformational Leader" accolade at the 2024 University of York Enterprise Awards.
The ceremony, held in York, was sponsored by The Company of Merchant Adventurers of the City of York and saw businesses and leaders from across the region came together to celebrate excellence across all industries.
Dan, who has been with the cinema since March 2020, received his award for his work over the last three years of leadership change at The Station Cinema.
Despite challenges coming out of the Covid period and an ever-changing industry, the cinema has gone from strength to strength, delivering award winning performances, substantial box office and retail revenue alongside building key community engagement within the region.
The Station Cinema was also nominated for an award in the "Outstanding Business Growth" category.
Dan said: “It’s a great honour to be recognised by your peers in the business region, for the progress and hard work the whole team have delivered upon over the past few years. I think it shows we are doing something right and I’m just thrilled that we can continue to shine, and deliver amazing experiences in a tough climate.
"We are a non-profit independent cinema, with passion at the heart of everything we do, we have a fantastic team and a cinema that is very much a key part of the community and we love what we do.”
Professor Kiran Trehan, pro vice-chancellor for partnerships and engagement at the University of York, said: "This year’s awards celebrate the unwavering spirit of entrepreneurialism, exemplary leadership, business growth, and commitment to social responsibility exhibited by businesses and individuals in our city and region. We are delighted to honour these outstanding contributors who are making a positive difference in their communities and industries."
The Station Cinema is owned and operated by Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust, a registered charity.
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