Andy Pottle was pipped at the post for the top prize by a manager from a shopping centre in Fleetwood, Lancashire.

He was shortlisted from thousands of entries from across the country.

The Sceptre Awards, which were presented at a ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel, London, recognise the best practice and best people in the shopping centre industry.

It gives accolades for a number of categories including marketing, young achievers, environmental management and customer service.

Compere for the ceremony was former British and Irish Lions rugby star Fergus Slattery.

"We put in our submission based on set criteria which was backed up by evidence," said Mr Pottle, who was nominated in the small shopping centre category.

But the manager says the recognition is not just down to one successful element at the centre.

He said: "We have had a very good last 12 months in terms of footfall. Although we were down in April on two per cent, compared with a national average of eight per cent, we significantly over performed.
"While the average was going down, we were bucking the trend and were going up.
"We also had two new retailers – Poundland and Orange – and have no empty units."

Mr Pottle says contract staff on the shopping centre site also helps the 'good set up'.

In his three years working at Pescod Square, Mr Pottle has also been involved with other organisations in the town such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Boston Area Regeneration Company (BARC).