MEET OUR SPONSORS
Our Headline Sponsor - Martin & Co
We specialise in residential lettings, sales and property management. As a landlord himself, Director John Rushman has first-hand knowledge of the needs of landlords and tenants alike, and provides expert and professional advice on all property matters. Alongside his highly driven and dedicated team, he ensures you receive a tailor-made service to suit your individual needs. At Martin & Co, we help our customers find their perfect property by offering a dedicated point of contact and regular updates throughout the whole process. Whether you are looking to buy, invest or sell a property, or you would like a free valuation, please do get in touch with a member of our team who would be delighted to help.
Kale & Damson
Our founders started their wholesale business nearly 30 years ago. From there Kale & Damson has built up a trusted reputation for exceptional quality and inspirational ranges of produce, which later developed into Food Service. This is all backed by a team of people who combine passion with a deep understanding of ‘Farm-to-fork’ all with a down to earth manner, and honest way of doing business.
Suffolk New College
Suffolk New College is a multi-award-winning institution offering a diverse range of career-focused courses across multiple campuses in Suffolk. Our state-of-the-art facilities include the Net Zero Skills Centre, Health Science Campus and Tech Campus at our Ipswich campus, and we provide land based programmes, construction and business training from Suffolk Rural, at Otley, north of Ipswich. We also have On the Coast provision in Halesworth and Leiston. We are proud to provide technical and vocational courses, apprenticeships, and training for the people and businesses of the region, and we are currently developing a new permanent College on the Coast in Leiston in partnership with Sizewell C, delivering technical, vocational, and academic pathways aligned to the workforce needs of Sizewell C and the wider energy, infrastructure, and engineering sectors. The new campus will open in 2027.
Love Newmarket
Love Newmarket is an inventive and progressive not-for-profit run for local businesses by local businesses. Established in July 2016, the Love Newmarket Business Improvement District (BID) covers a defined area of the popular market town where the team works to improve the trading environment and identifies additional projects and services that develop the town centre, from offering training and marketing support to organising events, such as the annual Christmas lights switch-on, and the upcoming Restaurant Week, which runs March 10 to 16 and sees eateries across town offer special menus, with prices starting at £5. To find out more, go to lovenewmarket.co.uk or follow @love.newmarket on Instagram.
Butterworth & Son
Originating as a family tea business for many generations, Butterworth and Son Coffee Roasters have focused on high-quality speciality coffee since 2011. Based in Bury St Edmunds, we work closely with numerous successful businesses in the hospitality sector. Our commitment to quality has been recognised by several industry awards, including the 2024 Great Taste Awards and the 2025 UK Cup Taster Championship.
Rosetone
Rosetone Contract Furniture is a well-established UK supplier of commercial furnishings, supporting businesses across hospitality, leisure and healthcare. Based in Bedfordshire, and with experience going back to 1987, the team utilises its long-standing expertise to help clients with projects right from the early design stages through to final installation. They focus on creating made-to-measure seating, tables and banquette solutions, designed to suit each individual space while standing up to the demands of daily use. Whether it’s a restaurant, hotel, office or café, Rosetone works closely with each client to deliver interiors that are both hard-wearing and thoughtfully designed, creating spaces that look great and feel welcoming for customers. To find out more, visit rosetonecontractfurniture.com.
F45 / Outtrain
Across F45 and Outtrain, we provide inclusive functional group training and bespoke personal coaching delivered by an experienced, passionate team specialising in fitness, wellness and nutrition. With facilities at Station Road and the Cambridge Rugby Club, our community welcomes all abilities, focusing on helping people move and feel better while enjoying a balanced, fun approach to training. We also offer corporate packages, team away days and a free weekly run club. Community lies at the heart of our mission, strengthened through partnerships with local businesses such as Novi, Gonville Hotel, Saffron Grange and Revivo Saunas, offering fitness, yoga, Pilates and meaningful wellness events.
Broadway Cellars
Broadway Cellars is a contemporary bar and wine shop in the heart of St Ives, blending historic charm with a modern, welcoming atmosphere. It offers curated fine wines, hand-shaken cocktails, cheese and charcuterie boards, plus an adjoining retail space with personalised guidance. Beyond drinks, Broadway Cellars provides bespoke wine consultations, event packages, and wholesale options. With regular live music, tastings, workshops, and creative events, it celebrates community, craftsmanship, and memorable experiences, making it a versatile destination for socialising and indulgence.
Cambridge BID
Cambridge BID is proud to sponsor the Hospitality Hero category at the Velvet Food & Drink Awards—recognising those who go above and beyond to make Cambridge’s hospitality industry exceptional. Cambridge Business Improvement District (BID) is a business-led and business-funded organisation committed to delivering a range of projects designed to enhance Cambridge for businesses, residents, and visitors. Our range of projects include Cambridge Arts Festival, Food & Drink Week, Outdoor Screening Events, the King Street Mural, The Love Cambridge Gift Card and many more all designed to create a vibrant, attractive and thriving City. For more information on Cambridge BID and our project delivery please visit www.cambridgebid.co.uk or follow us on our social channels – Facebook: Love Cambridge, Instagram: lovecambridge_ or via LinkedIn: Cambridge BID Limited.
Wild About Events
At Wild About Events, we specialise in creating unforgettable events that bring people together and leave lasting impressions. From intimate gatherings to large-scale celebrations, our focus is on delivering seamless, stylish, and stress-free experiences tailored to each client’s vision. Whether it’s weddings, corporate functions, private parties, or special occasions, we pride ourselves on turning ideas into reality with creativity, professionalism, and precision. Every event is unique, and we work closely with our clients to ensure their personality and purpose shine through every detail.
Proactive Solutions
Proactive Solutions is a specialist PR and marketing consultancy working exclusively with brands in foodservice and hospitality. Led by SJ Middleton, with over 25 years' sector experience, the consultancy supports clients ranging from bakery and drinks brands to catering equipment specialists, wholesalers and sales agents — delivering strategic, integrated campaigns that drive real commercial outcomes. Working through a trusted network of senior-level creatives across PR, digital, social media, design and event support, Proactive Solutions provides the expertise of a full-service agency without the overhead.
Appetite Me
Appetite Me leads the way in rural diversification, retail and hospitality development across the UK. We specialise in creating award-winning farm shops, cafés, restaurants and artisan retail villages. Whether you’re embarking on a new journey or advancing an existing one, we take the time to understand your unique project needs. Following this, we create a package that’s tailor-made for you.
Charity Partners
Suffolk Mind
On a mission to make Suffolk the best place in the world for talking about and taking care of mental health, Suffolk Mind’s support includes a wide range of courses, training and therapeutic services which can enable you to better understand mental wellbeing and how you can help improve or maintain your own. Skills learnt can also help you support others. This knowledge can be applied at both home and work to help you get the best from your life and to feel happier and healthier.
Mind CPSL
As the leading local mental health charity in Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, and South Lincolnshire, CPSL Mind supports people in their recovery, promotes wellbeing, and campaigns against stigma and discrimination. If you or someone you know could benefit from CPSL Mind’s mental health support, or if you would like to donate or fundraise, visit cpslmind.org.uk. You don’t have to face this journey alone – with CPSL Mind, support is always close at hand.