After a summer of retail rocked by rioting, wet weather, consumer caution and sliding sales a night celebrating what is good in retail was well needed. Retail Week’s Rising Star Awards aim to do just that. Unlike the magazine’s flagship annual and hugely successful Retail Week Awards the Rising Star Awards celebrate not the legends of today but, as the name aptly describes, the talent of tomorrow.

Held last night at the Grosvenor in London’s Park Lane the awards recognised the rising stars in 17 categories overall – from best area manager to Retail Week’s overall Rising star of the year. But as Dragon’s Den star and retail guru Theo Paphitis, guest speaker for the evening said in his opening speech it wasn’t just the winners of the night who should be celebrating what they had done.

“For all of you here today you are the cream of the crop and the leaders of tomorrow. Just being here is an achievement,” he said. And quoting a line from his favourite TV show — not Dragon’s Den – he said the talent in the room had much to look forward to. “Thirty years ago tonight was the first episode of my favourite TV programme – Only Fools and Horses. So in the words of the biggest trader of all – enjoy tonight. This time next year you could be millionaires.”

Paphitis may have been joking of course but as an entrepreneur himself he more than most will recognise the truth of such words. The individuals recognised and indeed shortlisted for awards such as those held by Retail Week last night all demonstrate a similar trait which retail so desperately needs in the current climate – the passion and drive to succeed and be successful.

If such rising stars can shine in times such as these they will be much sought after and it could well be that in amongst those rising stars are some Theos of the future who will deliver the new concepts and retail models that will ensure that the retail industry moves forward. And for a retail market that thrives on innovation and with things such as the Portas review demanding change on Britain’s high streets and beyond that innovation can only be a good thing.