Business excellence winners revealed at awards!
THE leading lights of the Bridgend business community were celebrated at the 2016 Bridgend Business Forum Awards ceremony and gala dinner recently.
Almost 180 business people gathered at the Coed-y-Mwstwr Hotel, Bridgend to discover who the all-important winners were at the fourth annual business awards supported by Bridgend County Borough Council and Rockwool.
The winners in each category were:
‘Business Student of the Year’ – Christopher Lloyd, Whatchrisdoes
‘Start-up Business of the Year’ – The Food Shed CIC
‘Service Business of the Year’ – Smart Education Wales Ltd
‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ – Jay Ball, Datakom Ltd
‘Manufacturing Business of the Year’ – Customised Sheet Metal Ltd
‘Bridgend Tourism Business of the Year’ – The Coed-yMwstwr Hotel
‘Innovative Business of the Year – Spectrum Technologies Plc
‘Creative Industries Award’ – Wales Interactive Ltd
The Food Shed scooped the coveted title of ‘Bridgend Business of the Year 2016’.
Warren Dudding, marketing director at Rockwool, main sponsor of this year’s awards said:
“Rockwool was delighted to sponsor the Bridgend Business Forum Awards 2016. We had the pleasure of awarding the Bridgend Business of the Year Award to The Food Shed, a fantastic enterprise offering a meal delivery service across Bridgend and neighbouring Neath Port Talbot.
“Not only does it aim to support healthy and independent living, it has also developed a partnership with HMI Parc Prison to provide training, qualifications and work experience to prisoners to help them with employment opportunities on release. It is a wonderful example of how business can deliver social value, and we wish The Food Shed every success as it grows.’
Roxane Dacey, managing director at The Food Shed said: “Winning both ‘Start-Up Business of the Year’ and ‘Bridgend Business of the Year 2016’ was a surreal, emotional but most importantly a fantastic experience! We are so proud of what we have achieved so far and this award will contribute towards strengthening our service, sustainability and development into the future.
“It was an excellent evening and a brilliant opportunity for us to thank our staff for making our service what it has become; an important service for older, vulnerable adults delivered by a caring and compassionate team.
“Thank you to all the team involved in ‘The Shed’ kitchen within Parc Prison (G4S) for being such excellent partners; being committed and working so hard to produce our high-quality, delicious meals.”
A new award was introduced this year; ‘The Patron’s Commendation Award 2016’. The award was presented to Spectrum Technologies Plc by the Patron of the Bridgend Business Forum, Carwyn Jones AM.
Carwyn commented: “Another very successful awards evening and I would like to add my congratulations to all the winners. We know how important businesses are, not just as employers, but as drivers of the local economy. These awards are an opportunity to celebrate our very successful local businesses and to recognise their continuing investment in local people and the local economy. I was also delighted to present the first ever Patron’s Commendation Award.”
Bridgend County Borough Council Leader, Councillor Mel Nott, OBE said: “I can honestly say that we are privileged in this county borough to host more than our fair share of outstanding businesses.
“These awards have brought to the forefront not only major global organisations with a long-established and very successful track record such as Spectrum Technologies Plc but also younger, dynamic businesses such as The Food Shed CIC which are starting out on their business journey and are already contributing significantly to the local economy.
“The council is committed to nurturing enterprise in the county borough and I’m proud that we can play our part, through the substantial support we provide to enable the valuable work of the Bridgend Business Forum to continue.”
Ian Jessopp, chair of Bridgend Business Forum said: “At the risk of sounding like a cliché, once again we have been extremely impressed with the quality and calibre of not only all winners but all entrants to this year’s business awards. Excellence remains at the heart of these awards, unveiling hidden gems in our business community, distinguishing enterprises from their competitors and proving them worthy of recognition.
“These businesses are the backbone of our economy, offering much-needed investment, job opportunities and revenue to the local economy. I’d like to wish them all every continued success in the future.”
BBC news correspondent Sian Lloyd hosted the ceremony which was sponsored by Rockwool, Berry Smith Lawyers, Bridgend College, Bridgend County Borough Council, Business in Focus, eef the manufacturer’s organisation, Finance Wales, Graham Paul Chartered Accountants, Handelsbanken, kksolutions, United Graphic Design and SME Finance Partners.
A charity collection in aid of the Mayor’s Charity Appeal 2016/17 raised a grand total of £780 for this year’s nominated charities; Heronsbridge Summer School, Bridgend, Kidney Wales Cymru Foundation, Princess of Wales Hospital and Crossroads Care, Bridgend.
For more information on the forum and to view the official photos and videos from the Bridgend Business Forum Awards 2016 night visit: www. facebook.com/ bridgendbusinessforum or follow on Twitter @ bridgendforum