Business forum awards finalists are revealed
THE finalists for the fifth Bridgend Business Forum Awards have been revealed.
Leading the nominations are Kontroltek, Scott Waste, House of Callaway and Wales Interactive – all of which have been shortlisted in two categories.
In all, there are 19 finalists across eight categories, including Start-Up Business of the Year, Service Business of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year, with Porthcawl Surf School, A&R Contract Cleaning Specialist and Bang on Brewery, among the businesses shortlisted.
Fourteen businesses will then compete for the coveted Bridgend Business of the Year 2017 award, chosen from the winners of each category.
Sponsored by Bridgend College and supported by Bridgend County Borough Council, the 2017 awards will take place on Friday, September 29, at the Coed-Y-Mwstwr Hotel, Bridgend.
The ceremony will be hosted by BBC TV presenter and journalist Sian Lloyd.
Following a rigorous judging process, the panel – consisting of the 2017 sponsors and Bridgend Business Forum representatives – selected finalists from across a range of sectors.
Ian Jessopp, chairman of Bridgend Business Forum, said: “The forum awards celebrate the very best of business in Bridgend and provide an opportunity for new and established businesses across a variety of sectors to showcase their work, services and products – all of which are contributing to a prosperous Welsh economy.”
The shortlisted businesses and individuals are:
Business Student of the Year, sponsored by Rockwool Ltd: Scott Ewing and Kristian Stark, Gadge IT Ltd – nominated by Bridgend College.
Start-up Business of the Year, sponsored by ISA Training: Bang on Brewery, Magenta Financial Planning, House of Callaway Ltd.
Service Business of the Year, sponsored by Berry Smith Lawyers: A&R Contract Cleaning Specialist, Kontroltek, Scott Waste.
Manufacturing Business of the Year, sponsored by EEF, the manufacturer’s organisation: Kontroltek, Recycle Direct.
Bridgend Tourism Business of the Year, sponsored by Handelsbanken: Best Western Heronston Hotel, Bushcraft Birthdays and Bushcraft Bash, Porthcawl Surf School.
Creative Industries Award, sponsored by ION Leadership: Customised Sheet Metal, House of Callaway, Wales Interactive.
Innovative Business of the Year, sponsored by Harris Bassett: Nemein, Team 8 Digital, Wales Interactive.
The winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, which is sponsored by SME Finance Partners, will be for- mally announced at the awards ceremony on September 29.