Awards celebrate brightest in business
THE Western Morning News Business Awards are a spectacular occasion and a chance for businesses from all over the Devon and Cornwall business community to come together to celebrate the determination and success of those helping to drive the region’s economy.
This year, the black-tie event took place at the Sandy Park Stadium in Exeter and saw businesses and individuals being recognised for their excellent hard work and commitment to the world of business.
Hosted by Kirsten O’Brien and headline sponsor South West Water, the awards night last night was a roaring success with nominations and winners from all walks of the business industry. Extreme explorer, safety consultant, performance coach and writer, Jim McNeill, also made an appearance on the night as keynote speaker.
Category sponsors of the night were Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth and Skills Hub, Openreach, Prima Bakeries, Browne Jacobson and CCB Training.
Here are the winners of the Western Morning News Business Awards 2022:
Apprentice of the Year Award
Sponsored by Cornwall College
The first award presented of the night was Apprentice of the Year. This award was a fantastic opportunity to highlight an apprentice who has shown outstanding progress and commitment to their own personal development. Being presented with this award meant that the winner showed exceptional contribution to their workplace and passion for their chosen subject.
Winner: Ellie-May Mangan Finalists: Charley Spence, Ellie-May Mangan and Nathan Board
Environmental and Sustainability Award
As we all become more aware of the impacts our behaviours and actions can have on the planet, this award recognises businesses that have gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that and have shown outstanding performances in environmental responsiveness and sustainable activity.
Winner: Cofton Holidays
Finalists: Bandvulc Group, Cofton Holidays and Services Design Solution
Corporate Social Responsibility Award
Reasonable business practices across the four areas of the local community, environment, people and supply chain are important to show a fantastic contribution to the overall well-being of the community. A working partnership and sustainable relationship with suppliers and other partners was the key to winning this award.
Winner: Services Design Solution Finalists: Football Fun Factory (Community 035) Limited, Plymouth Community Homes and Services Design Solution
Tourism and Hospitality Resilience Award
The last few years have been and continue to be challenging times for the tourism and hospitality industry. This award recognises the determination of businesses that have overcome challenges with innovation and adapted well to the ever-changing business landscape.
Winner: Cofton Holidays
Finalists: Cofton Holidays, Pathfinder Homes and The Duke of Cornwall Hotel
Best Place to Work Award
The first big award of the evening, sponsored by Prima Bakery, showcases the company that believes its environment is the best place to work. By using flexible practices, nominations for this award are capable of showing how employees are treated with respect and equality even in a remote working environment.
Winner: Bigwave Marketing Finalists: Bigwave Marketing, Plymouth Marine Laboratory and Swallowcourt Limited
Business Person of the Year Award
Helping celebrate individual success
in business, the Business Person of the Year Award praises an individual who has shown exceptional and inspirational leadership and inspires others they work with. The winner of this award will have helped raise the profile of the organisation and worked proactively within the business.
Winner: Mark Norton
Finalists: Katherine George, Mark Norton and Joe Turnbull
Innovation Award Sponsored by Openreach
Category sponsor, Openreach, presented this award to the business that has shown new ideas, processes, products, services, technologies and applications that have had an impact on an organisation’s success over the past 12 months. The impact of innovative thinking has taken this award’s winner over the line in terms of success.
Winner: Plymouth Marine
Laboratory
Finalists: City College Plymouth, Plymouth Marine Laboratory and Skills Launchpad Plymouth
Start-Up Business of the Year Award
This award is given to an organisation that has been established since January 2019 and has shown sales growth, profit achievement and evidence of a satisfied customer base. The winner has solid business plans and is able to show potential future growth. Winner: Rewind Radio
Finalists: Amanda White Digital, Rewind Cornwall and The Barn at Pengelly
SME Business of the Year Award Sponsored by Growth and Skills Hub
The SME Business of the Year Award celebrates a growing business of up to 150 employees and a positive impact on the region’s economy. Managerial and financial performance, long-term plans and potential for growth are
just some of the features that set these winners apart.
Winners: Cornish Premier Pasties Ltd and Feritech Global Ltd
Finalists: Cornish Premier Pasties Ltd, Feritech Global Ltd, Ian Walker Family Law and Mediation Solicitors and Services Design Solution
Large Business of the Year Award
With over 150 employees, the winner of this award is considered a large business and celebrates all aspects of the company’s fantastic performance over the last 12 months. Success against set targets is just one reason why the winner of this award deserves praise. Winner: Proper Cornish Ltd
Finalists: Plymouth Community Homes, Proper Cornish Ltd and Troy (UK) Ltd
Business of the Year Award
The big award of the night was the Business of the Year Award. Unlike the other categories, nominations are not taken for this award and instead the winner is chosen by the judges from the winners of previous categories.
Each and every business that was taken into consideration for this award showed outstanding contribution to not only the local community and all employees, but to the region’s economy as well. The award was presented by headline sponsors South West Waters’ group regulatory and strategy Director, Dr Lisa Gahan.
And the award went to Cornish Premier Pasties Ltd.
Cornish Premier Pasties Ltd was founded in 2008 and is one of the largest producers of Cornish pasties in the world. With a team of more than 50, the business produces over 40,000 savoury pastries a day. Like most, the company faced many challenging obstacles during the pandemic but managed to overcome them and has seen sales increase by 55% in the last two years.
Lifetime Achievement Award
The final award of the evening was the Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Browne Jacobson. This award recognises the qualities of a business person who has made a positive and lasting contribution to their business, the local economy and the community over a number of years.
The Hirshman Family was the winner of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and partner at Browne Jacobson, Claire Cornish, was invited on stage to present this prestigious award to the well-deserved winner.