THE cream of the crop of Wiltshire's businessmen and women came together last night to celebrate their outstanding achievements over the last year at the Wiltshire Business Awards.
Hundreds of entrepreneurs dressed to the nines were wined and dined at Longleat's Centre Parcs yesterday evening for the 24th awards.
Over the last year, dozens of businesses put themselves forward for the ten awards, including Creative Marketing Awareness Award, Corporate, Social and Environmental Responsibility Award and Services to the Community Award, which are judged by some of the regions best business and media brains.
C4s-Search won two awards on the night, much to the delight of the team at the back of the room.
"I am pretty blown away if I'm honest," Ben Rutter said. "To get one award for this brilliant team we have is great, but to win two is something very special."
Royal Wootton Bassett waste experts Crapper & Sons Landfill Ltd also claimed the coveted Outstanding Excellence Award, making them the Wiltshire Business of the Year.
"We are thrilled," Linda Clifford, compost manager at Crapper & Sons Landfill, said. "We have had a great time tonight and now we're going to have an even better night!"
James Napp from IT hardware experts Bechtle, who won several awards last year, continued his winning streak once again by beating 13 other businessmen and women to claim the title of the Business Person of the Year.
"It is phenomenal," he said. "You have to have so much courage, bravery and guts to run a business and there are so many wonderful people out there, so to win this is an honour."
The glittering ceremony, which was hosted by BBC Wiltshire's Graham Rogers, also raised money for Alzheimer's Society.
Newsquest editor Pete Gavan said: "It was a fantastic night celebrating the very best of businesses in Wiltshire. The winners were well deserved but every nominee had a great story and should be proud."
For a full list of the winners and runners-up see below:
Creative Marketing Awareness Award – Sponsored by C3 Marketing
Winner: Wiltshire Inch Loss Clinic
2nd place: Active Potential Therapy
3rd place: Naturally Social
Corporate, Social and Environmental Responsibility Award – Sponsored by Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership
Winner: Create Studios
2nd place: Green Machine Computers
3rd place: Greenway Training
Learning and Development Employer of the Year Award – Sponsored by Bespoke Training Services and HR4 Business
Winner: C4s-Search
2nd place: An Apple a Day Supply
Medium Size Enterprise Business of the Year Award – Sponsored by Nat West
Winner: First City Nursing Services Ltd
2nd place: Crapper & Sons Landfill Ltd
3rd place: Bechtle
Services to the Community Award – Sponsored by BBC Wiltshire
Winner: Ganges Indian Cuisine
2nd place: Goodings Accounts
3rd place: Active Potential Therapy
Start-up Business of the Year Award – Sponsored by The Enterprise Network
Winner: Poppy’s Picnic
2nd place: The Squeeky Cleaners
3rd place: The Sound Emporium
Customer and Staff Care Award – Sponsored by Mainline Employment
Under 10 employees winner: Busy Books
10 – 50 employees winner: Bewley & Merrett Funeral Directors
Over 50 employees winner: Swindon’s Bus Company
Business Person of the Year Award – Sponsored by RSM
Winner: James Napp from Bechtle
2nd place: Steven Trowbridge from First City Nursing Services Ltd
3rd place: Sam Gooding from Gooding Accounts
Small Business of the Year Award – Sponsored by C3 Marketing
Winner: C4s-Search
2nd place: CMS Group
3rd place: Gooding Accounts
Outstanding Excellence Award – Sponsored by Thrings Solicitors
Winner: Crapper & Sons Landfill Ltd
2nd place: First City Nursing Services Ltd
Joint 3rd place: Lingerie Outlet Store and Bechtle
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