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Celebrations for the winners at Cornwall's first 'Business Oscars'
From huge international companies to up-and-coming entrepreneurs, Cornwall's business stars turned out in force for the presentation of the inaugural Cornwall Business Awards by "Dragon's Den" firebrand Doug Richard.
In a grand awards dinner at St Mellion Golf and Country Club Hotel, organisers Cornwall Enterprise paid tribute to the sheer variety of Cornish-based companies whose creativity and determination have brought success, and contributed to the County's growing reputation as a hotbed of business talent and innovation.
A panel of high-profile judges - including the Chairman of Marks & Spencer, CEO of BBC Worldwide and former Governor of the Bank of England - had a difficult task in deciding upon the 12 individual category awards and coveted "Winner of Winners" trophy.
However, it was Clive Woodward, CEO of Bude-based Bott Manufacturing, who scooped the evening's big award, as well as being named Business Leader of the Year, for his work evolving the company from pure manufacturing into a complete "one-stop shop" for anyone seeking steel workshop and storage solutions.
Bob Dow, of the awards' lead partner Business Link, commented: "All this evening's winners - and Clive in particular - are a great example to others, and show what fantastic business potential there is in all corners of Cornwall."
General Clothing Stores, whose "Wildlife" outlets can be found in Falmouth, St Ives, Penzance, Truro, Fowey and Padstow, also scored a double success. Their new, ethical clothing brand Seasalt was named Best Innovation in recognition of becoming the first UK fashion brand to achieve Soil Association organic status, while joint Managing Director Neil Chadwick picked up Entrepreneur of the Year.
Michael Beadel, of Stephens & Scown, who sponsored the Entrepreneur of the Year award, said: "The high level of quality shown by the entries to the Cornwall Business Awards bodes well for the future of business in the county. We were excited by the innovation and enthusiasm shown by entrants in our category - Entrepreneur of the Year. With their drive and vision the future of business in Cornwall looks very bright indeed."
Another notable winner was Pendennis Shipyard, whose introduction of a new refit service has attracted £4.5 million in new revenue, increased the workforce by 24% in a single year and led to the training of 20 apprentices in a new Marine Skills Centre. The move, which has seen "super yacht" owners choose Falmouth over more traditional refit locations on the Mediterranean, won Best Diversification, and was named as a runner up in the Export and Marketing categories.
Graham Boulton, of Robinson Reed Layton, who sponsored the Best Diversification award, said: "The standard of entries was exceptionally high, and it was a difficult yet enjoyable task to judge. We were particularly heartened by the quality of entry in our category - diversification - which showed that Cornish businesses have the innovation and know-how to develop and succeed. Everyone who made it to the final should be congratulated for exemplifying what it is that makes excellent business in Cornwall."
Also among the winners were: Lucy Cokes of Tolvaddon-based Online Marketing experts Neutralize, who earned the accolade Young Business Person of the Year; Happy Days Nurseries, which now runs some 20 sites from its Newquay head office and accepted Business Improvement Through People; and Truro's Amsoft UK, which develops business software for several high-profile clients and was named Best New Business in Cornwall.
Falfish was named Best Exporter for its 111% increase in fish sales to five European countries, while Furniss Foods won Marketing Strategy of the Year, property software specialists CFP Software collected Best Use of Technology, and Clearwood Joinery received Growth Strategy of the Year.
Lizzie Beesley, of BT, which sponsored the Growth Strategy of the Year award remarked: "The sheer diversity of the winners is impressive - businesses of all sizes, sectors and approaches - and they all the share the drive, creativity and awareness that characterise all that is best about Cornish business as a whole. We're delighted to be involved."
The Isles of Scilly were not overlooked, as St Martin's flower supplier Churchtown Farm won the Customer Focus award for its success in exceeding customer expectations in a highly competitive market.
Cornwall Enterprise Managing Director, John Berry, added: "With so many companies enjoying success in such a variety of markets, it's clear that Cornish businesses are no longer confined to a local, or even regional, stage. The vision shown by this evening's winners will inspire others to follow in their footsteps, and signal to the rest of the world that Cornwall is a great place to do business."
Cornwall Business Awards Results
Best Use of Technology - Sponsored by actnow
Winner CFP Software www.cfp-software.co.uk
Runners Up
Blue Fish Business Promotions www.bluefishpromo.co.uk
Plumb Partners Group t/a Continental Underfloor Heating www.continental-ufh.com
Customer Focus - Sponsored by HSBC
Winner Churchtown Farm www.scillyflowers.co.uk
Runners Up
Plough to Plate www.ploughtoplate.co.uk
West Pharmaceutical Services www.westpharma.com
Best Exporter - Sponsored by Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and Industry and UK Trade and Investment
Winner Falmouth Fish Selling Company www.falfish.co.uk
Runners Up
Pendennis Shipyard Ltd www.pendennis.com
Hardmetal Engineering www.tungsten-carbide.com
Marketing Strategy of the Year - Sponsored by Ginsters
Winner Furniss Ltd www.furniss-foods.co.uk
Runners Up
Pendennis Shipyard Ltd www.pendennis.com
Blue Fish Promotions www.bluefishpromo.co.uk
Business Innovation of the Year - Sponsored by Combined Universities of Cornwall
Winner General Clothing Stores www.wildlifeonline.com
Runners Up
Blue Boats Powercats www.powercats.co.uk
Richfords, Fire and Flood Ltd www.richfords.co.uk
Best Diversification - Sponsored by Robinson Reed Layton
Winner Pendennis Shipyard Ltd www.pendennis.com
Runners Up
DP Engineering www.dpengineering.co.uk
Richfords, Fire and Flood Ltd www.richfords.co.uk
Growth Strategy of the Year - Sponsored by BT
Winner Clearwood UK www.clearwoodjoinery.co.uk
Runners Up
Plough to Plate www.ploughtoplate.co.uk
Check My File www.checkmyfile.com
Bott Ltd www.bottltd.co.uk
Business Improvement Through People - Sponsored by Cornwall Business School
Winner Happy Days South West Ltd www.happydaysnurseries.com
Runners Up
Cornwall Care www.cornwallcare.org
CFP Software Ltd www.cfp-software.co.uk
Best New Business in Cornwall - Sponsored by Cornwall Pure Business
Winner Amsoft UK www.amsoft-uk.co.uk
Runners Up
Cut 4 Cloth www.cut4cloth.co.uk
Treasure Trails www.treasuretrails.co.uk
Entrepreneur of the Year - Sponsored by Stephens and Scown Solicitors
Winner Neil Chadwick - General Clothing Company www.wildlifeonline.com
Runners Up
Rachel Jones - Fit n Fun Kids www.fitnfunkids.co.uk
Richard Freeborn - Kensa Engineering www.kensaengineering.com
Business Leader of the Year - Sponsored by Follett Stock
Winner Clive Woodward - Bott Ltd www.bottltd.co.uk
Runners Up
Chris Pauling - Proper Cornish Ltd www.propercornish.co.uk
Mathew Stevens - Mathew Stevens and Son www.mstevensandson.co.uk
Young Business Person of the Year - Sponsored by First
Winner Lucy Cokes - Neutralize www.neutralize.com
Runners Up
Justin Uglow - The Cornish Farmhouse Bacon Co.
Saswata Sanyal The Rowe Group www.rowegroup.co.uk
Winner of Winners - Sponsored by Business Link
Winner Clive Woodward (Bott Ltd)
Cornwall Pure Business is a service of Cornwall Enterprise