THE finalists have been announced in this year’s prestigious Somerset Business Awards, with companies, charities and individuals from across the county vying for the honours.
Judges faced a tough time whittling down a record-breaking number of entries in this year’s awards, which are run by the Somerset Chamber of Commerce.
The 2019 finalists come from all corners of the county, from Bridgwater, Taunton, Frome, Axbridge, Evercreech, Edington, Wheddon Cross and Wincanton, to Wellington, Sparkford, Shepton Mallet, Roadwater, Watchet, Weston-super-Mare, Yeovil, Glastonbury, Congresbury and Highbridge.
This year is the 15th anniversary of the awards and for the first time the grand final will be held at the Winter Gardens Pavilion, in Weston-super-Mare on October 25.
The evening will again be hosted by Somerset cricket all-rounder Peter Trego.
Somerset Chamber Chief Executive Stephen Henagulph thanked everyone who had entered the awards and said the most hotly contested categories had included Investing in Somerset, Small Business of the Year, Young Employee of the Year and New Business of the Year.
He said: “It was great to see so many entries from both Chamber members and non-members from all corners of the county and representing a wide range of sectors and industries.
“These awards are the largest in Somerset and are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate all that is great about our diverse business community and I’m looking forward to the grand final next month.”
The 2019 finalists are:
Albert Goodman Family Business of the Year (sponsored by Albert Goodman):
Briarwood Products, Highbridge
Shearwell Data Limited, Wheddon Cross
Sparks and Daughters Ltd, Taunton
Best Use of Technology (sponsored by Porter Dodson):
Clear-flow Ltd, Yeovil
Orbital Media, Taunton
Somerdale International, Wellington
Small Business of the Year (sponsored by TDA):
PVS Group Ltd, Bridgwater
Race At Your Pace Ltd, Taunton
Somerset Exec Travel Limited, Taunton
Medium Business of the Year (sponsored by BT):
PRM Waste Systems Ltd, Wellington
Somerdale International, Wellington
Sycamore Process Engineering Limited, Sparkford
Large Business of the Year (sponsored by PKF Francis Clark):
Bridges Electrical Engineers Ltd, Midsomer Norton
Marston Foods, Frome
The Flavourworks, Wincanton
Charity of the Year (sponsored by Clarke Willmott):
Arc, Taunton
Somerset Community Foundation, Shepton Mallet
Weston Hospicecare Ltd, Weston-super-Mare
Employer of the Year (sponsored by Elite Staffing Solutions):
Lloyd and Whyte, Taunton
Netitude Ltd, Frome
Singer Instruments, Roadwater
Investing in Somerset (sponsored by Hinkley Point C):
Doubletree by Hilton, Congresbury
Melhuish & Sanders Ltd, Glastonbury
MMES 2012 Limited, Bridgwater
New Business of the Year Award (sponsored by Teapot Creative):
Race At Your Pace Ltd, Taunton
Sopha, Highbridge
Taunton Doctors Ltd, Taunton
Outstanding Achievement (sponsored by Weston College):
Digital Taunton, Taunton
Elliot’s Touch, Watchet
New Leaf, Bridgwater
Private and Public Collaboration (sponsored by Wessex Reserve Forces & Cadets Association):
Bridgwater & Taunton College, Bridgwater
Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP), Wellington
YMCA Dulverton Group, Taunton
Service Excellence (sponsored by Brook Financial Management):
Netitude Ltd, Frome
SDS Limited, Edington
The Young Clinic (Christopher Young Opticians), Shepton Mallet
Somerset Manufacturer and Producer Award (sponsored by Bibby Financial):
Hullabaloos Lemonade Ltd, Axbridge
James Chocolates, Evercreech
Shearwell Data Limited, Wheddon Cross
Young Business Employee of the Year (sponsored by Clarks International):
Bridgwater & Taunton College – Melissa Houldsworth, Bridgwater
Quedam Shopping Centre – Aimee-Jade Kingdon, Yeovil
Hippychick Ltd – Scott Bateman, Bridgwater
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