Wednesday
24
April
Welshpool firms win big at awards
29/09/2011 @ 11:34
Two Welshpool companies were big winners at the Powys 2011 Business of the Year awards announced this week.
Web developer Richard Glover-Davies (pictured) won the Young Entrepreneur Award for the second year running, and his company Gloversure was runner-up in the Small Business Award.And Welshpool company Castalum won the judges attention in winning the Growth Award in what was a great night for Montgomeryshire businesses after Makefast Ltd of Newtown was named the Business of the Year.
Mr Glover-Davies said he was “delighted” to have won the Young Entrepreneur prize.
"I'm really delighted to have won the award a second time, and it was a real honour just to have been short-listed for the Small Business award from so many entries and so many great businesses in Powys," he said.
The Powys Business Awards celebrate excellence in business in the county and bring recognition in the local and regional business communities. So popular are the awards - now in their third year, and organised by MWMG, Powys County Council and the Cambrian News - that entries this year had doubled from last year.
A total of 10 awards were handed out at the black tie dinner in Theatr Hafren on Tuesday. The full list of winners:
Social Enterprise/Charity Award (sponsored by Mid-Wales Housing Association Ltd)
* Winner: Beacon Creative, Brecon.
* Runners-up - Barnadoes, Newtown, and Family Crisis Centre, Newtown.
Judges said Beacon Creative provided disadvantaged people with opportunities to contribute to a thriving business. They had also diversified into running a popular and successful cafe.
Manufacturing Award (sponsored by Mid Wales Manufacturing Group)
* Winner: Makefast, Newtown.
* Runners-up: Welsh Oak Frame, Caersws; and Caerbont Automotive, Abercrave.
Judges said they were particularly impressed with the strategies employed by Makefast to meet the challenges of a tough market, which had seen Makefast Ltd invest in new markets and products, and staff development.
Growth Award (sponsored by Finance Wales)
* Winner: Castalum, Welshpool.
* Runners-up: Plant i, Machynlleth; Cellpath, Newtown; and Brecon Pharmaceuticals, Hay-on-Wye.
Judges said Castalum Ltd was able to recover from the brink of disaster after its original US parent went bankrupt, followed closely by their single largest customer. Castalum's recovery and growth, with the help of loyal staff, was described as outstanding, leading to a doubling of the original 2009 workforce.
Young Entrepreneur Award (sponsored by Cambrian News and Brecon and Radnor Express)
* Winner: Gloversure, Welshpool.
* Runners-up - Active 8, Newtown; and Select Security, Crickhowell.
Judges gave this award to Gloversure for a second time because they felt Richard Glover- Davies was an exceptional individual who in a few short years in business has achieved more than many who have been in business for decades.
Start Up Award (sponsored by County Times)
* Winner: The Knighton Hotel, Knighton.
* Runners-up: Select Security, Crickhowell; Sky Energy, Four Crosses, and Checkers, Montgomery.
Judges said the formidable husband and wife team of Paul and Rowena Williams had, despite numerous setbacks, created a showcase hotel in Knighton Hotel with excellent facilities, including a soon-to-be-opened cinema and health spa.
Training Award (sponsored by Coleg Powys)
* Winner: Broadcrown, Newtown.
* Runners-up - Cantref, Brecon; and Traditional Building Co, Llanigon.
Judges were impressed by a comprehensive training regime for the company's staff at Broadcrown.
Small Business Award (sponsored by Turner Peachey, Chartered Accountants)
* Winner: Plant i, Machynlleth.
* Runners-up - Gloversure, Welshpool; and Skye Instruments, Llandrindod Wells.
Judges noted a growing portfolio of customers at Plant i, and a reputation for innovative solutions, an impressive growth rate, strong leadership and inclusion of all the team in the decision-making process.
Leadership Award (sponsored by Leadership & Management Wales)
* Winner Victoria Humpherston of Abbey Cwm Hir Hall, Llandrindod Wells.
* Runners-up - Tim Gudgeon of Ontrac, Newtown; Andrew Barker of Mangar International, Presteigne.
Judges felt Victoria had persuaded others to do extraordinary things, by acquiring a large mansion and converting it into an unusual tourist attraction. The restoration project took 13 years and the end result is testimony to the hidden talents of people of the surrounding area and the ability of Victoria to harness the skills.
Tourism Award (sponsored by Tourism Partnership Mid Wales)
Winner: The Metropole, Llandrindod Wells.
Runners-up: Cross Foxes, Dolgellau; Gwesty Cymru, Aberystwyth, and Cantref, Brecon.
Judges said The Metropole had been open for over 100 years and for much of this period had been in the ownership of the Baird-Murray family who still run the hotel today. Owners have recently upgraded and added a superb health spa. What impressed was the way the business sought to keep reinventing itself to meet a changing client profile, whilst never losing individual attention.
Overall Business of the Year Award (sponsored by Powys County Council) – winner Makefast Ltd, Newtown.
PICTURE: Richard Glover-Davies winner of Young Entrepreneur award with Beverley Thomas of Cambrian News and Brecon & Radnor Express.
The Powys Business Awards celebrate excellence in business in the county and bring recognition in the local and regional business communities. So popular are the awards - now in their third year, and organised by MWMG, Powys County Council and the Cambrian News - that entries this year had doubled from last year.
A total of 10 awards were handed out at the black tie dinner in Theatr Hafren on Tuesday. The full list of winners:
Social Enterprise/Charity Award (sponsored by Mid-Wales Housing Association Ltd)
* Winner: Beacon Creative, Brecon.
* Runners-up - Barnadoes, Newtown, and Family Crisis Centre, Newtown.
Judges said Beacon Creative provided disadvantaged people with opportunities to contribute to a thriving business. They had also diversified into running a popular and successful cafe.
Manufacturing Award (sponsored by Mid Wales Manufacturing Group)
* Winner: Makefast, Newtown.
* Runners-up: Welsh Oak Frame, Caersws; and Caerbont Automotive, Abercrave.
Judges said they were particularly impressed with the strategies employed by Makefast to meet the challenges of a tough market, which had seen Makefast Ltd invest in new markets and products, and staff development.
Growth Award (sponsored by Finance Wales)
* Winner: Castalum, Welshpool.
* Runners-up: Plant i, Machynlleth; Cellpath, Newtown; and Brecon Pharmaceuticals, Hay-on-Wye.
Judges said Castalum Ltd was able to recover from the brink of disaster after its original US parent went bankrupt, followed closely by their single largest customer. Castalum's recovery and growth, with the help of loyal staff, was described as outstanding, leading to a doubling of the original 2009 workforce.
Young Entrepreneur Award (sponsored by Cambrian News and Brecon and Radnor Express)
* Winner: Gloversure, Welshpool.
* Runners-up - Active 8, Newtown; and Select Security, Crickhowell.
Judges gave this award to Gloversure for a second time because they felt Richard Glover- Davies was an exceptional individual who in a few short years in business has achieved more than many who have been in business for decades.
Start Up Award (sponsored by County Times)
* Winner: The Knighton Hotel, Knighton.
* Runners-up: Select Security, Crickhowell; Sky Energy, Four Crosses, and Checkers, Montgomery.
Judges said the formidable husband and wife team of Paul and Rowena Williams had, despite numerous setbacks, created a showcase hotel in Knighton Hotel with excellent facilities, including a soon-to-be-opened cinema and health spa.
Training Award (sponsored by Coleg Powys)
* Winner: Broadcrown, Newtown.
* Runners-up - Cantref, Brecon; and Traditional Building Co, Llanigon.
Judges were impressed by a comprehensive training regime for the company's staff at Broadcrown.
Small Business Award (sponsored by Turner Peachey, Chartered Accountants)
* Winner: Plant i, Machynlleth.
* Runners-up - Gloversure, Welshpool; and Skye Instruments, Llandrindod Wells.
Judges noted a growing portfolio of customers at Plant i, and a reputation for innovative solutions, an impressive growth rate, strong leadership and inclusion of all the team in the decision-making process.
Leadership Award (sponsored by Leadership & Management Wales)
* Winner Victoria Humpherston of Abbey Cwm Hir Hall, Llandrindod Wells.
* Runners-up - Tim Gudgeon of Ontrac, Newtown; Andrew Barker of Mangar International, Presteigne.
Judges felt Victoria had persuaded others to do extraordinary things, by acquiring a large mansion and converting it into an unusual tourist attraction. The restoration project took 13 years and the end result is testimony to the hidden talents of people of the surrounding area and the ability of Victoria to harness the skills.
Tourism Award (sponsored by Tourism Partnership Mid Wales)
Winner: The Metropole, Llandrindod Wells.
Runners-up: Cross Foxes, Dolgellau; Gwesty Cymru, Aberystwyth, and Cantref, Brecon.
Judges said The Metropole had been open for over 100 years and for much of this period had been in the ownership of the Baird-Murray family who still run the hotel today. Owners have recently upgraded and added a superb health spa. What impressed was the way the business sought to keep reinventing itself to meet a changing client profile, whilst never losing individual attention.
Overall Business of the Year Award (sponsored by Powys County Council) – winner Makefast Ltd, Newtown.
PICTURE: Richard Glover-Davies winner of Young Entrepreneur award with Beverley Thomas of Cambrian News and Brecon & Radnor Express.
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