business@bridgend Awards 2016 Special Edition (English)

01656 815322 | business@bridgend.gov.uk Economic Development Unit

business.bridgend.gov.uk

Excellence unmasked....

Business excellence winners revealed at awards!

The leading lights of the Bridgend business community were celebrated at the 2016 Bridgend Business Forum Awards ceremony and gala dinner recently.

Almost 180 business people gathered at the Coed-y-Mwstwr Hotel, Bridgend to discover who the all-important winners were at the fourth annual business awards supported by Bridgend County Borough Council and ROCKWOOL. The winners in each category were: • ‘Business Student of the Year’ – Christopher Lloyd, Whatchrisdoes • ‘Start-up Business of the Year’ – The Food Shed CIC • ‘Service Business of the Year’ – Smart Education Wales Ltd • ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ – Jay Ball, Datakom Ltd • ‘Manufacturing Business of the Year’ – Customised Sheet Metal Ltd • ‘Bridgend Tourism Business of the Year’ – The Coed-yMwstwr Hotel • ‘Innovative Business of the Year – Spectrum Technologies Plc • ‘Creative Industries Award’ – Wales Interactive Ltd The Food Shed scooped the coveted title of ‘Bridgend Business of the Year 2016’.

Warren Dudding, Marketing Director at ROCKWOOL, main sponsor of this year’s awards said: “ROCKWOOL were delighted to sponsor the Bridgend Business Forum Awards 2016. We had the pleasure of awarding the Bridgend Business of the Year Award to The Food Shed, a fantastic enterprise offering a meal delivery service across Bridgend and neighbouring Neath Port Talbot.

“Not only do they aim to support healthy and independent living, they have also developed a partnership with HMI Parc Prison to provide training, qualifications and work experience to prisoners to help them with employment opportunities on release. They are a wonderful example of how business can deliver social value, and we wish them every success as they grow.’

Roxane Dacey, Managing Director at The Food Shed said: “Winning both ‘Start-Up Business of the Year’ and ‘Bridgend Business of the Year 2016’ was a surreal, emotional but most importantly fantastic experience! We are so proud of what we have achieved so far and this award will contribute towards strengthening our service, sustainability and development into the future.

“It was an excellent evening and a brilliant opportunity for us to thank our staff for making our service what it has become; an important service for older, vulnerable adults delivered by a caring and compassionate team.

“Thank you to all the team involved in ‘The Shed’ kitchen within Parc Prison (G4S) for being such excellent partners; being committed and working so hard to produce our high quality, delicious meals”.

A new award was introduced this year; ‘The Patron’s Commendation Award 2016’. The award was presented to

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Spectrum Technologies Plc by the Patron of the Bridgend Business Forum, Carwyn Jones AM. Carwyn commented: “Another very successful awards evening and I would like to add my congratulations to all the winners. We know how important businesses are, not just as employers, but as drivers of the local economy. These awards are an opportunity to celebrate our very successful local businesses and to recognise their continuing investment in local people and the local economy. I was also delighted to present the first ever Patron’s Commendation Award.”

Bridgend County Borough Council Leader, Councillor Mel Nott, OBE said: "I can honestly say that we are privileged in this county borough to host more than our fair share of outstanding businesses.

“These awards have brought to the forefront not only major global organisations with a long-established and very successful track record such as Spectrum Technologies Plc but also younger, dynamic businesses such as The Food Shed CIC which are starting out on their business journey and are already contributing significantly to the local economy.

“The council is committed to nurturing enterprise in the county borough and I’m proud that we can play our part, through the substantial support we provide to enable the valuable work of the Bridgend Business Forum to continue.”

Ian Jessopp, Chair of Bridgend Business Forum said: “At the risk of sounding cliché, once again we have been extremely impressed with the quality and calibre of not only all winners but all entrants to this year’s business awards. Excellence remains at the heart of these awards, unveiling hidden gems in our business community, distinguishing enterprises from their competitors and proving them worthy of recognition.

“These businesses are the backbone of our economy, offering much needed investment, job opportunities and revenue to the local economy. I’d like to wish them all every continued success in the future.”

BBC news correspondent Sian Lloyd hosted the ceremony which was sponsored by ROCKWOOL, Berry Smith Lawyers, Bridgend College, Bridgend County Borough Council, Business in Focus, eef the manufacturer’s organisation, Finance Wales, Graham Paul Chartered Accountants, Handelsbanken, kksolutions, United Graphic Design and SME Finance Partners.

A charity collection in aid of the Mayor’s Charity Appeal 2016/17 raised a grand total of £780 for this year’s nominated charities; Heronsbridge Summer School, Bridgend, Kidney Wales Cymru Foundation, Princess of Wales Hospital and Crossroads Care, Bridgend.

For more information on the forum and to view the official photos and videos from the Bridgend Business Forum Awards 2016 night visit: www.facebook.com/bridgendbusinessforum or follow on Twitter @bridgendforum

Bridgend Business of the Year 2016 & Start-up Business of the Year The Food Shed CIC Start-up Business of the Year Runners-up: Sadie & Frank’s Day Nursery Ltd, Strut Your Paws.

The Food Shed CIC with Sian Lloyd and Warren Dudding, ROCKWOOL Ltd

Business Student of the Year Christopher Lloyd, Whatchrisdoes “It's a real honour to win ‘Bridgend Business Student of the Year’. I went to University to become a film student, to refine skills I'd taught myself through the years, so I wouldn't give myself any excuses for not doing something. I'm earning money from what I love doing and this award is a huge endorsement that I’m going in the right direction. It's an accolade that I will be proud to put on my CV. Massive thanks to Ruth Rowe, Clare Pompa and Ian Mallett of Bridgend College. Also thanks to Business in Focus for sponsoring the award.”

Chris Lloyd @whatchrisdoes

Sian Lloyd, Christopher Lloyd, Whatchrisdoes, Ruth Rowe, Katy Chamberlain

Service Business of the Year Smart Education Wales Ltd “We are so pleased, excited and immensely proud to have won ‘Service Business of the Year 2016’. To be shortlisted was an honour, but to have won is an absolute privilege. The dedication and loyalty from both staff and pupils at the learning centre is second to none and it's wonderful to have that recognised and praised with this outstanding award!

“A huge thank you to Bridgend Business Forum for a fantastic, glitzy, seamlessly run evening and of course for making Smart Education an award-winning business!”

Victoria Williams, Smart Education Wales Ltd Runners-up: Scott Waste Ltd, Datakom Ltd. Sian Lloyd, Victoria Williams, Smart Education Wales Ltd and Mark Standley, Handelsbanken

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Entrepreneur of the Year Jay Ball, Datakom Ltd “I am so thrilled to have won the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award. It was amazing to be shortlisted last year and to actually win this year is incredible. The recognition I have received via our social media has been insane and unexpected. I always strive to be the best and help develop others - it’s an honour to receive such an award. The evening was fantastic and hugely enjoyable!”

Jay Ball, Datakom Ltd Runners-up: Forsee Group, Scott Waste Ltd.

Sian Lloyd, Jay Ball, Datakom Ltd, Leanna Davies, Finance Wales Plc

Manufacturing Business of the Year Customised Sheet Metal Ltd “We are delighted to have been awarded the accolade of ‘Manufacturing Business of the Year’ for the second year running. This award was not expected, but nevertheless received with much gratitude. We see it has recognition of our commitment as a competent and reputable employer in the County Borough of Bridgend.

CSM pride themselves on continual hard work and investment necessary to be a profitable and beneficial employer in the Bridgend area. We strive to deliver a quality service complimented with unique solutions to customer requirements. We are also pleased to be a part of these prestigious awards.”

Malcolm Pearce, Customised Sheet Metal Ltd Runners-up: Ecokeg Europe Sian Lloyd, Malcolm Pearce, Customised Sheet Metal Ltd and Alison Hoy, Berry Smith Lawyers

Bridgend Tourism Business of the Year The Coed-y-Mwstwr Hotel “Winning this award has meant so much to us all. It was a real boost to the team! Having hosted the event for the past four years, we were delighted and proud to have been recognised for our passion, commitment and dedication in all that we do.

I would like to thank the council, Bridgend Business Forum and all the sponsors for hosting such an amazing event, and for recognising some truly great businesses doing great things within the Bridgend area. These awards are not only motivational but also act as a reminder as to what’s available on our own doorstep. By raising your company’s profile, they raise the county borough’s profile.”

Melanie Hancock, General Manager, Coed-Y-Mwstwr Hotel Runners-up: Best Western Heronston Hotel, Parc Slip Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre

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The Coed-y-Mwstwr Hotel with Council leader, Councillor Mel Nott, OBE

Innovative Business of the Year Spectrum Technologies Plc “We are truly delighted to have scooped these two awards from the Bridgend Business Forum. Spectrum has been at the leading edge of industrial laser technology since its foundation in 1989, supplying state-of-the-art manufacturing solutions to the international aerospace and electronics industries. Our recent developments have been aimed at introducing new laser based technology for the automotive sector for the manufacture of electric vehicle engines. We have won two high profile orders for this from Volkswagen for use in the production of their Audi A3 e-tron and Golf GTE hybrid vehicles and it is very pleasing to have our efforts in this area recognised with the ‘Innovative Business of the Year Award’” Dr Peter Dickinson, Chairman and CEO, Spectrum Technologies Plc Sian Lloyd, Spectrum Technologies Plc, Paul Byard, EEF Wales

Runners-up: ISA Training, The Food Shed CIC

Creative Industries Award Wales Interactive Ltd “We’re so proud to be winners of the Bridgend Business Forum’s ‘Creative Industries Award 2016’. It’s always flattering to receive any nomination but even more special when it’s from your local business community. We’ve been fortunate to be shortlisted in the forum awards for the last three years now and it’s become one the highlights of the year for us. I would definitely encourage more Bridgend businesses to step forward and get involved with the awards. It’s a great showcase of local entrepreneurs and a jolly good night out!”

David Banner, Managing Director Wales Interactive Ltd Runners-up: Daydream Education Ltd, Customised Sheet Metal Ltd Sian Lloyd, David Banner, Wales Interactive Ltd with Robert Evans, Bridgend College

The Patron’s Commendation Award Spectrum Technologies Plc “We are also exceptionally pleased to be the first recipient of ‘The Patron’s Commendation Award’, reflecting our contribution to the local area over time.

We have been based in Bridgend since start-up and have been able to build up an excellent team of employees as well as developing a strong local supply chain over the years. Together they have been instrumental in helping us develop and grow our business through difficult as well as good times. We are particularly proud of our export achievements, as noted by the First Minister, with over 95 per cent of sales going to export on an ongoing basis, which has been recognised with multiple Queen’s Awards for Export.”

Sian Lloyd, with Patron’s Commendation Award 2016 winners, Spectrum Technologies Plc and Carwyn Jones, AM

Dr Peter Dickinson, Chairman and CEO, Spectrum Technologies Plc

Economic Development Unit

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