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More than 350 people attended this year’s bigger and better Monmouthshire Business Awards last Friday night (October 6).

The gala dinner and presentation night at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport concluded a hugely-successful awards 2017 awards that saw a threefold increase in entries.

This year’s awards were expanded to cover the ‘old Monmouthshire’ – towns and cities that were part of the county prior to 1965.

The ‘back to the future’ approach opened the awards to entries from businesses beyond the current Monmouthshire county to Newport, Caerleon, Cwmbran, Ebbw Vale and Caerphilly.

Broadcaster Hywel James revealed this year’s winners when he hosted the gala night. Despite the increase in size this year, the awards retained their relaxed, friendly approach.

Mr James appeared on stage apparently fresh from being chased down ski slopes by gun-toting assassins in a James Bond spoof video. And the evening ended with the traditional and hilarious outtakes from the finalists’ video shoots.

The top award this year went to Newport-based timber firm Premier Forest Products, who were named Company of the Year.

And the funniest moment went to Excellence in Manufacturing winner HJ Weir Engineering of Chepstow, whose holidaying managing director Ross Weir accepted the award via a spoof live satellite video feed from Barbados.

MBA founder and director Janet Harris said:

“This was the biggest and best awards we have staged by far and the atmosphere at the gala dinner and presentation night was second to none.

“Everyone was supportive of every single nominee, and there was a real feeling that we were all there to celebrate the fantastic and innovative businesses operating in this area of Wales.

“Next year’s awards are already confirmed and the planning starts now.”

Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor of next year’s Monmouthshire Business Awards, which will take place on October 19, 2018, should call 01633 891514 or email: [email protected]

This year’s winners were:

• Company of the Year (sponsored by Hicks Logistics): Premier Forest Products, Newport. Also nominated: Tiny Rebel Brewing, Newport; Estuary Oils, Rogiet;

• Best Small Business (sponsored by Spectrum): Axis Chiropractic, Newport. Also nominated: King Financial Services, Pontypool; Welsh ICE, Caerphilly; Miracle Workers, Abergavenny.

• Excellence in Manufacturing (sponsored by Reid Lifting): HJ Weir Engineering, Chepstow. Also nominated: Keen Attachments, Caldicot; Capital Valley Plastics, Cwmavon.

• Hospitality, Travel and Tourism (sponsored by Celtic Manor Resort): Chepstow Racecourse. Also nominated; The Whitebrook, Monmouth; The Lion Hotel, Blaenavon.

• Excellence in Small Food and Drink Producers (sponsored by Monmouthshire Housing Association): Blaenafon Cheddar Company, Blaenavon. Also nominated: Tiny Rebel Brewing, Newport; White Castle Vineyard, Abergavenny.

• Young Apprentice (sponsored by Y Prentis): Ellie Curtis, Little Tigers Daycare, Rogiet. Also nominated: Russell Beale, Vinci, Newport; Chester Maclean Rowles, Lovell, Cardiff.

• New Business Start-Up (sponsored by Business in Focus): Help4Wales Foundation, Caerphilly. Also nominated: HMO Heaven, Newport; Horton’s Coffee House, Newport.

• Excellence in Innovation (sponsored by A2Z Computing): Capital Valley Plastics, Cwmavon. Also nominated: Siltbuster, Monmouth; Flame Protect UK, Abertillery.

• Young Entrepreneur (sponsored by Coleg Gwent): Michael McLeod, UniGreenScheme, Mamhilad. Also nominated: Emily Hicks, Emily Hicks Creative Design, Caerphilly; Owen Richards, Big Lemon Creative, Caerphilly.

• Excellence in Marketing (sponsored by Hello Starling): AluK, Chepstow. Also nominated: Axis Chiropractic, Newport; Impact School Improvement, Caerphilly.

• Excellence in Exporting and International Trade (sponsored by Monmouthshire Business Awards): Reid Lifting, Chepstow. Also nominated: Keen Attachments, Caldicot; HJ Weir Engineering, Chepstow.

Additional MBA sponsors this year were Torfaen County Borough Council, Broomfield Alexander, Chepstow Racing, AluK and Friars Walk.

The informal event marked the second year of the awards’ expansion to include the ‘old Monmouthshire’ – towns and cities that were part of the county prior to 1965.

Entries are accepted from businesses in Monmouthshire, Newport, Caerleon, Cwmbran, Ebbw Vale, Usk and Caerphilly.

MBA Founder and Director, Janet Harris, said:

“Horton’s Coffee House was a finalist in last year’s Monmouthshire Business Awards and in the year since we have got to know them and their community spirit which we feel is in keeping with the MBAs.

“When we were looking for a venue to launch in this year we felt that Horton’s was perfect.”

Award categories this year are:

• Excellence in Innovation
• Young Apprentice of the Year
• Young Entrepreneur
• Company of the Year
• Excellence in Marketing
• Hospitality, Travel and Tourism
• Excellence in Small Food and Drink Producers
• Best Small Business
• Excellence in Manufacturing
• Excellence in Export and International Trade
• New Business Start-Up

The deadline for applications is the Friday 6th July 2018 and the awards ceremony and gala dinner takes place at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport on Friday October 19th 2018.

There was a threefold increase in entries for the awards, which have been expanded this year to cover the ‘old Monmouthshire’ – towns and cities that were part of the county prior to 1965.

This year’s awards have gone ‘back to the future’ with entries accepted from businesses in Monmouthshire, Newport, Caerleon, Cwmbran, Ebbw Vale, Usk and Caerphilly.

Award winners will be revealed at a gala dinner and ceremony at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport on October 6, hosted by broadcaster Hywel James.

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