Cornwall Business Awards 2019 finalists revealed
The finalists for the Cornwall Business Awards 2019 have been revealed, featuring 38 businesses from Liskeard to Penzance and covering a wide range of sizes and sectors.
Helston based children’s clothing company Frugi and leading software specialists Bluefruit Software are in the running for two awards whilst Kernow Fires lead the way in the people categories, with finalist places for Claire Mason as Young Business Person of the Year and their MD Simon Breckon as Business Leader.
It seems being a Great Place to Work is key to success, with each of the finalists in this category also grabbing a second finalist place. This includes digital accountancy Whyfield, who’s MD Laura Whyte is also on the list as Business Leader of the Year.
The Awards are organised and hosted by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth and Skills Hub, a signposting service that helps businesses work smarter and grow by finding support or developing their teams through training and staff development. Communications Manager, Kirsty Miles-Musgrave, comments:
“With a record number of entries this year, we have been blown away by the quality and range of businesses that have taken the time to apply. For every category there was only a few points difference between the top three, which is a credit to how many great companies we have in the local economy.
“Our expert panel of 29 judges have reviewed, deliberated and scored the entries and every business on our finalist list is among the best in Cornwall.”
Sara Pugh from Eight Wire, one of those tasked with scoring, said “Judging the awards for the first time I can see what an incredibly hard task it is to choose between the fantastic and diverse businesses, and everyone deserves credit for putting together great entries. As a former winner I also feel even more proud to have been top of the pile last year and I know everyone going to the Awards in June will have a great time celebrating and I can’t wait to join them!”
Other leading figures in the business community judging the Awards were Ann VanDerMeulen from the FSB, Toby Allies from Pendennis Shipyard and Martin Johnston from Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group.
Categories making their first appearance this year include Product of the Year, Circular Economy Award and Sole Trader of the Year.
For the first time the winners are still waiting to be chosen and the finalist businesses will make a pitch for the top spot during Showdown Day on 12th June, where a panel get the chance to quiz the business on their entry, before the winners are announced at the glamorous awards night at St Mellion International Resort on 27th June.
For more information, a full list of the finalists and to listen to our announcement podcast visit www.cornwallbusinessawards.co.uk
Finalist Businesses
Ambassador of the Year sponsored by Corserv
CIS (UK) Ltd
The School for Social Entrepreneurs, Cornwall
Unmanned Survey Solutions Ltd
Best Business with a Purpose sponsored by Eden Project
Coastline Housing
Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust
St Petrocs
Best Customer Service sponsored by St Austell Brewery
Blue Flame Heating
Perfect Stays
Vision Independent Financial Planning Ltd
Best Family Business sponsored by St Austell Printing Company
Colwith Farm Distillery Ltd
Microtest Ltd.
Treyone Woodcraft Ltd
Best Marketing Campaign sponsored by CEG
Beach Retreats
DCA Public Relations
Triskel Marine Ltd
Best New Business sponsored by Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership
Pitched
St Blazey Recycle Reuse Resale CIC
Teacup Tearoom
Best Place to Work sponsored by Cornwall College Business Training
Bluefruit Software
Frugi
Whyfield
Business Leader of the Year sponsored by Unlocking Potential
Laura Whyte MD of Whyfield
Sean White owner of WeSUP
Simon Breckon MD of Kernow Fires
Circular Economy sponsored by Tevi
Cultivate Cornwall CIC
Odyssey Innovation Ltd
Tinkebu
Exporter of the Year sponsored by Cornwall Trade and Investment
Flann Microwave Ltd
Frugi
Ideal Foods Ltd
Growth Business of the Year sponsored by Access to Finance
Bluefruit Software
Fluid Branding
St Ewe Eggs
Product of the Year sponsored by Business Cornwall
Mappix for their education performance tracking software
Oltco Ltd for “Recycle Bound” driveway solution using waste plastic
The Cornish Bed Company for their Maud Bed
Sole Trader of the Year sponsored by The Growth Hub
Lauren Webb – Roscoe Communications
Nick Eagles – Sports 4 Tots
Rachel Picken – Agile PR and Communications Ltd
Young Business Person of the Year sponsored by Truro and Penwith College
Claire Mason from Kernow Fires
Katherine George owner of Oh So Social
Samantha Charles owner of Float Digital
