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Caerphilly Business Club was relaunched and rebranded at the start of the coronavirus pandemic – and now it has celebrated the resilience of businesses during the pandemic at its first in-person awards since 2018.
Formerly-known as Caerphilly Business Forum, the group relaunched in May 2020 in a bid to inject new life into the networking group.
The winners collected their awards at a ceremony at Bryn Meadows Golf Hotel and Spa, near Maesycwmmer, on Friday, November 26.
What is Caerphilly Business Club?
Caerphilly Business Club, which was formerly known as Caerphilly Business Forum until 2020, is a networking group for businesses within Caerphilly County Borough.
It’s aim is to support, promote and connect businesses within the area.
The award winners were chosen by Caerphilly Business Club’s board members, with the ceremony hosted by science communicator Huw James, from Pontllanfraith.
Fusion Occupational Health, which is based on Caerphilly Business Park and specialises in workplace wellbeing, health and safety, won two awards – was crowned Medium Business of the Year, and also won the Innovation Through Covid award.
Clare Hurley, Director of Customer Care at Fusion, said: “I absolutely can’t believe it. My team are amazing and deserve this accolade – they’ve shown a can-do attitude throughout Covid. It’s great.”
Meanwhile, the Small Business of the Year award was won by WRI Group, which is also based on Caerphilly Business Park.
The company investigates counterfeit goods on behalf of multinational companies, alongside police and trading standards.
Jordan Sargent, Business Development Manager at WRI Group, said: “It’s extremely humbling to win this award and to put something back into the Caerphilly economy.
“We employ people from the local area and it’s great to be recognised after a year of Covid.”
Apprentice of the Year Award winner Arjandeep Singh 
Small Business of the Year Award winner WRI Group 
Rural Economy Award winner Pencoed Fach Farm 
Innovation Through Covid Award winner Fusion Occupational Health 
Large Business of the Year Award winner Norgine 
Leadership in Business Award winner Rob Morris Groundworks 
Chairman’s Award winner Under the Oak Glamping 
Medium Business of the Year Award winner Fusion Occupational Health 
Chairman’s Award winner Mini Miners’ Club 
Start-up of the Year Award winner Fish Kitchen 1854
Pharmaceutical firm Norgine, which has a manufacturing plant in Tir y Berth, won Large Business of the Year.
Arjandeep Singh, of British Airways Interior Engineering, won Apprentice of the Year.
Elsewhere, Maesycwmmer chip shop Fish Kitchen 1854 won Start-up of the Year.
Owners Lee and Samantha Humphreys said it meant “everything” to win their award.
They said: “The local community has supported us all the way, they’ve been amazing.
“We felt a responsibility to feed the community during the pandemic. It was a weekly treat for many people.
“We were lucky enough to stay open. When Covid struck, we had to change our business model overnight.”
Meanwhile, Oakdale-based construction hub Rob Morris Groundworks won the Leadership in Business award.
Director Rob Morris said the award win was down to the “fantastic staff around me”.
He said the company, which has more than 100 employees, was “like a big work family”, and thanked staff, family and friends for their support.
Pencoed Fach Organic Farm, near Cefn Fforest, won the Rural Economy Award, while the Toybox Project won the Community Value award.
Under the Oak Glamping, which is based in Bedwas, and Ystrad Mynach-based not-for-profit day nursery Mini Miners’ Club were both named winners of the Chairman’s Award.
The Chairman’s award winners were chosen by Caerphilly Business Club chairman Matthew Tucker, who is the assistant principal at Coleg y Cymoedd.
Lydia Watts, who owns Under the Oak Glamping, said: “It’s nice to have recognition after a tough time for businesses, especially hospitality businesses. We’re really proud of the business we bring into the borough and putting Caerphilly on the map.”
Kellyanne Evans and Laura James, who run the Mini Miners’ Club, said: “We’re very community based. We’re like a family – the pandemic has made that even more so.
“This recognition is for the parents, children and team.
“For us, it’s all about supporting families and developing a support network, not profit.”
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The 2021 Caerphilly Business Club Award winners
Small Business of the Year, sponsored by Lenstec Optical Group
- WRI Group
Rural Economy Award, sponsored by Caerffili Cwm a Mynydd
- Pencoed Fach Farm
Medium Business of the Year, sponsored by JCP Solicitors
- Fusion Occupational Health
Innovation Through Covid, sponsored by Welsh ICE
- Fusion Occupational Health
Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by Educ8 Group
- Arjandeep Singh – British Airways Interior Engineering
Large Business of the Year, sponsored by Biotage
- Norgine
Community Value Award, sponsored by TownSq
- The Toybox Project
Leadership in Business, sponsored by Coleg Gwent
- Rob Morris – Rob Morris Groundwork
Startup of the Year, sponsored by Coleg y Cymoedd
- Fish Kitchen 1854
Chairman’s Award
- Mini Miners’ Club
- Under the Oak Glamping
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