The finalists of the 2014 Caerphilly Business Forum Awards have been announced.
Organisers have said more industry sectors than ever before make up the list with the introduction of four new categories.
Noddlepod, Bomper Studio and Blackwood Embedded Solutions are among those joining the finalist line up this year following the introduction of the all new Innovation Award, whilst Craft Wales, Nuaire and Ultimate Arcade Cabinets have been named the first ever finalists in the Manufacturing in Action category.
Meanwhile Tracey Walters of Bon Bon Buddies, Mike Webb of Castle Bikes and Richard Diack of Diack Ltd are first to be in the running for Employee of the Year, and Gareth Morris of Ayjay Group, Caerphilly Council Trainee Countryside Ranger Sophie Hawkridge and Alex Lewis of Axiom are all finalists in the first ever Apprentice of the Year category.
Blackwood Embedded Solutions, Building Management Solutions and Xibo have also been shortlisted for the Business of the Year with 25 employees or fewer, whilst Rumm, Nuaire and Joyner Group will be competing for the Business of the Year with more than 25 employees Award.
Alison Price from Care One 2 One, Annie Finlayson from PHS Group and Sarah Cartwright from Bon Bon Buddies are all in the running for the Women in Business Award, while Hapus Ice Cream and Hallets Real Cider have also been shortlisted for the Contribution to the Rural Economy Award alongside BPI Recycled Products.
Taking place on November 21 at Bryn Meadows and hosted by BBC Wales Today’s Jamie Owens, the awards will shine a light on businesses of all sizes and sectors based in Caerphilly County Borough and are open to anyone to attend, offering guests wider opportunities to network and collaborate too.
Denise Lovering, Chair of Caerphilly Business Forum, said the Forum was delighted with the wealth of nominations received, especially with regards to the four new categories after they were created with the ever-changing landscape of businesses operating within Caerphilly County in mind.
She said: “The Caerphilly area has traditionally been one of South Wales’ industrial powerhouses but the face of business across Wales and indeed the UK is changing, and as a board we felt it was time the awards line up was amended to reflect this.
“We are really pleased this has so clearly been recognised by those businesses operating within the Caerphilly area, and that as a result we now have the opportunity to highlight the achievements of a wider cross section of business based in Caerphilly than ever before.
“Over the last 13 years, the Caerphilly Business Awards have become one of Wales’ most respected business award programmes and we’re delighted to see businesses from all sectors and high-quality enterprises coming forward to showcase their work.
“The Forum would like to extend its warmest congratulations not only to those companies shortlisted to win an award this year, but to all those who entered – as ever the standard of nominees was incredibly high and there is so much good work to be proud of going on in Caerphilly County today.”
In addition to those categories already listed, a Premier Award will also be given to the business deemed the ‘overall winner’ in partnership with leading accountancy firm Broomfield & Alexander.
Held in association with Coleg Gwent, the awards are also taking place with the support of sponsors Norgine pharmaceuticals, Wales’ largest training provider ACT, commercial vehicle sales and support firm Glenside Commercials, rural development programme Caerffili Cwm a Mynydd, the Federation of Small Businesses, IT firms Dell and Excellence IT, Wales’ largest independent accountancy firm Broomfield & Alexander, insurance brokers Thomas Carroll, Caerphilly County Borough Council and Finance Wales.
Most recently the awards have also attracted three new Bronze sponsors too – Bedwas Self Storage, Natwest and business consultancy Hwyl.