By Carole Dennett
The success of the Island’s business community was celebrated in style last night, at the Isle of Wight Chamber Business Awards sponsored by Wightfibre.
Double Olympic Gold medallist and TV presenter Shirley Robertson handed out the trophies at Cowes Yacht Haven, hosting the Island’s most prestigious event for the first time.
IOW Group was named Business of The Year, also winning the Technology & Innovation and Manufacturing & Export categories. Managing director, Brett Nicholls told the capacity crowd he was thrilled to receive three trophies in their first year at the Chamber Awards.
The President’s Cup for Outstanding Contribution was presented to Rachael Randall, the founder of HTP Apprenticeship College, recognising her business success as well as her support for the wider economy as part of the Solent LEP, Visit Isle of Wight and Solent Partners. Rachael spoke movingly of her passion for the Isle of Wight and her thrill at seeing the drive and success of Island young people.
Nosy Agency won the Environment & Sustainability award, as well as being named Member of The Year by the Chamber, recognising the company’s support to the Chamber team.
Quay Arts won the newly introduced Creative Impact award. Other winners were Wight Coaches, Acorn Interiors, W Hurst & Sons, Datum Electronics, UKSA, BeCalmed, Luccombe Hall Hotel, JR Zone, PC Consultants, Nettlecombe Farm, MedTec Design and Island Holiday Company.
In all 42 Island businesses were nominated at this year’s event, which was once again supported by WightFibre as headline sponsor.
Start Up Business of the Year – sponsored by PC Consultants
Nominated: Cherry Godfrey, Wight Coaches and Wight Vets
Winner: Wight Coaches
Highly Commended: Wight Vets
Entrepreneurship Award – sponsored by Liz Earle
Nominated: Acorn Interiors, Julia Tanner Art and Wed & Prosper
Winner: Acorn Interiors
Customer Service Award – sponsored by Red Funnel
Nominated: Grace’s Bakery, Preziosa Dachshunds, Southern Vectis, W Hurst & Son and Wed & Prosper
Winner: W Hurst & Son
Growth Business of the Year – sponsored by WRS Systems
Nominated: Datum Electronics, PC Consultants and Wight Coaches
Winner: Datum Electronics
Highly Commended: PC Consultants
Highly Commended: Wight Coaches
Community Award – sponsored by Moore (South) LLP
Nominated: Mountbatten, Tidal Family Support, UKSA, Vectis Radio and Wessex Cancer Support
Winner: UKSA
Environment and Sustainability Award – sponsored by IFPL
Nominated: Carisbrooke Shipping Ltd, GKN Aerospace Cowes and Nosy Agency
Winner: Nosy Agency
Highly Commended: Carisbrooke Shipping Ltd
Training and Development Award – sponsored by JR Zone
Nominated: BeCalmed, Top Mops and Vestas Blades UK
Winner: BeCalmed
Hospitality Business of the Year – sponsored by Cherry Godfrey
Nominated: The Blacksmiths, Island Holiday Company and Luccombe Hall Hotel
Winner: Luccombe Hall Hotel
Highly Commended: Island Holiday Company
Technology and Innovation Award – sponsored by Lifeline Alarms
Nominated: Abundance Movement, Innovative Physics, IOW Group and XRD Nano
Winner: IOW Group
Tourism and Leisure Business of the Year – sponsored by Visit Isle of Wight
Nominated: Blackgang Chine, JR Zone and The Terrace Rooms & Wine
Winner: JR Zone
Creative Impact Award – sponsored by Medina Publishing
Nominated: Monkton Arts, Quay Arts and Visit Isle of Wight
Winner: Quay Arts
Employer of the Year – sponsored by Diametric Technical Ltd
Nominated: Datum Electronics, PC Consultants and Vestas Blades UK
Winner: PC Consultants
Manufacturing and Export Business of the Year – sponsored by GKN Aerospace Cowes
Nominated: IOW Group and MedTec Design
Winner: IOW Group
Business Social Impact Award – sponsored by WightFibre
Nominated: Nettlecombe Farm, RenoDrain, Right At Home and W Hurst & Son
Winner: Nettlecombe Farm
Micro Business of the Year – sponsored by Gurit
Nominated: JR Zone, MedTec Design, Nosy Agency
Winner: MedTec Design
Highly Commended: Nosy Agency
Small Business of the Year – sponsored by Wightlink
Nominated: Acorn Interiors, Island Holiday Company, Richardsons Yacht Services and Seaview Hotel
Winner: Island Holiday Company
Member of the Year: Nosy Agency
President’s Cup – Outstanding Contribution : Rachael Randall
Business of the Year: IOW Group