Best of Cornish Businesses recognised at Cornwall Business Awards

20.05.11

Cornish businesses shone extra bright last night at the 6th annual Cornwall Business Awards.

The event which was organised by the Cornwall Development Company, and presented by Pete Waterman, recognised the best of Cornish Businesses in front of a 320-strong audience.

Shelterbox founder Tom Henderson, was named Winner of Winners at last nights award ceremony. The Cornish disaster relief charity also picked up Business Leader of the Year.

Helston based, organic children’s clothing firm Frugi, was the other big winner of the night, picking up three awards for Customer Focus, Best International Business and Most Creative Use of the Web.

Not far behind in the award count, was Falmouth based Fit’n’Fun Kids, which walked away with Best Employer and Excellence in Marketing.

Another Helston company, Fourth Element, a scuba equipment specialist, won the Best Diversification category, while Entrepreneur of the Year went to Julie Hewitt, of Rosedown Eggs, who achieved a five-fold improvement in sales.

Young Business Person of the Year went to 26-year-old Dan Parker, who turned his online system for university sports clubs into a flourishing mobile messaging firm Firetext Communications. Another electronic messaging company, Schoolcomms won Most Dynamic Growth Business.

Truro-based solar farm developer, Silicon Vineyard was named Best New Business in Cornwall, while Bodmin environmental social enterprise ReZolve collected the award for Best Third Sector Business.

Redruth-based Clearflow won Best Use of Technology, while Launceston-base Acaster Blades received Business Innovation of the Yearfor its heating and hot water system. The Young Enterprise Award went to a team from the Richard Lander School, wrapping up the main awards.

Recent winner of the Ignite Cornwall Business Plan Competition, baby feeding product company Sproggy, was also welcomed on stage to receive their prize for winning.

Cornwall Development Company’s chief executive Suzanne Bond said: “Tonight’s winners- indeed, all the finalists – have proven once again that Cornwall has the business talent, creativity and determination to take a staring role as the UK emerges from recession.”