THE best of Dorset business was honoured at a glittering awards ceremony – which returned for the first time in four years.

The Dorset Business Awards, held at Bournemouth’s Hilton Hotel, celebrated the excellence and innovation of county companies.

It was the highlight of the Dorset Chamber’s first business festival, a four-day series of events including an expo and the Future of Business Conference.

A panel of independent experts was assembled to judge the entries from all sizes of business from a wide variety of sectors, competing for gongs in 10 categories.

Chamber chief executive officer, Ian Girling, said: “Our Business Festival was hugely successful and the awards were the highlight.

“We had more than 1,000 people attend over the four-day festival which was the most ambitious programme of events ever undertaken by the chamber.

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“It has been an incredibly challenging four years with the most unimaginable events taking place which created a tough climate in all sectors.

“But the festival created a real buzz within the business community and what is clear is the inspiring resilience, determination and innovation we see in Dorset businesses.”

He said the judges set the standard for the awards with a robust assessment process.

“The calibre of entry was incredibly high and it was a pleasure to see all types of company taking part – from SMEs and family businesses to large, global companies,” he added.

“My congratulations to all the winners and those who were shortlisted. We’re grateful to all those who entered and hope they’ll have another go next year.

“I’d like to say a huge thank you to our Premier Festival Partner Lester Aldridge and our Festival Partners Bournemouth and Poole College, Blue Sky Financial Planning, Dorset Council, The Dolphin Poole and YMCA Bournemouth.”

The winners at the Dorset Business Awards were:
Best new business – West Peak
Best place to work – Grapevine
Community award – Hendy Group
Customer experience – Wessex Internet
Environmental impact award – Blackmore Ltd
Future leader – Ryan Cooper of MC Roofing Ltd
Global business award – REIDsteel
Inclusivity and diversity in the workplace award – The CRUMBS project
Scale up business award – Lewis Manning Hospice Care
Technology award – ESET UK