Wakefield District Business Awards 2009 - Winners Revealed

The winners in the prestigious first Wakefield District Business Awards were revealed on 16th July following a glittering Gala Awards evening , with Group Rhodes taking the overall Business of the Year Award.

The Awards, which really captured the imagination of the business community, featured nine fantastic categories open to companies and organisations of all sizes across the District, honouring skills and learning, innovation, community enterprise, care for the environment, entrepreneurship, international trade, e-commerce and of course the bottom line, business success. A record response saw the District’s companies defy the current economic downturn.

The Awards were hosted by first the Wakefield District Development Agency with the support of some of the region’s most dynamic and influential organisations; Wakefield Council, Business Link Yorkshire, Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors, Wakefield College, HARIBO, Barclays, Minster Law and VT Environmental Engineering.

Mohan de Silva, Chief Executive of first said:

‘We have been absolutely delighted with the response to the Wakefield District Business Awards, and I congratulate all our winners and finalists. Our judges faced an extraordinarily difficult task but in Group Rhodes I firmly believe they have made the right choice of Wakefield Business of the Year 2009. Group Rhodes is one of the UK’s most innovative engineering companies, and its success is founded in looking to the future whilst honouring our industrial past.

By their success around the world all the Business Awards finalists are creating perceptions of the Wakefield District, that this is a world class location for business.”

Guest speaker at the Awards, Larry Hirst CBE, Chairman of IBM Europe, Middle East and Africa, said:

“All global cities, including Wakefield, face a similar challenge – how to be truly 'World Class'. In my opinion part of this answer will come from the innovative business leaders in this community. Leaders who have pride in their city and their business – people with a real passion for what they do – and people who value other people irrespective of their differences. These are the real leaders.”

Daniel Rajkumar, Director, Web Translations Ltd, saw his company collect the e-Business Award:

"The Awards 2009 were bigger, better and more competitive this year than ever before, which is why winning the e-business award is a prestigious recognition of our hard work and means a lot to everyone at Web Translations. We're proud to be part of a thriving business community."

The finalists collectively represented turnover in excess of £300 million pounds and ranged in size from just 2 employees to more than 3,000. In the past year Wakefield has been named one of Britain’s Top 20 Locations for Business Growth (Royal Mail Business Barometer) as well as one of the UK’s Fastest Improving Cities for Competitiveness (UK Competitiveness Index 2008) and the record number of entries to the Awards really demonstrate why. The Wakefield Business Awards are designed to recognise and celebrate the best of business in the Wakefield District and encourage new businesses to follow in their footsteps.

The Awards

The Business of the Year Award 2009 sponsored by Wakefield Council went to the outstanding organisation that has best demonstrated exceptional financial returns, strong growth and innovation strategies, plus market leadership in its sector.

The finalists were:

• Group Rhodes Ltd - Winner

• Switalskis
• Minster Law
• David Palmer Travel – Highly Commended

The People Make Performance Award sponsored by Wakefield College went to a company that is committed to realising the potential of its people through training and development, showing a positive commitment to on going staff training as a part of their business strategy.

The finalists were:

• The Harris Partnership Ltd

• LINPAC Packaging - Winner

• Cedar Court Hotel – Highly Commended
• Acxiom Group

Start-up businesses are the lifeblood of a District’s economy and Wakefield’s New Business Award sponsored by Business Link Yorkshire has gone to an organisation started since January 2007 that is succeeding through good ideas, careful planning and a determination to succeed.

The finalists were:

• Open Communications - Highly Commended
• MG Metal Design

• Pyramid8 Ltd - Winner

• Personal Projector

The business world doesn’t stand still and The Innovation Award sponsored by Minster Law has rewarded the organisation that can best demonstrate an ability to create, nurture and develop new ideas or ways of working that have improved the performance of the company.

The finalists were:

• Terra Vac
• LINPAC Packaging

• Litestructures - Winner

• Double Two Ltd

The Business and the Environment Award sponsored by VT Environmental Engineering awards the organisation most actively committed to sound environmental practice as well as cost saving in the workplace, showing a commitment to protect substantial resources for future generations.

The finalists were:

• Harlow and Milner
• Nostell Priory Holiday Park

• Opti Pharma UK – Winner

• Waterton Park Hotel - Highly Commended

The Business Entrepreneur of the Year Award sponsored by Wakefield first rewards the outstanding individual who has best demonstrated exceptional vision and leadership in the establishment and development of an owner-led business, with a character to match.

The finalists were:

• Heather Copley (Farmer Copley’s Farm Shop) – Winner

• Robert McTiffin (Nationwide Property Solutions)
• Tony Sykes (Audio Visual Equipment)
• Ian Ridgeway (Group Rhodes Ltd)

The Community Enterprise Award sponsored by Barclays recognises the impact that social enterprises are having on the Wakefield District economy. The winning organisation represents the true ethos of social enterprise.

The finalists were:

• Lock Lane Community RL and Sports Centre
• Fresh Pastures

• Cream Catering Ltd – Winner

• St George’s Lupset

The International Business Award category, sponsored by HARIBO rewards success in penetrating overseas markets, and demonstrates how an international trade strategy has translated into real results.

The finalists were:

• Group Rhodes
• Network Brands Ltd
• m2r

• Logicor - Winner

Finally as the pace of business grows ever quicker, The e-Business Award sponsored by Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors was presented to a company that has placed e-business at its heart.

The finalists were:

• SingleMuslim.com – Highly Commended

• Web-Translations – Winner

• WRM Media
• Paragon Services