And the 2019 Shropshire Company of the Year is ...

A new name was guaranteed to be added to the Company of the Year roll of honour this year after the shortlist was revealed for the 2019 Shropshire Chamber Business Awards.

The fight for the showpiece award was a four-way battle between two Telford firms - Pickstock and Northwood Hygiene Products - along with Shropshire Homes, and Pave-Aways of Knockin.

And the winner was . . . Pave-Aways.

The awards were handed out at Telford's International Centre on June 14 in front of a gathering of up to 700 business people. TV 'Secret Millionaire' Mo Chaudry, who was schooled and raised in Shropshire, was guest speaker.

Listen here to Carl Jones' interviews with some of the winners, and key players, during the evening...

Shropshire Chamber chief executive Richard Sheehan said: "“You will struggle to find any other business awards event quite like this which has such a profile, and such a history. You still today see people displaying award winner logos from the early 2000s on their websites. They wear it with pride, and so they should.”

New categories for this year included Business And School Engagement awards, celebrating firms which foster strong links with the next generation of staff.

The John Clayton Award, named after a former chamber president, also returned this year to recognise a person, or group of people, who have made an outstanding contribution to the Shropshire business community - Tony Bywater MBE,, chairman of Salop Leisure, was this year's recipient

THE 2019 WINNERS AND FINALISTS

COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Pave-Aways Limited - WINNER

Shropshire Homes Limited

Northwood Hygiene Products

Pickstock Telford Ltd

BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY

Reconomy

Aico Ltd - WINNER

Nick Jones Wealth Planning

Pickstock Telford Ltd

 

BEST MANUFACTURER

Mail Solutions UK Ltd

Fitsco Industries Ltd

Bridgnorth Aluminium Ltd

Northwood Hygiene Products - WINNER

 

INTERNATIONAL TRADE THROUGH EXPORT

Fabdec - WINNER

Morris Lubricants

bizz buzz Cultural Intelligence Coaching and Training

 

BEST ONLINE

Sugar Crave Limited - WINNER

Teamson UK Ltd

GWR Fasteners Limited

The Gift Experience

 

OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE

Pure Telecom

Galliers Homes - WINNER

SBM Digital Systems Limited

Eaton Manor Country Estate

 

TOURISM LEISURE & HOSPITALITY

The Shrewsbury Club

Morris Leisure

Shropshire Festivals Ltd

Love2stay, part of Salop Leisure Ltd - WINNER

 

TECHNOLOGY ENTERPRISE & INNOVATION

Network Telecom - WINNER

Reconomy

Derwen College

Six Ticks Limited

 

APPRENTICESHIPS

Furrows Group

Aico Ltd

Connexis Limited

McPhillips Wellington Limited - WINNER

 

BEST NEW BUSINESS 1-5

3d Printz Limited

XscapeNow! - WINNER

The HR Dept (Shropshire)

Sarah Belcher Events Ltd

 

BEST NEW BUSINESS 6 +

Bar Incognito

Planet Doughnut Ltd

Lower House Equine Clinic

Astar Homecare Services Ltd - WINNER

 

BEST SMALL BUSINESS 1-5

Purple Frog Systems Ltd

Gee 7 Wealth Management

invisiFRAME

Iron and Fire Ltd - WINNER

 

BEST SMALL BUSINESS 6-20

Pure Telecom

Hospital Direct - WINNER

Fitsco Industries Ltd

Classic Additions Ltd

ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION

Staysafe PPE Limited

Sirane Ltd

Bridgnorth Aluminium Ltd

Border Hardwood Ltd - WINNER

 

BUSINESS AND SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT 1-5

Shropshire 3D Print Ltd

Global Freight Services Ltd

J&PR - WINNER

Fraggleworks Ltd

 

BUSINESS AND SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT 6 +

Re-Assure Ltd - WINNER

Dyke Yaxley

Aico Ltd

Dodd Group