41Hunts Post Wednesday, November 11, 2015

2015

In association with

www.huntsbusinessawards.co.uk

CATEGORIESONLINE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

sponsored by

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEARsponsored by

THE JUDGES’ AWARDsponsored by

BUSINESS OF THE YEARsponsored by

BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEARsponsored by

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AWARDsponsored by

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT AWARD

sponsored by

EMPLOYER OF THE YEARsponsored by

RETAILER OF THE YEARsponsored by

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEARsponsored by

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR sponsored by

NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEARsponsored by

THE INNOVATION AWARD sponsored by

BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITYsponsored by

A night to celebrate the very best of business in Huntingdonshire We have dedicated the next few pages to celebrating the busi-nesses that were given recogni-tion for their achievements at T h e H u n t s P o s t Huntingdonshire Business Awards.

It was a night of celebration as triumphant firms and entre-p r e n e u r s a c r o s s Huntingdonshire clinched pres-tigious awards thanks to their success and hard work.

The annual event represents a broad range of industries and highlights the men and women making a difference in the district’s workplaces who stand head and shoulders above the rest.

Now in its 18th year, the latest get-together of the finest busi-nesses around at The Burgess Hall, St Ives, on Friday night proved once again to be memo-rable. There were 14 hard-fought categories at the annual awards.

And as you’ll see from read-ing their stories, firms received

accolades in a range of catego-ries including retail, commu-nity achievement and innova-tion. Walking away with four prizes, including the title of business of the year and employer of the year, was Buffaload Logistics Ltd.

The judges were impressed by the “quality of all the applica-tions” and those who won repre-sented the highest-scoring entries for each category and embody the “best practice and excellence within their fields.”

Sophie Daysophie.day@archant.co.uk

� Retailer of the Year winners, Premier Travel.

� UK Membranes, Small Business of the Year finalists

� Winners and finalists in the Employee of the Year category.

� Host Stewart White with Genie and the Jive Bombers. Pictures: ROB MORRIS

42

Got a story? Contact our newsdesk Call 01480 443451 or email news@huntspost.co.uk

Hunts PostWednesday, November 11, 201542 Hunts Post

2015

In association with

� Winners of Small Business of The Year, KDM Communications, (l-r) Chairman of Huntingdonshire Federation of Small Businesses Malcolm Lyons, KDM’s Annabel Sedgwick. managing director, and chairman Trisha Keane.

� Winners of Employer Of The Year, Buffaload Logistics Ltd, (l-r) Compere Stewart White, managing director Julie Feltwell, head of people Caroline Bosworth, and Chan Abraham, of Luminus.

A business that prides itself on its robust recruitment and induction proce-dures to maintain their number one posi-tion were the perfect contenders to win employer of the year – and that’s what Buffaload Logistics Ltd has done.

The logistics company, in Ellington, operate the largest independent tempera-ture controlled double deck trailer fleet

in the UK. As a team, each member is ensured

that they are on board with the company ethos and focus on the business objec-tives to ultimately guarantee continued success and growth.

Managing director Julie Feltwell said: “It is fantastic; we are really pleased to have been recognised. We try to make it

a great place to work and we try to make it like a family.”

The judges felt they were worthy winners after demonstrating the commit-ment they have to develop their work-force, while remaining a committed family run business. FINALISTS: Bright Vision; Giggs & Company; Living Sport.

Business is booming for a communications company that offers its clients a trusted blend of scientific understanding and marketing expertise.

Working in a high tech niche market, the St Neots firm is outperforming the rest.

KDM Communications was established in 1984 with a solid record of profitable growth which has remained debt free.

The business has been under the same charismatic leadership of owner Trisha Keane and managing director Annabel Sedgwick for more than a decade. This has allowed it to form a stable and highly qualified work-force to work with clients at both a strategic and tactical level.

Owner and chairman Mrs Keane said: “We have the most amazing team which work hard and we are really proud of what we do. The award has come also because of our happy clients.”

Mrs Sedgwick added: “It is absolutely amazing to have won this award, we are totally delighted.” FINALISTS: Clarity Health and Beauty; Lilac James Co. Ltd; Quest Cloud Solutions; UK Membranes Ltd.

Employer of the year – sponsored by Luminus Group

Small business of the year – sponsored by Federation of Small Businesses

Comprehensive and Flexible Logistics Service:

• Temperature Controlled and Ambient Transport

• Chilled cross-docking and consolidation

• Cold and Ambient Storage

• Double Deck and Urban Trailer Rental and Contract Hire

• Bay Modifications to accommodate double-deck loading

“Buffaload is one of the UK’s premier logistics providers. We are renowned in the cool chain for our imaginative use of double deck temperature controlled trailers and our ability to dove-tail with individual customer operations. Furthermore, we have a well-earned reputation for delivering considerable cost savings to our retail, food manufacturing & wholesale customers. Using double-decks cuts fleet requirements, reduces road miles and brings down carbon output.”Graham Usher. Sales Director, Buffaload Logistics.

Winners ofBusiness of the Year

Employer of the Year

Business Development

Training and Development

2015

43Hunts Post Wednesday, November 11, 2015

� Winners of The Innovation Award, Activ8rlives (Aseptika Ltd), (l-r) Hunts Post commercial manager Tracey Brockman, managing director Dr Kevin Auton, and director Jessica Auton, with compere Stewart White.

� Winners of the Business Development award, are Buffaload Logistics Ltd, (l-r) Buffaload sales director Graham Usher, business development director Ian Perks, with sponsor Toni Hunter, from George Hay Chartered Accountants.

Thinking outside the box has helped to keep one company ahead of the game when it comes to developing healthcare devices.

Active8rlives (Aseptika Ltd) has been recognised for the innovation that could empower millions of people suffering from cardiovascular

disease. The company that was formed eight

years ago by husband and wife team Jessica and Kevin Auton to enable every-one to have the tools to manage their own health and thereby live long and health-ier lives.

Managing director Mr Auton said: “It

is really exciting to be recognised by business leaders in Huntingdon, it is a big deal to us.”

The pair put their success down to developing their devices with those who will benefit the most. FINALISTS: Evolution Dome; Thomas Morris, Sales & Lettings.

Sales director Graham Usher at Buffaload Logistics Ltd praised the team at the firm after it won the Business Development award.

With some 30 years’ experi-ence of selling within the trans-port industry, Mr Usher work-ing alongside business development director Ian Perks and other management have built up a sustainable business Huntingdonshire can be proud of.

Mr Usher said: “We didn’t expect to win more than one award on the night. It comes down to the confidence we have in business.”

Mr Perks added: “It was fantastic to win, we are a family owned business, it’s been great to be recognised.”

The judging panel said that the newly formed, incredibly strong management team at Buffaload “had made significant progress in develop-ing and implementing an impressive growth plan in a relatively short period of time”.FINALISTS: Encocam Ltd; Sedgwick’s Charcuterie; Wells Contract Ltd.

Business development – sponsored by George Hay Chartered Accountants

Innovation Award – sponsored by Discover Cambridgeshire

44 Hunts PostWednesday, November 11, 2015

2015

In association with

www.huntsbusinessawards.co.uk

� Left: Guests enjoyed a three-course dinner at the Burgess Hall. Right: Sophie Gargan from Macmillan Cancer Support addresses the guests.

� Joint winners of Employee Of The Year: Carli Beary, third left, accepting the award on behalf of Emma Dolby, of Borney UK Ltd, and Jessica Morris, fourth from right, of Le Mark Group, with Jolique Facial Rejuvenation Clinic’s, Georgina O’Callaghan, second left, and Annie Taylor, third right.

Employee of the year – sponsored by Jolique Facial Rejuvenation CentreFor the fourth year in a row Le Mark Group has put forward an award-winning Employee of the Year.

This year’s entry was Jessica Morris who has been central to creating an entirely new market for the group after she designed a technical protective glove that has been a great commercial success for the company.

The 23-year-old said: “I am so happy to have won this award, my designs have been shown in magazines and I have designed the marketing material for the company – it is a huge achievement.”

Jessica shared the award with Borney UK Ltd employee Emma Dolby. After joining the company two and half years ago, she has mastered the sales and approached her bosses seek-ing more work and responsibility.

Emma has now taken up the responsibility for HR as well as many admin roles. FINALIST: Katie Kitson, Beacon Wealth Management Ltd.

Everybody looks for that yearly escape to somewhere they can relax or enjoy a leisure activity holiday.

Which is why a business that has the philosophy to offer personal service to every client that walks through its door has been crowned retailer of the year.

St Ives’ independent travel agent Premier Travel has more than 40 years’ experience in providing jetsetters with the holiday they are looking for to create repeat bookings.

Regional manager Steve Cox said: “It is amazing to have won this award, for the last 12 months we have been providing great customer service and it shows by being recognised.

“We have put everything into this and I am impressed by all the staff.”

The judges thought that the team at Premier Travel were “well trained, motivated and friendly”.FINALISTS: Kiss Air Candles; Thomas Morris, Sales & Lettings.

� Winners of Retailer of The Year, Premier Travel, with (left) Barford & Co, director Martin Page.

Retailer of the year – sponsored by Barford + Co

45Hunts Post Wednesday, November 11, 2015

2015

In association with

www.huntsbusinessawards.co.uk

� Training & Development Award, Buffaload Logistics Ltd, (centre) head of people, Caroline Bosworth, Ross Taylor, and (left) compere Stewart White.

� Hunts Post Business Awards 2015, winner of Young Entrepreneur award, Lincoln Miles, of Beard Shop UK and The Beard Box, his award was accepted by dad Jay Miles, with Stuart Gibbons, from Le Mark Group.

Training and development award – sponsored by Alconbury Enterprise Campus

Young Entrepreneur – sponsored by Le Mark Group

It is about forward thinking according to this year’s winner of the Training and Development award, Buffaload Logistics Ltd.

After scooping up four awards on the night the family owned business were head and shoulders above the rest when it came to the development of its team.

Now in its second decade the company has started to experience rapid growth which has been associated with the appointment of a professional management team.

Owner Ross Taylor said: “It is my team that has made this possible, they think about the future to grow the company.”

The company were praised for their robust procedures to measure performance, iden-tify training needs and address those needs on an individual basis which high-lights the effectiveness of training at the company. FINALISTS: Clarity Health and Beauty; Living Sport; TEAM Engineering Ltd.

For the second year running 22-year-old Lincoln Miles has been crowned with the Young Entrepreneur award after launching four successful businesses in only two years.

Lincoln, of Eynesbury, started his first business – BelchFire Surf – after his first year at

Aberystwyth University after spotting a gap in the market to sell surfing accessories.

Since then the entrepreneur has used the trend of beards to break his way into the male grooming market by setting up Beard Shop UK and The Beard Box.

Both stores are dedicated to beards and sell everything men need to grow and style a beard or moustache.

Lincoln’s father Jay said: “I am very proud of him, he just finds something to set up and works on it.” FINALIST: Merille Duff from Make Up by Merille.

47Hunts Post Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Online Business of the year – sponsored by Huntingdonshire Disrict Council

Business person of the year – sponsored by Leeds Day Solicitors

� Winner of the Online Business of the Year award, Cambridge Digital Academy, with sponsors Huntingdonshire District Council and event compere Stewart White.

Clean, easy to navigate and its purpose defined, that is not something that internet users can say about all websites but that’s what the judges found of Cambridge Digital Academy’s.

Operated by Hallnet Ltd, under the directorship of Will and Stephanie Hall, the pair bring their knowledge and

approachable industry professionals to provide expert training to give people the tools to make their business work better.

Managing director Mrs Hall said: “We are delighted and absolutely amazed to have won this award.”

Technical director Mr Hall added: “For us it is a big community push to give people a better start in business.”

In just two months the company will have trained 60 people for free to use a multiple of platforms, to interact with audiences, build a website and know how to get better value out of their online presence. FINALISTS: Local Buzz Marketing; Dirty Rigger Gloves & Accessories; Benchmark Services.

After being crowned Business Person of the Year in 2013 managing director of Forward Composites Paul Jackson has received the accolade once again.

Mr Jackson started his career in the composites industry as an apprentice pattern maker in his uncle’s business in 1982 and has had numerous roles since then including project manager, sales executive, commercial director and finally formed Forward Composites two and half years ago.

However, Mr Jackson has said that winning the award isn’t just down to him it is the hard work of his team and co-owner Ed Collins.

He said: “It’s a privilege to win this award for the second time.

“Our staff are hugely impor-tant, and key to our success. We are all very proud of the prod-ucts we produce, and proud to be a British manufacturing company.”FINALISTS: Philip Mashinchi, Bright Visions; Linda Gibbons, Le Mark Group; Anthony Larkins, Beacon Wealth Management.

� Award winner Paul Jackson, of Forward Composites, with sponsor Bob Dewdney, partner at Leeds Day Solicitors.

Our state-of-the-art facilities in Huntingdon include CAD design, CNC 5-axis machines (including one of the largest in the UK), freezers, kit cutting, clean rooms, autoclaves, curing ovens, spray-bake paint booths, Faro Arm & Stiefelmayer and Faro ‘Ion’ laser tracker.

We have a full range of capabilities, from product design and engineering services, to tooling, manufacture, testing and finishing.

Market sectors include Aerospace, Defence, Automotive and Motorsports

Find out more at www.forwardcomposites.com

WINNERCongratulations to Paul Jackson,

Managing Director, Forward Composites Ltd on winning the Hunts Post Business Person of the Year

2015