Winners of Gloucestershire business awards revealed
The weeks of waiting are over, the winners of the Cirencester Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2024 have finally been revealed at a glittering ceremony at the Royal Agricultural University.
Dear Readers,
We hope you had a great weekend.
Last week we got a bit preoccupied with the general election (who didn’t!), running a piece beforehand reflecting on what businesses would like to see from the in-coming government and a piece post-event also deivering the voice of business.
You can read them both on the home page of The Raikes Journal, where we keep all our editions.
On Monday’s full edition we helped chart the rise and rise of one of Gloucestershire’s biggest firms, Agrii (one from our Top 100 Businesses in Gloucestershire series), as well as the news that a Cotswold brewery has become one of the fastest growing firms in the South West (you can read that here).
But today, we give the whole newsletter over to a certain Gloucestershire business awards. In this case, the Cirencester Business Awards 2024 - partly because we were there on the night as media partner for the town’s chamber of commerce event, partly because we thought it was brilliant and we met some fantastic businesses, and partly because once all the images are on this page we can’t fit much else on!!
If you read the story you’ll find two scrolling galleries, courtesy of the excellent Kay Ransom Photography, who also walked away as one of the award winners on the night! That is what’s stealing the space for any other stories!
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Winners of Gloucestershire business awards revealed
The weeks of waiting are over, the winners of the Cirencester Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2024 have finally been revealed.
If one quote summed up how everyone of the winners and shortlisted businesses felt at the Cirencester Chamber of Commerce Business Awards it was this: “We are absolutely thrilled and proud to be involved”.
The great and the good from the town’s business community, plus special guests, gathered at the Royal Agricultural University’s Boutflour Hall on Friday (5 July) for an evening to remember.
Neil Walker, chief executive officer of Redkite Law, the headline sponsor of the event, said the awards were about recognising how much talent there was in the town and the surrounding area, and celebrating it as a great place to do business.
“Redkite is a really established business in the town, and it wants to continue to be at the heart of the community it works in,” said Walker, whose firm recently moved into new offices at 22 Thomas Street.
“We’re part of a much bigger business with a great depth of expertise, but we are also a local high street business in the heart of Cirencester and we want to do what we can to support businesses and people in the town. That’s part of our ethos.
“Being able to sponsor the business awards is all part of that, but it is also a honour and we feel very proud to play our part.”
Redkite’s Cirencester business was previously called Davey Law. The firm merged with Redkite in 2023 making it part of a business which at the time had 16 offices, 240-plus staff and an estimated turnover of £16 million.
Adam Vines, the president of Cirencester Chamber and managing owner of Lounge Design, said: “Tonight is a special night. We know that the judges were really, really impressed with the entries and found it really hard even to pick the shortlist.”
Vines thanked the RAU’s catering team for the incredible spread of food laid on for the 120 guests.
He also paid tribute to Sarah Somers, the chamber’s secretary, and to Hannah Hockley, its vice-president and managing director of The Apprenticeship Partner for making the awards possible.
And he name-checked British Polo Gin, magician Alex Robertson (who entertained guests with tricks through the early part of the evening), Cotswold Hills for the wine and Fern & Ivy for the table plant decorations.
But the night was for the businesses shortlisted in the 11 awards, eager to learn who was to walk away a winner – and who would also take the coveted headline Business of the Year award.
The evening was compered by none other than Vernon Harwood, BBC Radio Gloucestershire presenter and journalist.
Helen Jones from McGills Chartered Accountants, which has offices in Cirencester, presented the award for Apprentice of the Year.
The winner was Louis Goodwin, a business administration Level 3 apprentice with Cirencester College working at Mainstream Digital, based in Love Lane, Cirencester.
How did it feel to win?
“Very good. I have to say a big thanks to Simon Smart, the CEO. He has helped me a lot and I’ve learned a lot. It is a great place to work,” said Goodwin.
Runners up were Millie Hopkins, of South Cerney-based Hercules Site Services, and Rory Calvert, of Cotswold Archaeology in Kemble.
Employer of the Year was sponsored by ASI (Air Salvage International), also based in Kemble - a leading provider of aircraft disassembly and recovery services worldwide.
The winner was Charlie Savage, food and beverage operations manager at the Royal Agricultural University.
“You come along to an awards like this and see the calibre of contestants and are happy just to be shortlisted. But to come away as a winner is a real honour. I’m thrilled,” said Savage.
Runners up were Sally Goddard, operations manager at Siddington Park and Dom Curnock, of Bluestone Insurance, a chartered insurance brokers based in Love Lane.
The Manufacturer of the Year Award was sponsored by the numbercrunchers, the firm of accountants founded by Howard Smith, whose customers include the self-employed, micro businesses or small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with turnovers ranging from a few thousand to several million.
The winner was Kyeburn, the design arm of Cirencester Fabrication Services, created by Marc and Nichola Begg, a firm which can boast more than 250 collective years of steelwork fabrication – and also made the trophies for the awards themselves!
Rachael Jones, sales and marketing manager, and Julie Haines, the finance manager, took to the stage to receive the awards.
Jones said: “This is amazing. We only started about three years ago, so it feels like we are only just beginning. So to walk away with an award like this is brilliant.
“I'm so proud to be here and pick this up on behalf of the team. The fabrication team at Kyeburn is just incredible.”
Runners up were cosmetics firm Ani Skincare and boutique labelling company Cotswold Labels, based at The Hidings, Love Lane.
The Medium/Large Organisation of the Year Award was sponsored by Fortem Information Technology which has an office at Watermoor Point, Cirencester, and delivers tailored IT solutions for businesses around the world.
The award was presented by Lee Dzendrowski, a director at Fortem IT, and the winner was Core to Cloud, the Cirencester-headquartered firm that provides innovative cyber security solutions tailored to customers’ needs.
Kelly Allen, chief marketing officer at Core to Cloud, which has its offices in The Castle Cecily Hill, said: “When you see the other businesses that are taking part too it is great just to be able to say you are shortlisted.
“We sponsored the awards last year and know how good the event is, but to come back and win this year is incredible.”
Runners up were Rugrats and Half-Pints, the indoor soft play area for babies and children at Unit A Meadow Road, Cirencester, and Mainstream Digital, based in Love Lane.
Professional Services Provider of the Year was sponsored by Perry Bishop, the estate agents and property expert which has offices across Gloucestershire.
The winner was Kay Ransom, of Kay Ransom Photography, who also happened to be covering the awards on the night for the chamber of commerce too.
“I’m very proud to have won. It was also very entertaining that I had to pass my camera to one of my clients so they could take a picture of me with my trophy!” said Ransom, who was also shortlisted in the Self Employed Freelancer of the Year category.
Runners up were nutritional therapist Jennifer McDiarmid, who is based in South Cerney, and Christopher Stanley Architects, based at Watermoor Point.
Self Employed/Freelancer of the Year, was sponsored by Cirencester College and the winner Kate Lloyd-Evans, of KopyKat Marketing & Communications, who could not be at the awards ceremony, but recorded a video message played on the big screen to the hall thanking everyone for making her a winner.
Runners up were Claire Wardell, of You, Me and the Menopause, and Kay Ransom, of Kay Ransom Photography.
Small Organisation of the Year was sponsored by The Steadings, Cirencester, a relatively new development across 300 acres on the edge of the town of 2,350 homes, sports and leisure facilities, GP surgery and green spaces.
The winner was Ani Skincare, which manufactures, wholesales and retails natural skincare products.
“I am completely overwhelmed. I am very proud of Cirencester as a town and a place t live and work, but to be shortlisted and then to win – I’m just flabberghasted!” said Joanna Walker, the firm’s founder.
Runners up were holiday lettings firm Cotswold Retreats and Jungle Boutique, an independent women’s clothing and accessories business in West Market Place, Cirencester.
Team of the Year was sponsored by Rangeford Villages’ Siggington Park, the retirement village, and the winner was luxury care home provider Aura Care Living.
Peter Lloyd, sales director at Aura Care Living, and Guneet Brookes, the sales and marketing manager, came on stage to collect the award.
“It means so much to be recognised by the town. The team works so hard to deliver a special experience. This is for them and everything they do. We are very proud,” said Lloyd.
Runners up were Indian Rasoi, the Asian, Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant in Dollar Street, and the team from the charity Parkinson’s UK (Stroud & Cirencester branch).
The Ethical Business Award was sponsored by The Bathurst Estate and the winner was DipTribe, the sustainable outdoor fashion brand, especially aimed at people who love rivers, lakes and seas.
DipTribe, run by husband and wife team Paul and Jo Flynn, also won the coveted headline Business of the Year Award.
“As a sustainable fashion company it really means a lot to us to have won the Ethical Business of the Year Award,” said Paul.
“Everything we create is organic and circular which is of huge importance to us as lovers of rivers, lakes and seas.
“Sadly my wife, Jo, couldn’t be at the ceremony, but all the creative work is done by her alone, from clothes design through to social media posts, and the company wouldn't exist without her.
“To win the overall Business of the Year Award too was an even bigger surprise, and a real honour when considering the diverse and brilliant range of businesses that were nominated on the night.
“Our thanks to the Cirencester Chamber of Commerce, the selection panel, and everyone that planned the evening, including the great events team at the Royal Agricultural University. We are absolutely thrilled!”
The Growth Hub, Cirencester, sponsored the Going for Green Award, and the winner was Cotswold Lakes Brew, the independent handcrafted brewery.
Matt Corke, from Cotswold Lakes Brew, said: “We know there are lots of great local businesses in Cirencester. It was great to be shortlisted, but then to be voted the winner by the community in which we work is incredible. This is for all the team!”
Runners up were Stroud Road-based renewable energy firm Raw Energy and the archery and rifle range, Cotswold Range, based at Somerford Keynes.
The Innovation Award was sponsored by the hosts for the evening, The Royal Agricultural University, and the winner was card and gift specialists Addsquirrel, founded by Jennifer King.
“There has been a lot of blood, sweat and tears go into the business over the last year, and it feels great to be recognised for what we are doing. I am really pleased,” said King.
Raikes would like to say a very special ‘thank you’ to the Cirencester Chamber of Commerce for inviting us on board. It’s been a blast!