The finalists have been announced for three award listings that between them celebrate the depth and range of business excellence in Wales.
The IoD Wales Director of the Year Awards, Cardiff Business Awards and Business in the Community Responsible Business Awards all announced their shortlists this week.
With their different focuses, the three listings showcase different aspects of business life but together demonstrate the health and strength of Wales’ business community.
IoD Wales Director of the Year Awards 2017
Over 35 directors have been shortlisted in 10 categories, including three new categories this year – Finance Director of the Year, Director in Human Resources and Director in a Start-Up Business.
The awards, now in their seventh year, are an established highlight in the Welsh business calendar and celebrate business achievements and inspirational leaders across Wales.
Winners from the Welsh regional awards (once again sponsored by Cardiff Business School) are forwarded for the IoD National Awards, which culminate in an awards lunch in London in the autumn.
IoD Wales director Robert Lloyd Griffiths said: “The profile of these awards continues to exceed expectations as they attract entries from the very best in Wales.
“There are thousands of businesses across Wales with good stories to tell and which are making a positive impact in their communities and to the wider Wales economy, and this year’s shortlist certainly reflects this.”
Professor Martin Kitchener, dean of Cardiff Business School, said: “Each year I am inspired by the innovation, creativity and ambition of the nominees.”
Winners of all the categories will be announced at an awards lunch on May 19 at Cardiff’s SSE Swalec Stadium. The annual Director’s Award and Chairman’s Award will also be announced on the day.
The finalists are:
- Director of the Year – Corporate Responsibility, sponsored by Welsh Government: Patrick Nash, Connect Assist; Stephen Jones, SANS Institute; Marcia Sinfield, Tai Calon Housing.Director in a Family Business, sponsored by Retail Merchandising Services: Julian Cruttenden, Welsh Hills Bakery; Bradley Cummings, Tiny Rebel Brewery; Chris Macnamara, The Brogue Trader; Miriam Warner, Miracle Workers Agency.
- Finance Director of the Year: Steven Ades, Aerfin; Andrew Gibbs, Bridgend College; Mark Burn, Henry Howard Finance.
- Director of the Year – Human Resources, sponsored by Acorn Executive Search: Maxine Wiseman, Trivallis; Corinna Lloyd-Jones, Menter a Busnes; Gaynor Morris-Davies, Pobl Group; Donna Howells, United Welsh.
- Director of the Year – Medium/Large Business: Tony Barry, Brakel Airvent; Scott Liddle, Acorn Recruitment; Peter Thomas, Contract Services Group.
- Director of the Year – Public Sector, sponsored by Academi Wales: Debra Barber, Cardiff Airport; Gareth Chapman, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough; Mark Jones, Gower College.
- Director of the Year – Small Business, sponsored by Darwin Gray: James Smith, DevOpGuys; Liam Giles, Spindogs; Steve Jones, Comparison Creator; Craig Palfrey, Penguin Wealth; Gareth Williams, Tiny Rebel.
- Director of the Year – Social Enterprise, sponsored by Legal & General: Matthew Cole, Gofal Enterprises; Liz Andrews, Cancer Research Wales; Caroline Phipps, Drugaid Cymru.
- Director of the Year – Start-Up, sponsored by Airvent: Anita Davies, Knotweed Support (Llanelli); Danni Watts-Jones, DWJ Wealth Management Ltd (Baglan, NPT); Glyn Jenkins, Bastleford Engineering and Consultancy (Pembrokeshire).
- Young Director of the Year, Sponsored by Tidal Lagoon: Rob Dance, RockIT; Emma Hill, Pembrokeshire Falconry; Anthony Bullick, Outwrite PR; Richard Howells, JCP Solicitors.
Cardiff Business Awards
The shortlist for the third annual Cardiff Business Awards, sponsored by NatWest Bank, has been announced with over 100 entries in 16 categories. Launched in 2015, the awards recognise the organisations and individuals making the greatest contribution to Wales’ capital city and wider economy.
They are sponsored by leading Cardiff organisations including Bluegg, Capital Quarter by JR Smart, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff City Council, Cardiff & Vale College, Cardiff University, ClearlyPR & Marketing Communications, CPS Group, Eversheds Sutherland, ICAEW, Paramount Interiors, S3 Advertising, TB Davies, University of South Wales, Wales Environmental, Welsh Government and Yard.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, chairman of the judging panel, said: “When we first launched the awards in 2015, we wanted to provide a platform to showcase the entrepreneurial and innovative talent within Cardiff and celebrate the achievements of the best businesses across the city.
“As we have seen by the calibre of entries for the 2017 awards, Cardiff has a number of truly exceptional firms that collectively make the city a driving force for both the regional and national economy.”
Liz Brookes, of Grapevine Events, co-founder of the awards, said: “The awards will present each of the finalists with an opportunity to further raise their profile within the Cardiff business community and have the light deservedly shone on them for all that they and their teams have accomplished over the last 12 months.”
The winners of each category, as well as the Cardiff Business of the Year and the Outstanding Contribution awards, will be announced at an awards evening on June 23 at City Hall, Cardiff, hosted by BBC Wales presenter Jamie Owen.
The shortlisted firms are:
- Construction Business of the Year, sponsored by TB Davies: JR Smart; Smarta Construction & Technology.
- Creative and Digital Business of the Year, sponsored by University of South Wales: Atticus Digital; Golley Slater; Orchard Media; Ubiquity; Yard.
- Employer of the Year, sponsored by CPS Group: Apollo Wales; Bartholomew Hawkins; Scott Brownrigg.
- Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by Cardiff Metropolitan University: Alastair Milburn, Effective Communication; Simon Powell, Comtec; Mark Powney, Business News Wales; Jeff Tune, New Directions.
- Family Business of the Year, sponsored by Paramount Interiors: Jeffrey Ross Estate Agents; Lubas Medical; Roger Jones & Co Auctioneers & Valuers; Wally’s Delicatessen and Kaffeehaus.
- Financial and Professional Service Business of the Year, sponsored by Cardiff & Vale College: Darwin Grey; Deloitte; Greenaway Scott; Quantum Advisory; Sanderson Plc.
- Green Business of the Year, sponsored by Wales Environmental: ECO2; Green Light Packaging; The Sure Chill Company.
- ICAEW Community Business of the Year: Big Learning Company; Living Magazines Cardiff; Tramshed Tech; Wales Millennium Centre.
- International Business of the Year, sponsored by Welsh Government: Comtec; Greenlight Packaging; Hague Print.
- Leisure and Hospitality Business of the Year, sponsored by ClearlyPR & Marketing Communications: Chapter Arts Centre; Croesy Bars; Park Plaza Hotel.
- Retail Business of the Year, sponsored by Bluegg: Jeffrey Ross Estate Agents; Magic Wrap; Wally’s Delicatessen and Kaffeehaus.
- SME of the Year, sponsored by Yard: CPS Group; DevOps Guys; New Directions; Pure Commercial Finance.
- Social Enterprise of the Year, sponsored by Capital Quarter by JR Smart: Chapter Arts Centre; Gofal Enterprises; Vision 21 (Cyfle Cymru); Young Voices.
- Start up of the Year, sponsored by S3 Advertising: Brand Content; Croesy Bars; DMSG; Doopoll; Traffic Jam Media.
- Technology and Innovation Business of the Year, sponsored by Cardiff University: Cell Therapy (trading as Celixir); Comtec; DevOps Guys; The Sure Chill Company.
- Young Businessperson of the Year, sponsored by Eversheds Sutherland: Owen Derbyshire, Properr; Christian Evans, Sanktuary Investments; Benjamin Milsom, EchoSec Systems; Daniel Simmonds, Populate (formerly Tide Creative).
The judging panel for the 2017 Cardiff Business Awards consists of Prof Jones-Evans, Ken Poole, head of economic development at Cardiff Council, and NatWest business development director Rhys Williams.
Prof Jones-Evans said: “We have been overwhelmed not just by the volume of entries but also the quality of submissions this year.”
2017 BITC Wales Responsible Business Awards
Twenty companies have made the shortlist this year, in a variety of categories. The awards – the longest-running programme recognising responsible business practices – celebrate companies making a difference to the economic, social and environmental challenges Wales faces.
Business in the Community Cymru director Matt Appleby said: “Our awards have always identified and celebrated the very best of business – employers that are making a positive difference to the shared challenges of our nation. By working together, talking about what works and celebrating the best examples from business the 2017 Awards will show Wales and the rest of the UK that Welsh business is a force for good.”
The shortlisted companies are:
- Wales Responsible Large Business of the Year: Costain; Kingspan Insulated Panels; Trivallis.
- Welsh Government Responsible Small Business of the Year: Capital Network Solutions; EcoVigour; Princes Gate Spring Water.
- Wales & West Utilities Building Stronger Communities: Companies House; Mott MacDonald; Principality Building Society.
- GE Aviation Wales Inspiring Young Talent Award: Alun Griffiths Contractors; Dwr Cymru Welsh Water; Moneypenny; Wales & West Utilities.
- NPTC Group of Colleges Education Award: Amcanu Ltd; Bouygues UK; Principality Building Society.
- Dwr Cymru Environmental Leadership Award: Dr Zigs Extraordinary Bubbles; IKEA Cardiff.
- Wellbeing at Work Award: Dwr Cymru Welsh Water; Rhondda Housing Association.
The winners will be announced at BITC Cymru’s annual Wales Responsible Business Awards Gala Dinner at SSE Salec Stadium, Cardiff, on June 29, hosted by Lucy and Rhodri Owen from BBC Cymru Wales.
