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2009 CAERPHILLY BUSINESS FORUM AWARDS
in association with COLEG GWENT
A new company from Crumlin which provides training to the utility and civil engineering sectors has received the ultimate seal of approval at the Caerphilly Business Forum Awards just 18 months after starting out.
Utility Training Services Ltd picked up the Young Growth Business of the Year Award (sponsored by Draig Training) alongside Broomfield and Alexander's Premier Award at the eighth annual Caerphilly Business Forum Awards at the Bryn Meadows Golf, Hotel and Spa on Friday 13th Nov.
The business, which offers a range of niche training courses to clients including Laing O’Rourke, AMEC and Wales and West Utilities, employs five members of staff from its base at Pen-Y-Fan Industrial Estate in Crumlin and has succeeded in expanding the range of training opportunities that it offers businesses despite launching during the difficult economic conditions of recent months.
Utility Training Services Director Paul Williams accepted the awards on behalf of the company, and spoke of how the business had emerged as an industry frontrunner despite starting out at the beginning of the recession.
Alongside Utility Training Services’ six other companies from across the Caerphilly County Borough were celebrated for their achievements over the last 12 months.
Winners on the night included Blackwood-based Taylors Bed & Breakfast At the Rock for Young Business of the Year, sponsored by Venture Wales. Owner Jenifer and husband Paul bought the historic Rock Tavern in Blackwood two years ago, and have restored it to a high quality traditional hostelry. Despite having no experience in the tourism or corporate trade, Jennifer has added 4 star accredited rooms to the inn and made Taylors B&B one of the County's top places to stay and has great plans for the future.
Utility and Environmental Solutions won the Business of the Year with fewer than 25 employees, sponsored by the South East Wales Local Investment Fund. UES provide a unique consultancy, enabling companies to reduce their utility costs and their environmental impact, Savings can range from hundreds to millions of pounds. From 3 people and a turnover of £75,000 in 2004 they have grown to 14 staff and an expected turnover this year of over £1 million.
Crumlin-based plastic manufacturer Klockner Pentaplast Ltd received the fiercely contested Award for Business of the Year with more than 25 employees, sponsored by Caerphilly County Borough Council. The company manufactures plastic sheet primarily for food packaging, which ends up on the shelves of the country's leading supermarkets. After consistently improving financial support over the years they are undertaking a massive expansion at their plant at Pen y Fan Industrial Estate.
Caerphilly insurance, financial management and health& safety and employment law specialists Thomas Carroll Group were awarded the Health Works Award (sponsored by Health Challenge Caerphilly) for its exceptional promotion of the health and wellbeing of its team of 91 staff in Caerphilly. This includes a healthy eating café, a staff gym, a calendar of social and sporting events and several polices to reinforce a healthy workplace and work-life balance.
Caerphilly Business Forum Chair Martyn Fear said the judges faced a tougher time than ever in selecting this year’s winners as businesses had come out in force to demonstrate their sheer determination and resilience in what has been a challenging year for many.
Charlotte Burles, the Director of Abercarn and Blackwood property management and letting agency Parkmans, was awarded the John Griffiths Award for Young Achiever (sponsored by Peters Food Services) ny 2008 Winner Jamie Watkins of RUMM. Charlotte took over the long established business in 2006, when aged only25, rebranded, transformed and expanded it into new commercial markets , increasing turnover by thousands of pounds.
Another Abercarn based company, window and door manufacturer Modplan won the Achievement in Manufacturing Award, sponsored by Seda Packaging Group. Part of the highly succesful home grown Burles Group, the company has continued to improve and develop its manufacturing operation despite the problems faced by manufacturers during the recession and has continued to invest heavily in new processes and machinery.
“The quality and strength of entries in this year’s awards has been greater than we have seen in past years,” he said.
“All of our winners have demonstrated significant ingenuity, passion and commitment to their businesses in the last year. There is no denying that this year has been the toughest year for businesses for a long time, but these seven businesses shown an exceptional commitment to growing their businesses and overcoming obstacles during the last twelve months.
“The last twelve months has been the toughest faced by businesses for over thirty years and our seven winning companies along with the exceptionally high standard of finalists should be immensely proud of their achievements this year.
“We wish all winners and businesses that entered this year’s awards the very best of success in the next 12 months.”
The other Finalists were:
THE PREMIER AWARD: Sponsored by Broomfield and Alexander
YOUNG BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Sponsored by Venture Wales
Other finalists: Captiva Spa and longe; The pamper Haven
YOUNG GROWTH BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Sponsored by Draig Training
Other finalists: Petra's Cleaning Services; Upsa Daisy Day Nursery
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR (WITH 25 EMPLOYEES OR FEWER): Sponsored by the South East Wales Local Investment Fund
Other Finalists: Blackwood Compliance Laboratories; Yacht Lifeline
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR (WITH MORE THAN 25 EMPLOYEES): Sponsored by Caerphilly County Borough Council
Other Finalists: Pensord Press; Roger Jones and Sons
ACHIEVEMENT IN MANUFACTURING: Sponsored by the Seda Packaging Group
Other Finalists: Cottam and Brookes; lexon Group
THE JOHN GRIFFITHS AWARD FOR YOUNG ACHIEVERS: Sponsored by Peters Food Services
Other Finalists: Gwenllian Davies (Thomas, Carroll Group); paul Williams (Utility training Services)
THE HEALTH WORKS AWARD: Sponsored by Health Challenge Caerphilly
Other finalist: Williams Medical Supplies
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