Somerset Business Awards finalists announced

The judges have spent weeks visiting businesses around the county after receiving entries from more than 90 companies.

The shortlists for each of the 14 categories have now been drawn up and the winners will be revealed at a black-tie ceremony in October.

The Somerset Business Awards evening is one of the biggest dates in the county’s business calendar and is always well attended by influential people from within the business community.

Greg Saunders, partner at Clarke Willmott and chairman of Somerset Chamber of Commerce, who judged the Charity of the Year Award, said: "The number of entries and the fact that they came from all over the county was really pleasing to see this year.

"As ever, the initial deliberations and visits to the shortlisted businesses and charities is an arduous task but one that really adds colour to the judging process and ensures that from our perspective as judges, we really can be sure that each winner represents the best in business for 2018."

Once chosen, the finalists will be invited to the glittering black-tie event on October 19 at Wellsprings Leisure Centre, in Taunton, where the winners will be announced by Somerset cricketer Peter Trego.

Working with Bridgwater and Taunton College, the finalists will be filmed by media students to create a short film about the business and what winning means to them to be shown on the night.

The awards are sponsored by a variety of companies, including main sponsor Albert Goodman.

FINALISTS:

The Albert Goodman Family Business Award, sponsored by Albert Goodman LLP.

•C & D South West Ltd (Chard).

•Camelot Care limited (Wellington).

•Sparks and Daughters ltd (Taunton).

Business of the Year 1-10, sponsored by TDA.

•Environments for Business (Taunton).

•Eternal Designs Ltd t/as Eternal Kitchens (South Petherton).

•Introtweet Ltd (Taunton).

Business of the Year 11-25, sponsored by A.C. Mole & Sons.

•Boxclever Press (Wincanton).

•Choice Stationery Supplies Ltd (Taunton).

•Office Reality Ltd (Wellington).

Business of the Year 26-50, sponsored by PKF Francis Clark.

•Civils Store Ltd (Shepton Mallet).

•Evosite (Taunton).

•Key Solutions Mortgages (Weston).

Business of the Year 51+, sponsored by Screwfix.

•Radstock Co-operative Society (Radstock).

•Weston College (Weston).

•Yarlington Housing Group (Yeovil).

Charity of the Year Award, sponsored by Clarke Willmott LLP.

•Headway Somerset (Taunton).

•Key4Life (Glastonbury).

•Stand Against Violence (Taunton).

Investing in Somerset Award, sponsored by Hinkley Point C.

•eat:Festivals (Burnham-on-Sea).

•Evosite (Taunton).

•The Taunton Cider Company (Taunton).

Creative Marketing and Promotions Award, sponsored by ADPR Ltd.

•Bradfords Building Supplies (Yeovil).

•Greenslade Taylor Hunt (Yeovil).

•Red Berry Recruitment (Shepton Mallet).

New Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Teapot Creative.

•Lodestone Property (Bruton).

•The Sangha House (Taunton).

•Withies Delicatessen (Stoke St Gregory).

Service Excellence Award, sponsored by Elite Staffing Solutions.

•Bowen Opticians (Weston).

•Busy Bees Cleaning & Maintenance 2000 Ltd (Frome).

•Haynes International Motor Museum (Sparkford).

Skills for Growth Award, sponsored by Wessex Reserve Forces’ & Cadets’ Association.

•Brookside Academy (Street).

•Evolution ABS Ltd (Wellington).

•Red Berry Recruitment (Shepton Mallet).

Somerset Manufacturer & Producer Award, sponsored by Ashfords LLP.

•Eternal Designs Ltd t/as Eternal Kitchens (South Petherton).

•Granny Gothards Limited (Taunton).

•Taunton Fabrications Ltd (Frome).

Technology and Innovation Award, sponsored by Porter Dodson Solicitors and Advisors.

•Cardstream (Taunton).

•i2i Infinity Ltd (Shepton Mallet).

Young Business Employee of the Year Award, sponsored by Clarks.

•Crestmoor Training - Lily Higgins (Wincanton).

•Evosite - Aran Reeks (Taunton).

•Oake Manor Golf Club - Rachel Lane (Taunton).