Somerset Business Awards 2013 finalists announced!

YEOVIL, U.K. - Oct. 7, 2013 - PRLog -- The entries for this year’s Somerset Business Awards have been of outstanding quality according to judges, who have now visited all shortlisted businesses and are delighted to announce the finalists.

Somerset businesses were invited to enter a wide variety of categories – regardless of size and sector. Categories were hotly contested with particularly high interest in the new category of Young Business Employee of the Year Award and the well-established Albert Goodman Family Business Award.

Jenn Chidley-Sanders of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce – organisers of the Somerset Business Awards – says, “We were overwhelmed with the number and quality of entries, and we are so happy for this year’s finalists. Somerset businesses have outdone themselves and raised the bar for the Somerset Business Awards. The finalists should be incredibly proud of their achievements and we look forward to welcoming them all to the celebratory dinner on Thursday 24 October.”

The Awards, which are now in their ninth year, saw its highest number of entries to date this year. Of the businesses that entered, over 40 companies entered for the first time.

The Somerset Business Awards 2013 will be hosted at the newly refurbished Westland Conference and Leisure Complex in Yeovil, on 24 October 2013, presented by Heart FM presenter, Cormac MacMahon. More than 350 guests are expected to attend the Awards dinner, with 39 businesses hoping to win a prestigious and highly sought after accolade.

Head of Family Business and Partner at Albert Goodman – main sponsor of the Somerset Business Awards – Paul Hake, says, “Judging the Somerset Business Awards this year was exceptionally tough, especially as each business has something truly special about them. However, it is always a pleasure to visit the businesses and I am overjoyed with our choice of finalists. We look forward to seeing everyone at the Awards dinner later this month.”

The finalists are listed below, in alphabetical order:

Albert Goodman Family Business of the Year Award – Sponsored by Albert Goodman LLP

Monkton Elm Garden & Pets Centre

R K Bell Group

Western Air Ducts (UK) Ltd

Business of the Year 1-10 Employees Award – Sponsored by Yeovil College

Plum Communications & PR

Pure Beauty

Rebecca Bevins HR Consultancy Ltd

Business of the Year 11-25 Employees Award – Sponsored by A.C. Mole & Sons

Evosite Ltd

Kiddimoto

Red Berry Recruitment Ltd

Business of the Year 26-50 Employees Award – Sponsored by EDF Energy

3 Solutions (2011) Limited

NVB Architects

R K Bell Group

Business of the Year 51+ Employees Award – Sponsored by Higos Insurance Services Ltd

Bridgwater College

Elecsis Switchgear Ltd

Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre

Charity of the Year Award – Sponsored by Clarke Willmott LLP

Somerset Community Foundation

Somerset Rural Youth Project

Western Hospicecare

Environmental Award – Sponsored by Porter Dodson Solicitors & Advisors

Berry & Escott Engineering

Protomax Plastics Ltd

The Woolly Shepherd Ltd

Marketing & Promotions Award – Sponsored by ADPR Ltd

Hilton Herbs

Mendip Hub Ltd

Somerset Heritage Service

New Business of the Year Award – Sponsored by Glyder

Pips Pubs

Staff Guardian Ltd

Wild Beer Co Ltd

New to Somerset Award – Sponsored by Into Somerset

Filberts Fine Foods Ltd

Hosted Accountants

Protomax Plastics Ltd

Service Excellence Award – Sponsored by Lentells Ltd

3 Dimensions Care Ltd

Hiho Silver

Jungle Property

Skills for Growth Award – Sponsored by Somerset ESB

3 Dimensions Care Ltd

Langdon Industries Ltd

Yarlington Housing Group

Young Business Employee of the Year Award – Sponsored by Jobseekers Recruitment Services Ltd

Chloe Heilbronn (Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre)

Kayleigh Allen (Powrmatic Ltd)

Phil Rogers (Somerset Centre Integrated Learning)

Follow the Somerset Business Awards on Twitter using @SomBizAwards and #SBA2013 for the latest news and updates.

The Somerset Business Awards is organised by the Somerset Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with main sponsors Albert Goodman Chartered Accountants and a range of individual award sponsors from Somerset’s vibrant business community.