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Business champions revealed

Success stories spotlighted at Cornwall Business Awards

An organic baby clothing company from the Lizard Peninsula has been crowned Cornwall’s Business of the Year, as the Cornwall Business Awards shone the spotlight on success stories throughout the county.

Frugi, which employs nine people at St Martin, sells its unique clothes online, as well as through stockists in 28 countries worldwide. It has taken just four years from start-up to achieve the honour at a ceremony where it also received “Business Innovation of the Year” for its groundbreaking eco-friendly packaging, and founder Lucy Jewson was named “Entrepreneur of the Year”.

More than 300 guests from Cornwall’s top businesses and public agencies ensured a packed house at St Mellion, as a total of 11 companies were called forward to receive the coveted awards.

John Berry, of organiser Cornwall Enterprise, Cornwall County Council’s economic development service, said: “It warms the heart to see so many Cornish businesses leading not only the country but, in some cases, the world; and to witness their achievements being acknowledged so enthusiastically by hundreds of their peers.”

The event, which Cornwall Enterprise runs with support from the South West of England Regional Development Agency and Business Link, was opened in typically robust fashion by former TV Dragon and Yo! Sushi tycoon Simon Woodroffe, and judged by business celebrities including Tim Smit and Lord Eddie George.
St Columb medical manufacturer Pall (Newquay) enjoyed a particularly successful night, scooping three awards, including one for its Director Andrew Holland, named Cornwall’s “Business Leader of the Year”.

The Camborne-Redruth area was well represented, with awards for Gwel an Mor (Customer Focus) and CFP Software (Marketing Strategy), as well as Damian Lambkin of The Electronic Waste Company, who celebrated his 30th birthday by becoming Cornwall’s “Young Business Person of the Year”.

Other winners included Penryn audio specialist Allen & Heath (Best Exporter) and WH Bond & Sons of Trerulefoot (Best Diversification), while Helston’s Classic Cottages won the hotly contested new website category.

The Jamie Oliver-inspired Fifteen Cornwall was named Cornwall’s Best New Business, and former Business of the Year, Padstow’s TJ International, collected the “Business Improvement through People” prize for the second year running.

The year’s Special Achievement Award was presented to Falmouth engineering giant Fugro Seacore, in recognition of the company’s global standing and three decades of international success in marine and advanced engineering sectors.

Business Link chief executive Adam Chambers commented: “The winners' line-up paints a fabulous picture of the huge variety of companies that are now thriving in Cornwall. Here, it's possible to be both successful and ethical, and to reach international markets from the remotest locations.”

Stephen Bohane, Head of Business Development at the South West of England Regional Development Agency, added: “It is great to see such a range of businesses up for Awards. The investment by the South West RDA is helping to unlock business potential and these businesses are grasping the opportunity. This gives us a great foundation on which to build for the future.”

Cornwall County Councils Executive Member for the Economy Andrew Mitchell (Lib Dem) said: “The County Council is committed to developing Cornwall’s economy and the businesses we see here tonight are to be congratulated for leading the way in Cornwall’s economic renaissance”.