A young man in his twenties is having a storming innings with his business – Harry Solomon from Wombat Cricket ran away with the Young Business Person of the Year title at the awards – an accolade he took home at this year’s Plymouth Business Awards, too.

‘Fun loving, honourable and tenacious’ James Staughton, who has worked his way up through St Austell Brewery and has played a huge role in shaping the successful business, scooped the Lifetime Achievement Award.

A moving video from his colleagues was played to a huge audience at the Plymouth Pavilions on the evening of November 21. James, the great-grandson of the company’s founder Walter Hicks, has been with the brewery since 1980 – and in January 2020, after 40 years of dedication, he is set to retire.

The two businessmen were amongst dozens of worthy businesses nominated in the prestigious Western Morning News Business Awards, which celebrates the best and brightest of the Westcountry.

The glittering event also celebrated 160 years of the Western Morning News, with editors past and present attending the ceremony.

Western Morning News Business Awards 2019

Plymouth-based manufacturing and engineering facility Rittal-CSM scored three accolades this year - they were awarded the coveted Business of the Year title as well as Manufacturer of the Year, and the business was highly commended in the Apprentice Development award.

Here are all of the worthy winners from the evening.

Apprenticeship Development Award sponsored by CCB training

Winner: Bluescreen IT

Bluescreen IT Ltd established in January 2004 with three people and now currently employs 14. In 2017, Bluescreen IT opened up the first Cyber Security Community Security Operation Centre in the UK, employing and training cyber apprentices in order to build the local skills pool in information security specialists to tackle rising levels of cybercrime.The programme has employed over 10 apprentices from hard to reach backgrounds as well as providing opportunities for neurodiverse individuals to become a cyber experts. More recently in the last two years, the company has worked with National Crime Agency to help rehabilitate non-convicted hackers though the apprenticeship programme that has given the opportunity for them to use their specialist talents to morally protect others.

Highly commended: Rittal-CSM

Also nominated:

GRE Ltd

LiveWest

TDA

Western Morning News Business Awards 2019

Best Business Start Up

Winner: Ultrabeam Hydrographic

Ultrabeam Hydrographic is a recently formed Cornwall based company providing precision hydrographic survey services to a wide range of clients from ports and harbours, renewable energy, oil and gas and public sector marine industries.  Ultrabeam undertake surveys and inspections of marine based assets, using high resolution sonar and laser technology deployed from their own unique unmanned survey platforms.The k  ey to the innovative solution was the research, design and build of the prototype ULTRA series of unmanned survey vessel (USV) facilitating safer and more accurate data capture than traditional methods providing a showcase for what is possible when combining current leading-edge technology into a single purpose built package. ULTRA USV’s capability significantly enhances the ability to collect very precise, high-quality underwater sonar imagery, and simultaneous above water laser scan imagery of marine structures. This gives engineers a far clearer picture of maintenance requirements than traditional inspection and survey techniques.

Also nominated:

Five Zero Communications

Moo Music Plymouth

Obedair Ltd

Best Technological or Creative Business sponsored by Cornwall Chamber of Commerce

Winner: SunGift Energy

Winner of Best Tech or Creative Business, Sungift Energy

SunGift Energy’s forte is the integration of clean energy into existing infrastructure. SunGift design and install bespoke solar PV, energy storage, EV charging and LED lighting systems.SunGift has long-term partnerships with cutting-edge manufacturers, including Tesla. They were first to install their domestic battery, the Powerwall I, in Devon. They’re now installing the Powerwall II, with almost double capacity and backup power in a blackout. Other brilliant projects include a housing association collaboration to reduce fuel poverty through innovative use of battery systems and time-of-use tariffs, a UK first with Tesla batteries.

Also nominated:

Optimus Performance Marketing

Plessey Semiconductors Ltd

Ultrabeam Hydrographic

Communication Award sponsored by LiveWest

Winner: Cornwall Council Together for Families

A campaign was planned to take advantage of National Foster Care Fortnight in May to kick start a long term drive to reach deeper into Cornish communities, increase the number of enquiries and begin to build the number of foster carers across Cornwall to look after those who have suffered abuse and trauma in their young lives. Alongside traditional media channels, new ways of reaching out into communities were sought to create a short-term, hard-hitting, profile building campaign which could then be continued on a lower scale but still maintaining impact. The Foster Care Fortnight campaign featured two young girls dressed as superheroes with the tagline – Fostering changes lives. Cornwall Council had a record number of 25 attending the subsequent information session at County Hall and numbers of enquiries continue to stabilise, enabling them to work on widening the pool of potential foster carers to care for Cornish children in need of loving homes.

Highly Commended: Just Enough Brave

Also nominated:
The Brownston Gallery

Corporate Social Responsibility

Winner: Total Energy Solutions Ltd

Winner of Corporate Social Responsibility Award, Total Energy Solutions Limited

Total Energy Solutions is a family run business with a team of seven based in Stoke Climsland. They help businesses save time and money in managing their energy supplies. They support the local agricultural community pro bono, supporting farmers to make energy savings and become more sustainable, and also work at a highly reduced rate for several local charities. The business helped one charity save £36,000 on their energy spend over three years. Just as importantly their business also gives 10% of staff time to supporting local charitable and community organisations.

Also nominated:

CATERed Ltd

Moo Music Plymouth

Nexus Open Systems

SunGift Energy

Customer Service Award

Winner: The Five Bells Inn

Charlotte Bradley and James Garnham at the Five Bells Inn, Clyst Hydon

The Five Bells is a 16th century, Grade II listed thatched pub set between Exeter and Cullompton run by James and Charlie Garnham. They took over in mid-December 2017 when the pub’s future was very unclear following the previous landlord’s sudden departure. After a change in approach from the business in 2018, local drinkers are now equally as welcome as dogs, children and cyclists. Having grown up in the village, it was always James’ dream to one day own The Five Bells having spent his career running establishments around the country. Subsequently, the pub aims to give its customers a unique experience and exceed their expectations at every turn. The pub appointed a new female head chef in August 2019 who has settled in superbly and has already put a very strong emphasis on catering for a wide range of dietary requirements including vegan and coeliac. James oversees nearly every shift and will welcome guests on arrival. Regardless of monetary spend, or the reason for visiting, each customer is valued and made to feel extremely welcome.

Highly commended: Moments Cafe

Also nominated:

Bovey Castle

Exporter of the Year

Winner: Ideal Foods Ltd

Cornish Seafood company ‘Ideal Foods’ has been trading internationally for more than 28 years, selling a variety of fish and shellfish to customers in more than 40 countries. Most of their business is done outside of the UK and for the year ending 28th February 2019, 87% of sales came from exports. Ideal Foods takes sustainability very seriously and prides itself on using all of the fish. They are a pioneering company in that they offer fish processors the opportunity to sell all parts of the fish and they then source markets for these products. Two years ago, they launched their own pet food brand ‘Purely Fish’, with a range of 100% natural treats, canned wet food, toppers and raw food for cats and dogs, all made from fish. More recently, the business launched a new trademark, ‘Love Fish, Hate Waste’ under which they plan to bring their own ‘Wonky Veg’ line of value added fish retail packs to the supermarkets.

Also nominated:

GRE Ltd

Family Business of the Year

Winner: Callestick Farm

Callestick Farm
Callestick Farm

 

2019 marks the thirtieth anniversary year of Callestick Farm Ice Cream – a company launched by the Parker family in 1989. Until then, Simon and Judith Parker had been rearing animals and growing cereals on the land they first bought in 1953. Milk quotas meant a massive 10% drop in the family income, so the couple’s son Sebastian and his wife Angela came up with the idea of making ice-cream. The business has grown in every sense since with the farm now ten times its original size and a herd of 345 cows helping to produce at least 700,000 litres of award-winning ice-cream each year. Recent achievements include a landmark £500,000 export deal with China earlier this year, accounting for 11.4% of anticipated 2019 sales. Collaboration with celebrity food entrepreneur Levi Roots has also just been announced. The ground breaking range of spicy Caribbean-inspired products will be on supermarket shelves in early 2020.

Highly commended: Cofton Holidays

Devon Contract Waste

Also nominated:

GM Coachwork Ltd

Jones and Son Pest Control Supplies Ltd/ Defender Bird Spikes

Putnam Health Co Ltd

Western Morning News Business Awards 2019

Innovative Business of the Year sponsored by Openreach

Winner: Ultrabeam Hydrographic

Ultrabeam Hydrographic have created a unique USV concept which employs the operating principle of an aerial drone. Specifically, the ULTRA USV is able to travel in any direction, at a controlled speed whilst maintaining a specific heading. ULTRA USV’s capability significantly enhances the ability to collect very precise, high-quality underwater sonar imagery, and simultaneous above water laser scan imagery of marine structures. This gives engineers a far clearer picture of maintenance requirements than traditional inspection and survey techniques.

Also nominated:

Freeload Accessories

Tamar Performance Centre

Manufacturer of the Year sponsored by Foot Anstey

Winner: Rittal-CMS Ltd

Rittal-CSM is the Plymouth-based UK manufacturing and engineering facility for Rittal. Based in Roborough. The factory is a 27,500 m2 plant with fabrication, painting, assembly and logistics on site. The business is a leading global provider of industrial enclosures, power distribution, climate control, and IT infrastructure as well as software and services.

Last year, it saw its customer base widen to include major international brands such as Facebook, Microsoft, Dell, and major supermarket chains. They have recently created a large number of jobs and it has a current headcount of 33 apprentices which is expected to grow.

Highly commended: DM Orthotics

The team at DM Orthotics
The team at DM Orthotics

 

Also nominated:

GRE Ltd

Plessey Semiconductors Ltd

Micro Business of the Year

Winner: Bird Sunglasses

Bird Sunglasses is a family start-up made up of brothers Ed, Lawrence and Paul, which was founded out of the desire for eyewear which not only looks good, but does good, too. Sustainable materials used include FSC certified wood, repurposed aluminium, and recycled packaging. Every pair of Birds brings the gift of solar light to families in Malawi, Zambia and Uganda through the close ethical Share Your Sun partnership they have with SolarAid. In 2018, Bird expanded to create prescription glasses. Bird sunglasses are now available in a range of stockists, including world wide attractions such as the Eden Project. Most recently, and still in its first trading year, Bird won Frame of the Year at the 2019 Opticians Awards with its Blackcap frame, beating competition from major players in the industry, including Specsavers, Cutler&Gross and LA Eyeworks. This is known as one of the highest accolades in the eyewear industry.

Highly commended: Moo Music Plymouth

lso nominated:

Ekopod

Sam Willis Carpets and Flooring

The Dartmoor Skincare Company

Ultrabeam Hydrographic

Small Business of the Year sponsored by NatWest

Winner: GRE Ltd

Winner of Small Business of the Year, GRE Ltd

GRE Ltd is establishing a global reputation as a thermal engineering company known for taking on complex and challenging problems. GRE specialises in the design and manufacture of customised cooling solutions for businesses across the globe in a vast array of sectors and environments. Focus sectors include cryogenic, process and ultra-pure water cooling (all of which have specific industrial, scientific and medical applications). GRE has, from its very beginning, placed an extremely high value on grassroots, apprentice engineers. With very few qualified or experienced for the role within their highly specialised industry it’s through apprenticeships that many of the company’s most enthusiastic, knowledgeable and capable staff have flourished. GRE also provide their apprentices with a mentor, whose role is not only to offer technical support, but help them integrate and bond with the team as a whole.

Also nominated:

Callestick Farm

Girling Jones

Silverstream TV

SunGift Energy

Young Business Person of the Year sponsored by Lloyd Barnes Accountancy recruitment

Winner: Harry Solomon, Wombat Cricket

Harry Solomon from Wombat Cricket
Harry Solomon from Wombat Cricket

 

Harry got involved in Wombat Cricket in 2012 and has grown the company massively ever since. Whilst at University in Plymouth Harry was working in the business part time whilst obtaining a degree in sports coaching and development. He now has over seven years of experience making bats. He has made several bats for professional cricketers and over the past 12 months he has been making blank bats for other UK cricket companies from their workshop in South Brent. In 2017 he became director of Wombat Willow which works on providing wombat cricket with good quality English willow to make cricket bats from. The company also plants young cricket bat willows and to date the company have 500 trees at different ages of growth, which in time will turn into 20,000 cricket bats. Over the last 18 months Harry has put a lot of time and effort into Wombat Willow and the company completed its first full harvest of 32 willow trees in 2018, this led to Wombat Willow completing numerous export orders worth over £35,000 to India and Pakistan dealing with couple of the biggest bats manufactures in South Asia.

Also nominated:

Andrew Sinclair - Highwater Sail Loft

Laura Scott - The Conscious Candy Company

Joe Turnbull – Bull & Wolf Film Co

Lifetime Achievement Award

James Staughton

James Staughton
James Staughton

Over the past 40 years, James has played a pivotal role in the extraordinary growth of one of the South West's most successful independent, family-run businesses. The great-great grandson of Walter Hicks, the founder of St Austell Brewery, James joined the business in 1980, at the age of 21, as an apprentice. During his time at the helm, St Austell Brewery has grown dramatically. This year the company reached the milestone of selling 150,000 brewers’ barrels of its own brand beers in a calendar year – the first time in its 168-year history. By comparison, when James started in his role as managing director, the brewery produced 15,000 barrels per year. James is a huge supporter of pubs as well as beer and during his tenure, St Austell Brewery pubs have reinvented themselves to adapt to the changing habits of consumers with food and accommodation now accounting for over 50% of revenue in the managed pub estate. Not wanting the brewery to rest on its laurels, James led the landmark acquisition of Bath Ales in 2016, and the opening of the Hare Brewery in 2018 - a new production facility in Bristol with the capacity to produce more than 50,000 brewers’ barrels of beer. James will retire as CEO in January, after 20 years. He will then take on the honorary role of president of the company and will continue to support the business in an ambassadorial role.

Business of the Year sponsored by Computech

Winner: Rittal-CSM Ltd

Winner of Business of the Year, Rittal-CSM Ltd. Pictured with Judi Spiers and Bill Martin. Presenter/sponsored: Computech, Garry Thompson

Rittal-CSM has seen a significant 30% sales growth in last 12 months with 200 new employees recruited in the last 18 months. They recognise value their millennial workforce places on personal growth, greater autonomy, and working environments requiring complex problem-solving, decision-making, and application of technical skills. Responding to this has inspired longer term loyalty and workforce stability. The business is a leading global provider of industrial enclosures, power distribution, climate control, and IT infrastructure as well as software and services.

Also nominated:

Callestick Farm

Devon Contract Waste

Forthglade Foods Ltd

LiveWest