Power Electrics Scoop Bristol Evening Post Business of the Year 2007 Award

Bristol's top businesses were showcased in the first Evening Post Business Awards last night. Business editor JAMES COWLING spoke to all of the winners to find out how it feels to be recognised for outstanding achievement.

The shining lights of Bristol's business community were honoured in a glittering ceremony last night.

The first-ever Evening Post Business Awards named Warmley engineering firm Power Electrics as business of the year, in front of more than 350 people who packed the Dolman Suite at Bristol City Football Club.

The gala event, sponsored by law firm Veale Wasbrough and the South West Regional Development Agency, gave out awards across nine categories with Lord Mayor Peter Abraham and Lady Mayoress Pearl among the dignitaries who attended the event.

Power Electrics, founded by brothers Ambrose and Patrick Pullen in 1963, now has more than 100 staff and sells electricity generators all over the world.

The company also picked up the best family business award last night.

Ambrose's son Andy, who now runs the firm with brother John, said the firm was astonished to be chosen as the top firm in the area.

He said: "We've never won anything as a firm before - we're just gobsmacked.

"It was a complete shock for us to win when we saw who we were up against. This is a big testament to the value of having a good family behind you. It's a very good day for old-fashioned family firms.

"My mum and dad, who were behind the firm all those years ago, were here to see it, and to win the double was just amazing."

The ceremony also honoured Don Cameron - the founder of Bedminster firm Cameron Balloons and the driving force behind the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta - with a lifetime achievement award.

He was nominated by daughter Hannah, who also works for the family firm.

Don, who is recovering from treatment for mouth cancer, received a warm welcome as he accepted the award.

He said: "I was very flattered to be even shortlisted, but when we got to the dinner, I realised our table number was 13, so I didn't think we stood a chance.

"I was sat next to some people from Airbus, who unfortunately didn't win anything, so I thought it was down to number 13.

"I came here as an engineering graduate in the 1960s and I thought I would stay here for a few years, and 46 years on, I'm still here, which says something about Bristol."

More than 100 firms applied for the awards, which were launched in January and open to all firms in the Evening Post circulation area.

The entrepreneur award was scooped by Nicky Burston, whose World Wine Agencies wine import firm based in Keynsham wowed judges by achieving a £600,000 turnover in just 14 months.

She said: "I'm really delighted, and I want to dedicate the award to my husband and daughter, who have had to put up with me running the business all of the time. I only started last year, so this is beyond my wildest dreams."

Private medical insurance firm BCWA won the community award for its extensive focus on helping Bristol's good causes.

The Victoria Street firm, headed by managing director Jamie Wilson, gives 30 days a year to community projects.

Mr Wilson said: "I'm absolutely delighted for all the staff at BCWA who have made this happen.

"It's validation that you should put something back into the community."

The award for best training policy was handed to North Bristol NHS Trust, led by chief executive Sonia Mills.

A large proportion of its workforce is educationally disadvantaged and in many cases English is not their first language.

Judges were impressed with the trust's funding for 30 training places for staff to improve their basic skills.

Director of facilities Simon Wood said: "This is fantastic and overwhelming for us.

"Trusts like ours are run to train doctors and nurses, but there is normally nothing in place for support staff to learn and be educated.

"It's been a great night."

Bedminster food giant Bart Spices, established in 1965, took the award for company with a turnover exceeding £5 million.

Its innovation in new ranges and exports to countries as far away as Thailand scored highly with the judging panel.

Chairman Edward Shaw said: "It has been such a tremendous evening for Bart Spices and everyone who works in the firm.

"The whole event has captured the public's imagination in Bristol.

"It has highlighted the strength of firms in the region, as business is the bedrock of the city."

Inventing energy-saving steam traps landed Gardner Energy Management the award in the sub-£5 million turnover category.

Its work currently includes a £250,000 deal to install the systems for a Kuwait oil refinery.

Managing director Tim Gardner said: "We have won awards for engineering before, but winning a business award shows you're a good businessman. It's fantastic."

The sustainability award category, one of the most hotly contested of the awards, was won by Clifton ethical bank Triodos.

Its policy of only lending to firms with a social conscience and its renewables fund, which finances sustainable energy sources such as wind farms, was a clear winner for the judges.

Gavin Smith, head of business banking, said: "This just shows how hard all of our staff work in Clifton.

"This is the first award we have won in Bristol. Maybe this shows that what we do is not a niche any more.

"Hopefully there will be a lot more competition for the sustainability category at next year's awards."

The judging panel was led by Evening Post managing director Steve Anderson-Dixon, who said he was delighted with the success of the event.

He said: "It has simply been a marvellous evening and a fantastic event.

"There was a feeling of great camaraderie among the finalists during the evening, and all of the winners were very good companies.

"We, as judges, had very difficult choices to make, but I think we made the right choices. All of the nominees were excellent businesses in their own right."

He was joined on the judging panel by Jennifer Bryant Pearson, founder and chief executive of Bristol public relations firm JBP; Simon Pizzey, managing partner of solicitors Veale Wasbrough; Peter Case, professor of organisation studies at the University of the West of England's Bristol Business School; and Stephen Peacock, executive director of enterprise and innovation at the South West Regional Development Agency.