Fenland Enterprise Business of the Year Awards 2018 - all the winners and finalists at tenth annual ceremony

Fenland Business AwardsBusiness of the Year Agrimech (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Agrimech Services were the big winners on the night of Friday October 5 as March Braza Club transformed to host a glitzy ceremony - the Oscars of the Fens business world.

Taking home not one, not two, but three awards, the Upwell-based machinery manufacturing company was named business of the year (sponsored by Whiting & Partners) after winning the medium business of the year (Local Generation) and customer service awards.

Belinda Smith, finance director, said: “I’m shocked - to be a finalist was overwhelming and to win is fantastic. It means everything - we couldn’t grow the business without everyone else that’s around us. We’ve got 17 members of staff, and growing year on year.”

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Two of their team also won two of the top raffle prizes and, as Cambs Times Editor John Elworthy commented: “When you’re on a roll, you’re on a roll!”

Earlier in the evening, MortgageAbility took home the new business of the year award, which was sponsored by Nestlé Purina.

Amanda Marshall and Rhian Mills, mortgage brokers at the Wisbech company, said: “We didn’t expect it. We were nominated and it’s fantastic - but to be crowned the winners is amazing.”

Fenland Business AwardsCustomer Service Award winner Agrimech (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

As for the company’s future aspirations, they said: “We want to win again. We haven’t even been trading for a whole year yet - it’s fantastic.”

Swann Edwards Architecture Ltd took home the small business of the year title, which was sponsored by College of West Anglia.

Russell Swann, owner, said: “We’re feeling really good. We were in for it last year and lost out so it’s really nice to be recognised for the hard work.

Fenland Business AwardsThe Judges Award Cambridgeshire Canine Crèche (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

“And all the 14 members of staff we have - they’re a huge part of the team.”

Worzals Bar & Grill was crowned Retailer of the Year and Sasha Knight, manager of the restaurant in Walton Highway, said: “We’re really happy; it means so much to us.

“We would not be where we are if it was not for our staff. It’s our first time entering, we are growing and we see lots of new things for the future. We have 100 members of staff.”

Fenland Business Awards Business person of the year Shaun Hindle, College of West Anglia with finalists Claire Lilley, Optima Sales and Lettings Mike Frost, iTech Security Limited and Austen Adams, Metalcraft (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Chatteris-based Stainless Metalcraft won the commercial business in the community/ corporate social responsibility award, which was sponsored by Fenland District Council.

Austen Adams, managing director, said: “We’ve won various events over the years.

“It’s nice for these guys to be recognised for the hard work and support they put into the local community.

Fenland Business AwardsBusiness person of the year Shaun Hindle, College of West Anglia (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

“It’s nice to see so many new businesses taking part, too.”

The business person of the year award went to Shaun Hindle, director of employer engagement at College of West Anglia Wisbech.

He said: “I’m very excited and really appreciate the award. It has been a marvellous success.

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

“I have worked at CWA for two years and we now want to keep on growing in the business community and gain recognition for the future of the college.”

The Judges Award, sponsored by Fenland Chamber of Commerce, went to Cambridgeshire Canine Crèche.

Nikki Hopkin, owner, said: “I’m amazed. I did not expect this at all. I’m very happy.

Fenland Business Awards Commercial Business in the Community winner Metalcraft and finalists The College of West Anglia and Worzals (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

“It’s been really nice, that everyone has come to us personally and said well done.

“It will help us moving forward and customers will come and have faith in us - because this award proves it.

“We were here last year as finalists, but since then we’ve made a lot of changes.”

Fenland Business AwardsCommercial Business in the Community winner Metalcraft and finalists (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Before the awards were handed out, the audience caught up with Chatteris fundraisers Dan Handley and Dave Brooks live from Japan. The pair had arrived just hours before - having travelled thousands of miles from the Fens to Japan in a 16-year-old Toyota Yaris to raise money for Children In Need.

Inspired by the duo’s plight, £742 was raised for the charity on behalf of Dan & Dave: Chatteris to Tokyo and the special guests on the night were Dave’s mum Janet File and stepdad Steve File, and Dan’s mum Kathy Whittaker and stepdad Lee Whittaker.

Entertainment came from ‘old fashioned crooner with a twist’ Mickey Fordola, who has performed for HRM The Queen, Hong Kong Football Club and Cath Kidston.

Fenland Business Awards (Image: Archant)

The event was hosted by BBC Look East journalist Jozef Hall.

Fenland Business AwardsCustomer Service Award winner Agrimech with finalists Nationwide Building Society, March Branch, Abtec Industries Limited and Ward Gethin Archer Ltd (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: Archant)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: Archant)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: Archant)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: Archant)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Cambs Times editor John Elworthy talking to Chatteris fundraisers Dan Handley and Dave Brooks live from Tokyo. (Image: Archant)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business AwardsAndrea Sutti (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business AwardsWinner of Medium Business of the Year Agrimech (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards Winner of Small Business of the Year Swann Edwards Architecture Limited with finalists Bridges Fire Solutions Studio 11 Architechture, Fenland Timber Ltd and iTech Security Limited (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business AwardsWinner of New Business of the Year Mortgage Ability (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business AwardsWinner of Small Business of the Year Swann Edwards Architecture Limited (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business AwardsWinner of New Business of the Year Mortgage Ability and finalist Cambridgeshire Canine Crèche (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards Retailer of the Year winner Worzals and finalists Holiday with Us Group (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business Awards (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business AwardsRetailer of the Year winner Worzals (Image: AdGarry Samuels)

Fenland Business AwardsWinner of Medium Business of the Year Agrimech with finalists Industrial Signs Limited and Optima Sales and Lettings (Image: AdGarry Samuels)