A telephone answering company hit the right tone as it celebrated glory at the 2013 Ely Standard East Cambridgeshire Business Awards.

PA Answer, based in Ely, won the Business of the Year accolade at Friday’s awards, run in association with N&C Glass and held at Ely Cathedral’s Lady Chapel.

The company is owned by Chris Grove and helps clients by answering calls and providing business support services including diary management, order taking, outbound calling and administration.

PA Answer was also crowned Small Business of the Year before winning East Cambridgeshire’s ultimate business honour.

The judges described PA Answer as “a well-structured and successful answering phone service”.

They praised different levels of requirements, from as little as answering the phone if you are away from the office to completely running the paperwork side your business, including making and cancelling appointments, diary entries, sending out monthly invoices and chasing payments at the end of the month.

They also said: “Chris’ ability to read and understand the markets needs and address the areas was interesting and positive. Developing a more specialist market within the medical and legal sector is enabling expansion and growth for the future.

“A steady executed and well thought out program enables PA Answer to give a high standard of service to the individuals and companies alike.

“PA Answer stood out from the other finalists.”

The Business of the Year award was sponsored by accountancy firm Whiting & Partners.

A capacity audience gathered at the Lady Chapel for this year’s awards. Guests at the black tie event included finalists, business leaders, council dignitaries and sponsors.

They enjoyed a champagne reception before a three-course meal and the awards led by host Mark Peters, managing director of Star FM.

In total, 23 of the area’s finest firms were represented. They included recruitment agencies, logistics firms, retailers, a hotel, a golf club and a dance company.

The judging panel included a team of independent business leaders and award sponsors.

Lead judge Peter Watts said: “Once again the high standard of entries presented the judges with a challenging task, making it difficult to decide the winners.

“All the finalists are highly commended. Well done to you all and hopefully you are encouraged to enter again in the future.

“Without the Ely Standard and Archant we would not be here to recognise the achievements of businesses in the East Cambs area. Thank you to Sarah Scott-Foster (Archant Herts & Cambs events and exhibitions manager) and her team for organising this prestigious event.”