THE best of business big and small was recognised at the glitzy Sedgemoor Business Excellence Awards ceremony.

More than 150 guests dressed up to the nines filled out the Bridgwater & Albion Rugby Club, enjoying a delicious meal, live music, and a speech from special guest author Claire Donaghue.

Sedgemoor FM DJ Dave Englefield and Nick Rickards compered the presentations, with the first award of the evening going to Presona, a company which develops products and services to make recycling easier, who were named best employer.

Bridgwater Carnival was named winner of the people's choice community engagement award, while Pauline Kidner collected the award for charity of the year on behalf of Secret World Wildlife Rescue.

The White Feather Coffee Company, which is based at the Watergate on West Quay, was awarded the independent retailer of the year award which was presented by the mayor of Bridgwater, Diogo Rodrigues.

PC Comms, a company which provides IT support, services and strategy to businesses across the south west picked up the prize for family business of the year, after being shortlisted alongside H Biffen & Sons Ltd funeral directors and Jolly Jumpers Playzone.

The award for innovative business was presented by Lord David Triesman, Labour peer and former chairman of the Football Association.

It went to New Leaf - a company which specialises in workplace wellbeing.

New business of the year went to CL Drylining Ltd which provides a range of services to residential, commercial and industrial projects such as plastering, insulation and the installation of ceilings.

The award for small business of the year was presented by Sedgemoor District Councillor Anne Fraser and went to Trizo, a leader in the field of electronic contract manufacturing, working for sectors such as aerospace and defence.

Large business of the year went to David Salisbury Joinery, a Highbridge firm which makes conservatories, orangeries, garden room and extensions, while Friends For Pets were given the customer service award.

The award for growth business went to Mike Morgan Electrical Services (MMES) who have seen a growth in trade since joining the Hinkley C Supply Chain.

The evening closed with a speech from David Rayner from the Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce, who said: "Thank you to everybody coming, it has been a fantastic evening.

"We had a record number of applicants for these awards and I think it just showcases what a buoyant, vibrant and growing local economy we have here in Sedgemoor."

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