THE winners of the 2018 Somerset Business Awards were announced at a glittering black-tie event last night.

Nearly 400 influential business people celebrated the best in business in Somerset at Wellsprings Leisure Centre in Taunton.

The Somerset Chamber of Commerce organise the event, and this year it was hosted by Somerset cricket all-rounder and cult hero, Peter Trego.

The 14 awards were presented by their sponsors, before the winners were announced and invited on stage to collect their trophy and give a short speech.

Main sponsor and leading local accountancy firm, Albert Goodman, also took to the stage to welcome everyone to the Awards and congratulate the finalists.

Managing partner, Richard Bugler, said: “The Somerset Business Awards are always such a fantastic celebration of the best and brightest of the Somerset business community.

"Albert Goodman is delighted to be in its eighth year as the Main Sponsor and it has been a truly rewarding experience to get to know many of the wonderful businesses and charities that enter these Awards.

"Entering and winning the Awards can have a really tangible impact for businesses and we’d encourage everyone who is proud of their business to have a go. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and nominees.”

This year’s Somerset Business Awards winners are:

Business of the Year 1-10, sponsored by TDA

1. Introtweet Ltd (Taunton)

Runner ups: Environments for Business (Taunton) and Eternal Kitchens (South Petherton)

Business of the Year 11-25, sponsored by A.C. Mole & Sons

1. Boxclever Press (Wincanton)

Runner ups: Choice Stationery Supplies Ltd (Taunton) and Office Reality Ltd (Wellington)

Business of the Year 26-50, sponsored by PKF Francis Clark

1. Evosite (Taunton)

Runner ups: Civils Store Ltd (Shepton Mallet) and Key Solutions Mortgages (Weston)

Business of the Year 51+, sponsored by Screwfix

1. Yarlington Housing Group (Yeovil)

Runner ups: Radstock Co-operative Society (Radstock) and Weston College (Weston)

Charity of the Year Award, sponsored by Clarke Willmott LLP

1. Key4Life (Glastonbury)

Runner ups: Headway Somerset (Taunton) and Stand Against Violence (Taunton)

Investing in Somerset Award, sponsored by Hinkley Point C

1. eat:Festivals (Burnham-on-Sea)

Runner ups: Evosite (Taunton) and The Taunton Cider Company (Taunton)

Creative Marketing and PR Campaign of the Year Award, sponsored by ADPR Ltd

1. Bradfords Building Supplies (Yeovil)

Runner ups: Greenslade Taylor Hunt (Yeovil) and Red Berry Recruitment (Shepton Mallet)

New Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Teapot Creative

1. The Sangha House (Taunton)

Runner ups: Lodestone Property (Bruton) and Withies Delicatessen (Stoke St Gregory)

Service Excellence Award, sponsored by Elite Staffing Solutions

1. Bowen Opticians (Weston)

Runner ups: Busy Bees Cleaning & Maintenance 2000 Ltd (Frome) and Haynes International Motor Museum (Sparkford)

Skills for Growth Award, sponsored by Wessex Reserve Forces’ & Cadets’ Association

1. Evolution ABS Ltd (Wellington)

Runner ups: Brookside Academy (Street) and Red Berry Recruitment (Shepton Mallet)

Somerset Manufacturer & Producer Award, sponsored by Ashfords LLP

1. Granny Gothards Limited (Taunton)

Runner ups: Eternal Kitchens (South Petherton) and TAUNTON FABRICATIONS LTD (Taunton)

Technology & Innovation Award, sponsored by Porter Dodson Solicitors & Advisors

1. Cardstream (Taunton)

Runner up: i2i Infinity Ltd (Shepton Mallet)

The Albert Goodman Family Business Award, sponsored by Albert Goodman LLP

1. C&D South West Ltd (Chard)

Runner ups: Camelot Care limited (Wellington) and Sparks and Daughters ltd (Taunton)

Young Business Employee of the Year Award, sponsored by Clarks

1. Rachel Lane - Oake Manor Golf Club (Taunton)

Runner ups: Crestmoor Training - Lily Higgins (Wincanton) and Evosite - Aran Reeks (Taunton)

Working together with Bridgwater & Taunton College, the finalists were filmed by Media students who created a short film about each business, which were shown on the Awards night and forms part of the students’ final course results.