Exeter Business Network members on shortlist Business Awards

WMN Business Awards 2012 shortlist revealed – but who will be named as the West’s best?

WMN editor Bill Martin said: “All of the businesses that have made it onto the shortlist are real Westcountry success stories who are achieving some incredible results despite the difficult trading conditions. I’d like to congratulate all of the shortlisted organisations and to thank the judges who kindly gave their time and expertise to assess a very strong field of entries.”

Best Start Up Business, sponsored by Plymouth University

Hosted Desktop UK

Select Statistical Services

Best Young Businessperson, sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland

Adam Chetnik

Judges were: Chris Pomfret, chairman of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership; Tim Jones, chairman of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership; entrepreneur and hotelier Sonia Meaden; WMN editor Bill Martin; Carleen Kelemen, chairman of the Institute of Directors in Devon and Cornwall; Dean Drew, partner at Bond Pearce; Duncan Sykes, head of Foot Anstey’s corporate/commercial team; Ian Brokenshire, senior partner at KPMG in Plymouth; Rob Salisbury, private banker at Coutts; Liz Parks, WMN business editor; Richard Price, head of marketing at Brittany Ferries; and Dave Roberts, from South West Water’s Source for Business.

The awards will be handed out at a black tie dinner at the University of Exeter’s Great Hall on November 14. Keynote speaker will be Major General Andy Salmon, co-founder and honorary president of the Lympstone-based C-Group charity, which raises awareness and understanding of Royal Marines as well as supporting the rehabilitation of injured Royal Marines.

The overall event sponsor is South West Water’s Source for Business, with the winner of last year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Peter Betteridge, founder of the Bed Expert and the Sofa Expert furniture stores, on board as sponsor of the event’s champagne reception. Other sponsors include: Foot Anstey, Coutts, Brewin Dolphin, Brittany Ferries, Plymouth University, Bond Pearce, RBS, KPMG and First Great Western.