Cornwall Business Awards 2019 finalists revealed

The finalists for the Cornwall Business Awards 2019 have been revealed, featuring 38 businesses from Liskeard to Penzance and covering a wide range of sizes and sectors.

Helston based children’s clothing company Frugi and leading software specialists Bluefruit Software are in the running for two awards whilst Kernow Fires lead the way in the people categories, with finalist places for Claire Mason as Young Business Person of the Year and their MD Simon Breckon as Business Leader.

It seems being a Great Place to Work is key to success, with each of the finalists in this category also grabbing a second finalist place. This includes digital accountancy Whyfield, who’s MD Laura Whyte is also on the list as Business Leader of the Year.

The Awards are organised and hosted by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth and Skills Hub, a signposting service that helps businesses work smarter and grow by finding support or developing their teams through training and staff development. Communications Manager, Kirsty Miles-Musgrave, comments:

“With a record number of entries this year, we have been blown away by the quality and range of businesses that have taken the time to apply. For every category there was only a few points difference between the top three, which is a credit to how many great companies we have in the local economy.

“Our expert panel of 29 judges have reviewed, deliberated and scored the entries and every business on our finalist list is among the best in Cornwall.”

Sara Pugh from Eight Wire, one of those tasked with scoring, said “Judging the awards for the first time I can see what an incredibly hard task it is to choose between the fantastic and diverse businesses, and everyone deserves credit for putting together great entries. As a former winner I also feel even more proud to have been top of the pile last year and I know everyone going to the awards in June will have a great time celebrating and I can’t wait to join them!”

Other leading figures in the business community judging the awards were Ann VanDerMeulen from the FSB, Toby Allies from Pendennis Shipyard and Martin Johnston from Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group.

Categories making their first appearance this year include Product of the Year, Circular Economy Award and Sole Trader of the Year.

For the first time the winners are still waiting to be chosen and the finalist businesses will make a pitch for the top spot during Showdown Day on 12th June, where a panel get the chance to quiz the business on their entry, before the winners are announced at the glamorous awards night at St Mellion International Resort on 27th June.

For more information, a full list of the finalists and to listen to our announcement podcast visit www.cornwallbusinessawards.co.uk