EIBA winners share their delight

The Whitchurch-based business has grown substantially over the last 18 months, with new premises and a growing reputation for its work to secure the future of endangered species and breeds.

Stallion picked up the Agricultural Food and Farming Champion category, sponsored by Higgs and Sons, and the Small To Medium Sized Business of the Year award, sponsored by Greenhous.

"It's breathtaking," said managing director Tullis Matson, who was joined by business manager Kate Ashmore.

"It has been quite a year. Unfortunately my father passed away two years ago and it has been a steep learning curve since then.

"We have spent £1.5 million building new state-of-the-art facilities, and it has been a testing year building it and putting all our dreams into this place.

"We have an Olympic horse, 28 stallions, and employ about 25 members of staff. We export to 30 different counties. This company is growing hand over fist.

"These awards are for the people that work for us. We are only a part of that. They are the key to that, they make the business what it is."

Dyke Yaxley Chartered Accountants in Shrewsbury and Telford was the first business to collect an award on the night, scooping the Customer Champion category sponsored by Rybrook BMW.

Managing director Laurie Riley said: "This is what we have been working for for years and years.

"Customer service is everything we do. Our customers come back year after year after tear, and that's testament to how we feel about our relationship."

Ludlow-based care home operator Hendra Healthcase won the Apprentice Employer Award, sponsored by the University of Wolverhampton.

Owner Vince Burmingham said: "We have been involved in apprenticeships since 2009 and since then we have developed staff at various levels, with many going on to professional careers in nursing, physiotherapy and social work.

"It has provided us with 75 per cent of our senior management team, who were former apprentices."

Shrewsbury-based Beaver Bridges won the Young Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Rent-A-Space.

Managing director Henry Beaver said: "Our success has been down to a great, flexible team, a big work ethic and a desire to do well and achieve."

Sales manager Andrew Swan added: "They are all working in the right direction, with the same goal.

"We all know where we want to be and are working hard to get there."

Law firm FBC Manby Bowdler was the winner in the Best Place to Work category, sponsored by Star Employment Services, thanks to policies such as unlimited paid holiday.

Marketing manager Laura Jones said: "We are nothing without our emplyoees. Everything we do around customer focus is the result of what our employees do for the business.

"It ensures our staff are engaged with our objectives and mission, and means they deliver stellar customer service, and that's what our business is about.

"We are exceptionally proud to have won this award. It was unexpected and we were up against some fantastic businesses."

Caradoc Medical Services, the Shrewsbury-based medical buying consortium, won the Micro Business of the Year Award sponsored by the Shropshire Star.

Business manager Peter Masters said: "This was an idea from about eight or nine years ago that has grown into a £25 million-surplus business, and there's only two-and-a-half od us.

"We've got more than 2,500 GP practices, and have a show next week at the NEC where we are trying to do the same thing for dentists."