Shropshire Chamber Business Awards finalists are revealed

The awards will be handed out in front of around 700 guests at Telford’s International Centre on Friday June 10.

The showpiece company of the year award will this year be decided between two previous winners – Oswestry-based alarm maker Aico, and Reconomy of Telford – plus Autocraft Telford, and DMOS Group from Shrewsbury.

Aico is shortlisted in a total of six categories, while there are also multiple nominations for Reconomy, Shropshire Business Live TV, J&PR of Wellington, and Six Ticks from Shrewsbury.

Queen’s Award winners Aviramp and Scanning Pens are among the companies in the running for the international trade award, while former company of the year winner Pave Aways is up for the wellbeing in the workplace title.

The finalists come from all corners of the county, including Telford, Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Ludlow, Bridgnorth, Whitchurch, Shifnal, Bishop’s Castle, Ellesmere, Ellerdine, Knockin and Albrighton.

Richard Sheehan, chief executive of Shropshire Chamber, said: “It’s going to be a fantastic event celebrating the extraordinary adaptability, innovation and success of our business community.

“As usual, we have been amazed and delighted by the volume and quality of entries, with record numbers in many categories. Shortlisting each of them down to a final four was a really tough task for our independent judging panel.”

Teams of judges will now be visiting each of the finalists at their premises over the coming weeks, before making their final decision.

Tickets are already on sale for the black tie Shropshire Chamber Business Awards night, where former world heavyweight boxing champion Frank Bruno will be the guest speaker.

For details of the awards night – plus the chamber’s conference and showcase which is also being held in Telford earlier that week with a string of high-profile speakers – visit shropshirechamberbusinessawards.com

Mr Sheehan said: “The Shropshire Chamber Business Awards are established among the largest events of their kind in the country, and we are so excited to be back after missing our in-person celebrations for the past two years.

“Alongside our traditional categories like company of the year, best new business and best small business, we have added new categories which reflect the challenges Shropshire businesses have faced since we were last together.

“In addition to this, our conference in the build-up to the awards will give us the chance to bring top-level speakers to the county, to tackle the issues that matter to our local business community. It’s going to be an incredible week.”

Finalists

• Company of the year: Aico, Autocraft Telford, DMOS Group and Reconomy.

• Best new business: Housebuilder Pro, Quality Medical Group, Shropshire Business Live TV and Techtimeout.

• Best small business: Bright Star Boxing, J&PR, Shropshire Festivals and The Shropshire Distillery.

• Outstanding customer service: Aico, G N Badley & Sons, Peakes Travel and Q Financial Services.

• International trade: Aviramp, Jesmonite, Scanning Pens and SNG Barratt.

• Covid response award: Calluna Upcycling, Derwen College, J&PR and Shropshire Business Live TV.

• Manufacturing and engineering: Beaver Bridges, Craven Dunnill, Portable Conveyors and The Needham Group.

• Wellbeing in the workplace: Aico, Lavender Blue Services, Pave Aways and Shrewsbury Colleges Group.

• Innovation: Aico, Oaklands Farm Eggs, Six Ticks and Yarrington.

• Sustainability: Aico, Calluna Graphix, Lowfield Timber Frames and Reconomy.

• Young business person: Alex Riley - WR Partners; Lizzy Coleman – Lingen Davies; Samuel Marston – Aico; Steph Henson – Six Ticks.