Powys Business Awards 22 - all the winners

The Powys Business Awards 2022 saw a black tie event held at Dering Lines in Brecon on Friday night (October 7), with BBC Wales presenter Claire Summers the host.

And two Welshpool companies were the big winners on the night as Wipak, which has invested £5 million in state-of-the-art machinery to create 50 new jobs in the coming years, picked up the coveted Powys Business of the Year award, and entrepreneur Richard Glover-Davies added another brace of accolades to his growing collection.

Business of the Year: Wipak UK

People Development: Wipak UK

Wipak UK Ltd’s managing director Andrew Newbold said: “Wow, what an amazing honour. What I like about this award is that it’s about all our employees, not just one person or one product.

“We have won it because of what they have achieved collectively. They have embraced the development plan and are an amazing group of people.”

Wipak UK also won the People Development Award, sponsored by NPTC Group of Colleges.

Phil BlaggWipak UK Ltd’s managing director Andrew Newbold (right) and human resources manager Clare Hanson receive the Powys Business of the Year Award from Councillor David Selby, Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys at Powys County Council, sponsor. (Image: Phil Blagg)

Wipak UK Ltd’s managing director Andrew Newbold and human resources manager Clare Hanson receive the People Development Award from Catherine Lewis, acting chief executive and principal of NPTC Group of Colleges, sponsor. (Image: Phil Blagg)

The Welshpool-based company makes sophisticated, high barrier packaging films for preserving and protecting food products. The business has a turnover approaching £30 million, 107 employees and plans to create another 50 jobs in the coming years following £5 million investment in state-of-the-art machinery.

The judges said: “Wipak has a strong leader, has invested in local people and put them at the heart of the company. They have established themselves as market leaders by continuing to invest in their manufacturing capability and in the development of new products."

Small Business Award: Montgomeryshire Homes

Entrepreneurship Award: Richard Glover Davies

Mr Glover Davies won the Entrepreneurship Award, sponsored by Welsh Government, with his companies gloversure and Montgomeryshire Homes Ltd, Welshpool at the annual awards ceremony held at Dering Lines, Brecon on Friday night.

Montgomeryshire Homes then added the Small Business Award, sponsored by WR Partners.

Richard Glover-Davies (right) of Montgomeryshire Homes receives the Small Business Award from Phil Pugh, a director of WR Partners, sponsor. (Image: Phil Blagg)

Richard Glover-Davies receives the Entrepreneurship Award from Ann Watkin, head of strategy for Mid Wales region for the Welsh Government, sponsor. (Image: Phil Blagg)

He said: "I genuinely think that out of all the awards I enter, the Powys Business Awards are the best because the judges actually come out to see the businesses and judge them properly.

“I have a brilliant team around me and without them, I wouldn’t be here tonight.”

Growth Award winner: Morland UK

Another Welshpool company, Morland UK, which manufactures timber-based fit out products used in industries across the UK and Europe, won The Growth Award, sponsored by The County Times.

Morland UK, which has 125 employees on Buttington Cross Enterprise Park, has sustainably grown sales and profitability by developing key markets and is on track for £31 million turnover this year.

Managing director James Morris, sales and marketing director Richard Allen and human resources manager Rachel Jones from Morland UK receive The Growth Award from Thom Kennedy, editor of The County Times, sponsor. (Image: Phil Blagg)

Morland UK’s managing director James Morris said: “I am delighted to have everyone in the company recognised with this award. Having won the award for growth, we will do our best to build on this success by continuing to invest in our people, equipment and products.

“We haven’t participated in many awards like this, so to have entered this year and won is very special.”

Technology and Innovation: Nidec Control Techniques

Newtown’s largest employer, Nidec Control Techniques, won the Technology & Innovation Award sponsored by ForrestBrown.

A new AC micro drive which comes complete with a revolutionary app that is operated from a smart phone helped the company to win the award.

Nidec Control Techniques’ global product manager Roxana Suteu and production development director Dr Ricky Gibson receive the Technology & Innovation Award from Emmy Mitchell, partnership executive at ForrestBrown, sponsor. (Image: Phil Blagg)

Gavin Sevier, head of launch and campaigns at Nidec Control Techniques, said: “We genuinely believe this product is a game-changer on so many fronts and look forward to seeing its progress in the market in the coming months and years."

Start-up Business: Nomadic Washrooms

Nomadic Washrooms, based at Forden, near Welshpool, specialises in the hire of bespoke luxury shepherd’s hut toilet and shower trailers for weddings, events and festivals across the UK.

The success of their enterprise saw bosses Kate and Stuart Richards collect the Start-up Business Award, sponsored by EvaBuild.

Nomadic Washrooms directors Stuart and Kate Richards receive the Start-up Business Award from Nick Evans, managing director of EvaBuild, sponsor. (Image: Phil Blagg)

“We are gaining a reputation within the events industry for our unique concept with demand for our units at big events such as Glastonbury, Silverstone, the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Wilderness Festival in Oxfordshire,” said Stuart.

Micro Business: PM Training and Assessing Ltd

PM Training and Assessing Ltd, based in Crickhowell, proved it’s on the right track by winning the Micro Business Award, sponsored by WPG.

Ensuring that there is no repeat of the Clapham Junction train crash in 1988, in which 35 people died, is one of the inspirations behind the thriving railway training company.

PM Training and Assessing Ltd directors Paul and Pam Martin receive the Micro Business Award from Andrew Bebb, sales director of WPG, sponsor. (Image: Phil Blagg)

“The crash changed the whole signalling industry and also changed my attitude to work at the age of 18,” said Paul Martin, who runs the business with wife Pam. “Our business aims to ensure that the chances of the disaster happening again are reduced by providing inspiring, creative, quality training.”

Judges' Special Award: Radnor Hills

Founded in 1990 by fifth generation farmer William Watkins to sell water cuplets to the airline industry, Radnor Hills has grown from humble beginnings to now have a turnover of £42 million.

The Knighton-based company, which has more than 150 employees, collected the Judges’ Special Award, sponsored by CellPath.

Radnor Hills’ general manager Dave Pope receives the Judges’ Special Award from Peter Webber, representing CellPath, sponsor and Bob Benyon, a judge. (Image: Phil Blagg)

Dave Pope, Radnor Hills’ general manager, said: “We are very proud to have been recognised with this award against a lot of great companies here in Powys.

“In March 2020, we had more than 100 people on furlough during the pandemic and were expecting the company to shrink in size, but we have gone from strength to strength thanks to innovation and hard work by our staff.”

Social Enterprise/Charity: The Game Change Project

The Game Change Project (TGCP) CIC, based at Aberhafesp, near Newtown, received the Social Enterprise/ Charity Award, sponsored by Myrick Training Services.

TGCP was established in 2019 by directors Andrew Evans and Sian Roberts to provide opportunities to help disengaged young people gain practical life skills and confidence.

Sian Roberts and Andrew Evans from The Game Change Project receive the Social Enterprise/ Charity Award from Nick Jones, representing Myrick Training Services, sponsor. (Image: Phil Blagg)

More than 130 young people have completed courses with TGCP, gaining employability skills, youth achievement awards, Welsh Baccalaureate and other qualifications to improve their employment prospects. Many of them have progressed to college, apprenticeships and self-employment.

Sian Roberts said: “It’s absolutely amazing to win this award and we are very proud of the team we work with and the young people we support. I would like to thank the organisers and sponsors for recognising third sector organisations in Powys.”

Small Business Growth: The Cellar Drinks Company

Drink wholesaler The Cellar Drinks Company was the toast of Crickhowell after adding another Powys Business Award to its collection.

The company, which won the Micro Business Award last year, this time collected the Small Business Growth Award, sponsored by EDF Renewables.

Rhys and Chyrelle Anstee receive the Small Business Growth Award from Amy Ravitz-Williams, project development manager for EDF Renewables, sponsor. (Image: Phil Blagg)

Specialising in selling beers, ciders, wines, spirits and soft drinks to the licensed trade, The Cellar Drinks Company is owned by Rhys and Chyrelle Anstee who purchased the business in January last year.

Revenue has grown by more than 25% as a result of launching an ecommerce website and forging partnerships with three major UK brewers, providing access to a huge range of brands.

“As business owners, we are beyond proud of what we have achieved so far and this continues to motivate us to pursue further growth,” said Chyrelle. “Rhys has the knowledge and connections in the drinks industry and I add technology to the mix. We are a good team.”