Plymouth has many great businesses, but which are the best? And which have been the best during the past decade?

The only way to find out if your firm is the tops is by entering the Plymouth Business Awards. There are categories for best large, medium and small business of 2019.

And if you win your firm will be in illustrious company. Here are all the business of the year winners at the Plymouth Business Awards, formerly called The Herald Business Awards, since they were first staged in 2011.

So, that’s pretty much a decade of success, encapsulated in these companies. Here’s who won what and when:

Burts Snacks

Staff from Burts Chips Ltd celebrate winning at the Herald Business Awards 2017
Staff from Burts Chips Ltd celebrate winning at the Herald Business Awards 2017

The Roborough-based snack producer is the only firm to be named Plymouth’s business of the year twice in two different categories – showing how much it has grown.

The company, which employs more than 200 people and turned over £29.4million in 2018, was named Large Business of the Year in 2018, after being Medium Business of the Year five years earlier.

That is because its headcount had grown, shifting it into the upper category. So, alongside Princess Yachts, it remains the only two-time champ.

In 2018 Burts Potato Chips signed deals to supply two huge Chinese supermarket chains as the world’s insatiable appetite for the Plymouth-made snacks continued to grow.

The firm sent a team to the enormous China Food and Drinks Fair (CFDF) in the city of Chengdu – itself home to 14 million potential crisp crunchers.

The company revealed at the Business Awards ceremony, at the Pavilions, that it is changing its name to Burts Snacks because it is diversifying away from just making crisps.

The business bought Leicester popcorn maker Savoury & Sweet, because it is looking at the “popping market”, a way of making snacks that is healthier.

Enter the 2019 Plymouth Business Awards by clicking here

Bailey Partnership

The Bailey Partnership's table at the Herald Business Awards 2018 at the Plymouth Pavilions

Winner of the Medium Business of the Year trophy in 2018, this company, set up in 1971 as a small quantity surveying practice, has grown to become a UK top 100 construction consultancy offering multi-disciplinary property and construction skills.

A former Building Magazine Award winner for UK Construction Consultant of the Year, Bailey Partnership  has worked on many ignificant projects in Plymouth including the new headquarters for The Range, at Derriford, the regeneration of Colin Campbell Court and Bath Street to create the Millbay Boulevard, and installation of a new sprinkler system and replacement cladding in the three high-rise tower blocks in Devonport.

Since being shortlisted for the Herald’s construction award in 2016 the Millfields-based company recruited an additional 20 people to bring its total employees to 60. They provide architecture, interior design, building surveying, quantity surveying, mechanical and electrical services engineering services.

It makes Bailey Partnership the largest architectural and building surveying teams south of Bristol.

How to enter the 2019 Plymouth Business Awards

The 2019 Plymouth Business Awards are open now and the nomination period closes on March 24, 2019 - so and businesses and individuals are urged to waste no time in entering.

The awards, headline sponsored this year by the University of Plymouth and Computech, are aiming to build on the huge success of the 2018 version with another exceptional black-tie awards night at Plymouth Pavilions.

A panel of business experts will be recruited to scrutinise the entries, which close on March 24, and prepare a shortlist of nominees who will be announced on Plymouth Live and in The Herald after judging on April 2.

Shortlisted businesses will be profiled in The Herald’s Business section and on Plymouth Live before the awards night on Friday, May 17, 2019.

That’s when the contest culminates in what is becoming one of the most anticipated events in the business calendar.

So enter the 2019 Plymouth Business Awards now by clicking here

Computech IT Services

Garry Thompson of Computech

Triumph in the Small Business of the Year category in 2018 came a year after the Saltash-based software development house joined an elite group of businesses when it won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

The award recognises businesses which have excelled at international trade, innovation or sustainable development and is the highest award for British businesses.

Computech’s flagship product, BusinessMan ERP, a comprehensive business management software suite, has achieved phenomenal success, particularly in the US market.

Set up in 1991 the company has competed well in the States, particularly as it faces competition from much larger software development houses.

The Plymouth Business Awards 2019

CATERed

CATERed Limited provides lunch at Stoke Damerel Primary School
CATERed Limited provides lunch at Stoke Damerel Primary School

The co-operative trading company owned by Plymouth City Council and 67 schools, to provide school meals, was named Large Business of the Year in 2017.

CATERed launched Ed’s Big Summer Food Tour in 2015 and with the help of businesses and contributions from suppliers was able to produce 500 healthy packed lunches each week.

Every Tuesday and Thursday during August the team hit the streets of Plymouth to give out lunches to children. In 2016 the initiative offered free meals in school playgrounds and open spaces.

CATERed staff gave up their holidays to help prepare and give away more than 3,000 meals because“Holiday hunger” is a national worry and the firm has been asked to share data in a Parliamentary debate.

In the summer of 2017 Plymouth libraries joined CATERed on the Big Summer Food Tour. Every Wednesday in August at three libraries they gave away 3,000 free lunches, 1,500 free books and welcomed 5,000 visitors to those libraries. The partnership continued in August 2018.

Enter the 2019 Plymouth Business Awards by clicking here

Wolferstans

The team at Wolferstans is there to help

Named Medium Business of the Year in 2017 this law firm has a head office on North Hill, with satellites in Plympton and Plymstock. It can trace its history back to 1812.

It employs nearly 200 people, of which about 45 are solicitors specialising in residential conveyancing, wills, trusts and probate, family law, business services, medical negligence, personal injury, armed forces.

It has also been presented with the Employment Recognition Scheme Gold Award by the Ministry of Defence for its outstanding contribution to the Armed Forces Community.

Plymouth Business Awards 2019 - categories

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

MEDIUM BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE AWARD

EXPORTER OF THE YEAR

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AWARD

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AWARD

EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR

LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

BEST TECH BUSINESS

FAMILY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

APPRENTICESHIP DEVELOPMENT AWARD

BEST BUSINESS START UP

YOUNG BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

You can enter the 2019 Plymouth Business Awards by clicking here

iOutlet

The iOutlet team triumphs at the Herald Business Awards 2017
The iOutlet team triumphs at the Herald Business Awards 2017

Matt Green and Liam James formed iOutlet in Plymouth in 2013, and since then the business has grown rapidly and garnered them a clutch of awards, including the 2016 Herald Business Award for Young Business Person – and a year later landing the Small Business of the Year gong.

The company, which made £3million in its first two years, also leaped into the top five in a list of Britain’s 100 best start-ups. It was placed at number 11 in 2015, and number 21 in 2014, before cracking the top 10 in 2016.

The Startups 100 index identifies privately-owned UK companies launched after January 1, 2013, which demonstrate “innovation, solid financials, economic impact and ability to scale”. The list is described as containing “the UK’s 100 most pioneering new businesses”.

The iOutlet was one of 31 businesses in the list based outside London, and one of only three from the South West. Liam has an IT degree and worked for IBM for a year, while Matt has a physiotherapy degree and trained as a PE teacher.

To find out about iOutlet products - and buy - click here

Plymouth Citybus

Citybus are raising its prices
Plymouth Citybus vehicles

Plymouth’s Large Business of the Year 2016, the bus company has continued to progress and invested heavily in providing cleaner transport for Plymouth roads, cutting harmful emissions.

It introduced 13 gas-powered buses the only alternative fuel buses west of Bristol. These buses produce 96 per cent less C02 than the equivalent diesel engine.

Investment also went into installation of gas storage and filling facility at the depot in Milehouse. The firm also introduced 16 new low-emissions Euro 6 carbon-certified double deck buses into the fleet.

The newest technology means the engine on a bus that can carry 100 passengers is cleaner than a new car equivalent engine, carrying only five people. The buses came in at an overall investment of £3.5million and their engines give out 95 per cent fewer emissions than the previous model diesel engine.

The buses were also fitted with Free wi-fi, taking our overall wi-fi units up to 100 buses and USB power sockets. With each bus journey taking at least 40 cars off of Plymouth’s roads, the company believes growing bus passengers is the only way to reduce congestion.

In November 2017 Citybus invested £500,000 into installing new ticket machines throughout the fleet, enabling contactless payment on buses. It also introduced value tickets, focusing on leisure travellers, giving them an alternative to taking the car.

Enter the 2019 Plymouth Business Awards by clicking here

Plymouth Science Park

Landmark... the £5m Phase 5 development at Plymouth Science Park
Landmark... the £5m Phase 5 development at Plymouth Science Park

Medium Business of the Year in 2016 Plymouth Science Park is a world-class office, research and laboratory centre that provides the space, flexibility and support for technology, digital and science-based businesses to accelerate their growth and success.

Its community of 150 businesses employing upwards of 1,000 people, combines to create one of the South West’s most dynamic working environments.

Generating a combined turnover of £100million, the Park is home to a community consisting of business from one-man start-ups to multi-national corporations.

The park is designed to create opportunities for tenants to share knowledge and expertise, offer cross sector business opportunities and inspire them to achieve new levels of success.

Portcullis Legals

Portcullis Legals Ltd, innovative at the Herald Business Awards 2017
Portcullis Legals Ltd, innovative at the Herald Business Awards 2017

The law firm was named Small Business of the Year in 2016 after expanding and opening a new branch.

The Cornwood-based firm launched a second outlet, but insisted the Law Store, in Dean’s Cross, Plymstock, was more than just a satellite office but a ground-breaking venture.

The firm, which grew its team, formed 31 years ago, but really began to grow after chief executive Trevor Worth began an MBA course in 2013 and realised “with the changes to legal services we need to innovate”.

Princess Yachts

Princess Yachts' V65
Princess Yachts' V65

The only double winner of the Large Business of the Year honour, in 2015 and 2013, the company is currently more than merely buoyant – it recently topped 2017’s stellar performance at the Düsseldorf boat show by selling a jaw-dropping £38million worth of boats in just a week.

The Plymouth manufacturer is smiling all the way to the bank after hitting paydirt at the world-famous event, in Germany, where it sold 21 yachts, with more orders expected to come in yet.

In 2018 the firm’s enjoyed its best performance at Boot Dusseldorf, the world’s largest boat show, by selling £30million of boats. In 2019 it topped that, in monetary value.

The company has more than 2,000 workers and turned over £274.4million in 2018. Financial results for the 12 months to December 31, 2017, show an operating profit before exceptionals of £7.9million, representing a turnaround of £15million on its 2016 results.

It continues a trend of strong year-on-year growth for the L Catterton-owned luxury yacht builder.

Carval Computing

Carval Computing wins at the 2014 Business Awards

Winner of the Medium Business of the Year honour it 2015, Carval Computing develops human resource and payroll management software. The company was founded in 1986, but since its win it has been acquired by The Civica Group, a market leader in business-critical software applications.

Enter the 2019 Plymouth Business Awards by clicking here

Alpha Logic

Alpha Logic wins at the 2015 Herald Business Awards

Small Business of the Year in 2015, Alpha Logic is an independent waste management company that helps organisations across Plymouth, Devon and the South West to transform how they dispose of their waste.

It specialises in saving clients time and money and minimising environmental impact.

The Barden Corporation (UK0 Ltd

Growth... the Barden Corporation
The Barden factory is set to close down

Large Business of the Year in 2014, super precision bearing manufacturer The Barden Corporation is now scheduled for closure.

In November 2018, German owner Schaeffler said it intended to close the factor, which had operated for more than 51 years, and move production overseas.

The global automotive and industrial supplier said it would shut the plant within two years, just a year after it announced it would pump £15million into the facility, and blamed Brexit for the closure.

The Estover operation produces precision bearings for cars, aircraft, the nuclear industry, missiles and satellites. It has been a success and is only closing because of the parent company's restructure.

Applied Automation Ltd

Robots... in action inside Applied Automation's factory
Robots... in action inside Applied Automation's factory

The Medium Business of the Year in 2014, engineering and robotics firm Applied Automation is continuing to create jobs and in 2017 even bought a neighbouring toolmaking company.

The Langage-based manufacturer experienced huge growth with global orders streaming in for its bespoke machinery, automation and control systems, mainly for the medical, marine and automotive industries.

So it acquired precision toolmaking company PTG Precision Engineers Ltd, a family-run business based on the same industrial estate.

The acquisition, for an undisclosed six-figure sum, included all of PTG’s 18,000sq ft factory and equipment – and workforce.

Enter the 2019 Plymouth Business Awards by clicking here

Dartmoor Brewery

Dartmoor Brewery

Small Business of the Year in 2014, the year it celebrated 20 years in business, Princetown’s Dartmoor Brewery is famous for its brews Jail Ale, Dartmoor IPA, Legend and  Dartmoor   Best.

The   brewery   started production from the back of the village’s Prince of Wales pub in 1994.

Since then it has grown from a micro-  brewery supplying a handful of pubs and restaurants to a   brewery   with a 38-barrel modern brewing plant, capable of producing up to three million pints a year.

bluestone360

Mervyn Orchard and Steve Kyffin of Bluestone360
Mervyn Orchard and Steve Kyffin of Bluestone360

The Royal William Yard-based enterprise, named Small Business of the Year in 2013, celebrated 30 years of success in late 2018.

The integrated brand marketing agency has more hat 200 years of experience in its team. Major clients include Go-Ahead, Burts Snacks and the Met Office.

TxtNation

TV star Esther Rantzen,with Michael Whelan and Jon Rowsell from txtNation and Clare Jardine from The Herald, at the 2012 Business Awards

The company, which provides mobile billing for companies around the world, was named Plymouth’s Business of the Year in 2012.

Founded in 2002, within a decade it had 5,000 clients internationally including Sony, the Wimbledon tennis championships, BP and Help for Heroes.

Enter the 2019 Plymouth Business Awards by clicking here

Tufcoat

TV star Esther Rantzen, with Tufcoat's Aubrey Kingsbury and Tom Veli and sponsor First Great Western's Julian Crow at the 2012 Herald Business Awards

Small Business of the Year in 2012, the Plympton business prides itself on being the UK’s leading manufacturer of shrink-wrapping materials and equipment for scaffolding, industrial and marine markets.

Bombardier Transportation UK Ltd

Bombardier's Allan Morgan and Maria Grayson at the 2011 Herald Business Awards

The inaugural Business of the Year, back in 2011, what is now called Bombardier Rail Control Solutions  is part of the global Bombardier group.

The Estover plant focuses on the manufacture of railway signalling products for the UK and worldwide markets. The product portfolio includes track train detection systems,light signals, European Rail Traffic Management Syste products, and gate level crossings. With more than 50 years experience in providing the latest signalling technology to the UK rail network, the Plymouth site is seen as having “a unique appreciation of the market”.

The Plymouth Business Awards 2019

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