OUTSTANDING businesses in the Chard and Ilminster area were among those honoured at the News-backed 2014 Somerset Business Awards.

Around 350 guests applauded the winners as they collected their prizes in a glittering awards ceremony held at Westland Conference and Leisure Centre in Yeovil on Friday.

The awards, run by Somerset Chamber of Commerce, are marking their tenth anniversary this year.

Among the successes were Ilminster-based Knight Electrical Switchgear, who won the Business of the Year with 26-50 employees award.

Russell Knight and Dale Turnball received the award and said: “We are only four years old and going from strength to strength. We are dedicated to putting the customer at the front of our business, giving them what they want, when they want it. I’d like to thank our families for their support over the years – thank you.”

Spillers of Chard were runnersup in the Family Business of the Year Award along with M & J Bowers, of Yeovil.

Blackdown Shepherd Huts, near Ilminster, and Radfords Fine Fudge, of Stoke-sub-Hambdon, came runners-up in the Business of the year 1-10 employees category, while Teapot Creative, of Hambridge, and CETSAT, of Yeovil, were runners-up in the 26-50 employees category.

1610 were runners-up in the Marketing and Promotion Award and won the Skills for Growth Award, while Bragg Agricultural Services, based at South Petherton, were runners-up in the Environmental Award.

David Griffin, Managing Partner of Albert Goodman, the main sponsor for the fourth consecutive year, congratulated all the finalists, saying: “It is very rewarding for Albert Goodman to return to the stage as the main sponsor again this year. The variety and enthusiasm of Somerset businesses never fails to amaze me and I am always excited by the quality of business in Somerset.

“The Somerset Business Awards helps to recognise outstanding performance and moving forward, we need to think about the next generation and the education of our colleagues – we are all responsible of creating the entrepreneurs of the future.”

The finalists were filmed by the media students from Bridgwater College, who created a short film about each business to be shown at the ceremony. The work is part of the students’ final course results.

Chamber president Rupert Cox said: “It is an honour to celebrate such outstanding businesses in Somerset and I want to thank our wonderful sponsors for their continued support. To the finalists, you’re all winners and should be incredibly proud of your achievements!”

You can watch footage from the night at chardandilminster news.co.uk/video and see next week’s paper for more photos.