Oscars are handed out to the best in business

FROM large manufacturers to small suppliers of specialist equipment, the range of first class businesses represented in Herefordshire and Worcestershire was celebrated last night.

Around 300 people from the business community in the two counties filled the nave of Worcester Cathedral to applaud the winners and finalists in the Chamber Awards 2005.

Organised by the Chamber of Commerce Herefordshire and Worcestershire the awards are now in their fourth year and are considered the Oscars of the business world.

The title of Business of the Year went to Hotelshop UK, in Droitwich, a leading supplier of hotel accommodation to the leisure and business markets and UK short breaks for consumers.

Set up in 1999, with a workforce of just four people and 38 partner hotels, Hotelshop UK now has 30 employees and 350 hotels on offer.

Runners-up in the category were Rabjohns LLP Business and Tax Advisers, in Worcester, and the Cotswold Conference Centre, in Broadway.

Other winners were Milsys UK, Hereford, which won the Award for Skills and Workforce Development; Exel, in Droitwich, which won the Award for Business Commitment to the Community; Bluespier International, at Grafton Flyford, which won Best New Exporter, and JSC Rotational, Inkberrow, near Worcester, which won Most Promising New Business.

The award for Entrepreneur of the Year went to Michael Whitefoot, of Whitefoot Forward, Hartlebury, and a special Innovation through Technology Award went to University College Worcester.

Guests enjoyed a sumptuous meal of spinach and salmon pastry horn followed by supreme of chicken with a tarragon, tomato and red wine jus, new potatoes and ribbon vegetables.

This was topped off with individual fresh fruit tarts served with a passion fruit coulis.

Entertainment came from Swing Confidential, who charmed everyone with some of the old favourites.

"It was a fantastic night and there was a real buzz of excitement as the finalists in each category were announced," said Christine Jones, chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

"It was great to see so many finalists there. The Chamber Awards are a celebration of all business excellence and success in the two counties and every finalist deserves to be congratulated.

"And, of course, special congratulations to all the winners who are blazing a trail for other companies in the two counties."

Award entrants who are also Chamber of Commerce members automatically compete in the national British Chambers of Commerce Awards, in November, with the chance to walk away with the overall prize of £25,000 courtesy of sponsor Microsoft.