The News' Business Excellence Awards winners celebrate successes at networking lunch

Winners of the Business Excellence Awards came together at the University of Portsmouth to enjoy an afternoon of networking and celebrating successes.

The News' awards returned for the 19th year on Friday, February 21 at Portsmouth Guildhall and saw 17 honours handed out in a range of categories from Apprentice of the Year up to Lifetime Achievement.

Scores of entries came in from a range of industries and the lucky winners were chosen by a panel of expert judges.

Editor of The News Mark Waldron said: ‘I’d like to say well done to all of the winners from this year’s awards.

‘I thought it was a fantastic occasion for us, it gave us a chance to shine the spotlight on you guys. We have got so many amazing businesses from a wide range of industries in Portsmouth and even outside of the city.’

Lucy Gleisner from headline sponsor Trethowans also extended her congratulations, saying: ‘It was a fantastic evening, it was a great success. We were so proud to be sponsoring again.

‘We hope that you will celebrate your successes and shout about it.’

In attendance was SJ Hunt, CEO of Parity Trust, which took home Small Business of the Year on the night, who said the award has already had an impact on her business.

SJ said: ‘We have had a surge on LinkedIn since we posted about it. It’s been brilliant and it was such a surprise.’

The event also saw the launch of the new Innovation Awards, which will be held later this year and will celebrate digital, innovation and creative firms in and around the city.

The Innovation Awards, to be staged at the Village Hotel's business hub at Lakeside on Wednesday, June 17, will give guests and those shortlisted a great opportunity to network, listen to some keynote speakers, see some tech demonstrations and then enjoy an awards ceremony, with winners in 10 categories honoured.