Gosport Business Awards 2025: Montserrat Events named 'best of the best' as borough celebrates success
THE cream of crop certainly rose to the top at a night of celebration of business in Gosport.
For its second year the Gosport Business Awards proved to be an uplifting evening as stories of success were shared at St Vincent College’s Jervis Galley and attendees celebrated together the strength of the borough across a whole range of sectors.
Winners were chosen in eight different categories and from this the best of the best was named as Montserrat Events.
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As founder and MD Jonathan Moore came to the stage to collect the award with finance director Vaughan Bidewell he said: ‘This is such a privilege. It makes the hard work that we all do worthwhile. But I just want to say thank you. I really am humbled. I am just absolutely amazed that I've been able to come up here to get this and the whole team are just going to be gobsmacked.’
The awards judging panel said Montserrat Events created unforgettable cultural and community experiences that celebrate heritage, music and togetherness. Each event attracts thousands of visitors while supporting local charities, volunteers and businesses. What secured the overall award was that Montserrat proudly flew the flag for Gosport as a vibrant hub of celebration, connection and shared enjoyment - not only the community within Gosport but to visitors.
The night’s other winners were:
- Commitment to Supporting Talent in Business: Wickham Micro Limited - A Cormica Lab
- Commitment to Sustainability: RE5customs
- Independent Cultural and Creativity Business: Montserrat Events CIC
- Independent Retail Business: The Book Shop
- Independent Small Business: Lipspeaker UK
- Community Contribution: Gosport Community Hub
- Start-up Business of the Year Award: Smart Studies
The awards were a partnership between The News, headline sponsor StandardAero and sponsors/partners Gosport Borough Council, Powder Monkey Brewing Co - who provided food and drink for the event - and the college. Guest speaker was Gosport entrepreneur James Baggott, CEO of The Baize Group - who described the soaring success he had achieved since setting up his company in his conservatory - and special guests include Gosport Mayor Kirsten Bradley and MP Dame Caroline Dinenage.
The News editor in chief Mark Waldron, who compered the celebration, said as the event closed: ‘It has been a fantastic evening, delivering everything that we wanted it to be: a celebration of all that is good in Gosport. So many different businesses were here, celebrating their own successes, the successes of those around them and learning the stories of the businesses that are building a bright future for Gosport.’