New start-up scoops ultimate accolade at awards
By admin
A new company from Crumlin which provides training to the utility and civil engineering sectors has received the ultimate seal of approval at the Caerphilly Business Forum Awards, just 18 months after starting out.
Utility Training Services Ltd picked up the Young Growth Business of the Year Award alongside the overall Premier Award at the eighth annual Caerphilly Business Forum Awards at the Bryn Meadows Golf, Hotel and Spa (Friday 13th Nov).
The business, which offers a range of niche training courses to clients including Laing O’Rourke, AMEC and Wales and West Utilities, employs five members of staff from its base at Pen-Y-Fan Industrial Estate in Crumlin and has succeeded in expanding the range of training opportunities that it offers businesses despite launching during the difficult economic conditions of recent months.
Utility Training Services Director Paul Williams accepted the awards on behalf of the company, and spoke of how the business had emerged as an industry frontrunner despite starting out at the beginning of the recession. Paul said: “It is an amazing honour and achievement to win these two awards and is a real seal of approval that all of our hard work as a team is paying off.”
Alongside Utility Training Services’ six other companies from across the Caerphilly County Borough were celebrated for their achievements over the last 12 months.
Winners on the night were Blackwood-based Taylors Bed & Breakfast for Young Business of the Year; Caerphilly insurance brokers Thomas Carroll Group, who were awarded the Health Works Award; Charlotte Burles, the Director of Abercarn and Blackwood property management and letting agency Parkmans, was awarded the John Griffiths Young Achiever Award; Abercarn window and door manufacturer Modplan won the Achievement in Manufacturing Award; leading utility management company UES won the Business of the Year with fewer than 25 employees, and Crumlin-based plastic manufacturer Klockner Pentaplast Ltd received the Business of the Year with more than 25 employees award.
Caerphilly Business Forum Chair Martyn Fear said the judges faced a tougher time than ever in selecting this year’s winners as businesses had come out in force to demonstrate their sheer determination and resilience in what has been a challenging year for many.
“The quality and strength of entries in this year’s awards has been greater than we have seen in past years,” he said.
“All of our winners have demonstrated significant ingenuity, passion and commitment to their businesses in the last year. There is no denying that this has been the toughest year for business for a long time, but these seven award winners have shown an exceptional commitment to growing their businesses and overcoming obstacles during the last 12 months.
“The last year has been the toughest faced by businesses for more than three decades and our seven winning companies – along with the exceptionally high standard of finalists – should be immensely proud of their achievements this year.
“We wish all the winners and businesses that entered this year’s awards the very best of success in the next 12 months.”
Coleg Gwent were the main sponsors of the awards, while previous winners Norgine sponsored the awards ceremony. Category and other sponsors included Draig Personnel, Broomfield & Alexander, Venture Wales, Health Challenge Caerphilly County Borough, Peter’s Food Services, SEDA Packaging, Caerphilly County Borough Council, South East Wales Local Investment Fund and the Welsh Assembly Government.
