THE cream of Calderdale's business world was saluted at the Courier annual business awards last night.
Insurance broker Wilby Limited scooped the small to medium-sized business award, sponsored by Action Halifax.
Chris Hopkins, who heads Ploughcroft Building Services, was awarded young business person of the year, sponsored by the Elsie Whiteley Centre.
Reactiv Media, based in Elland, showed outstanding growth over the last year and was awarded with the new business accolade, an award sponsored by Riley & Co. Andy Thornton, specialist in architectural antiques, won the best international business award, sponsored by HSBC. Dance school owner Claire O'Connor was handed the award for entrepreneur of the year, sponsored by Calderdale Council, for Babyballet Song and Dance Academy.
Innovator of the year, sponsored by Marshalls, was presented to Vanguard.
Elland-based BCA Group Ltd was awarded manufacturer of the year, sponsored by Crosslee.
Business of the year, sponsored by Bank of Scotland Business, was Dean Clough.
The lifetime achievement award, sponsored by Business Link, was presented to Tony Gartland, a man who built up an electrical and engineering giant, Fisher Kar-Park Industries.
And Graham Holden, chief executive of landscape specialist Marshalls, was business person of the year, an award sponsored by Chadwick Lawrence.
- See our special Courier Business Awards supplement in Tuesday's paper - plus, watch out for our online videos from the event.
