The highly experienced judging panel for one of this year’s prestigious PwC West of England Business of the Year Awards has been announced.
Among the judges are former winners of the award – widely regarded as the region’s top business accolade – as well as respected figures from the business community. 
Now in their 29th year, the eagerly-contested awards attract the cream of the region’s firms and have some of the West’s most-respected companies among their previous winners.
The awards have maintained their unique position due to their stringent judging process.
All shortlisted finalists receive a personal visit from the judges, who look for best practice in areas such as training, innovation and community engagement alongside a track record of exemplary and sustainable financial performance.
Another strength is that the awards only have two categories: for business with a turnover above £30m and for those turning over less than £30m.
On the judging panel for the plus £30m award are:
- Andrew Manning, interim chief executive, Avon Riding Centre
- Ben Taylor, former CEO of Renishaw (1996 winner)
- Bryan Glastonbury, managing director, Integral UK (2009 winner)
- Charles Thompson, Inflexion Private Equity Partners
- Clive Woodward, group managing director, Bott (2015 winner)
- David Cole, managing director, Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (2013 winner)
- Malcolm Pearce, chairman, Johnsons Group
- Mark Beard, managing director, E.W. Beard (2014 winner)
- Mike Turner, development director, Ian Williams (2016 winner)
- Paul Freeston, chief executive, Apetito (2006 winner)
- Ben Haggitt, senior management team – ITV News West Country
- Steve Hindley, chairman of the Heart of the South West LEP
The judges for the under £30m award will be announced shortly.
Last year’s £30m-plus category winner was Chipping Sodbury-based Ian Williams, which provides a range of to the property sector ranging from painting to bathroom and kitchen refurbishments and renewable energy.
The smaller category winner was Taunton-based Ministry of Cake, which makes a range of high-quality desserts, won the category for firms with a turnover of less than £30m. The firm has since been acquired by French confectionery giant Mademoiselle Desserts.
The awards are again staged in association with business performance group Circle2Success, which this week launched its Bristol and Bath branch, and Devon and Cornwall Business Council.
Swindon Business News is the awards’ official media partner with its sister titles Bath Business News and Bristol Business News and will carry articles throughout the entire awards programme.
The programme culminates with a gala dinner at the newly opened Aerospace Bristol, the £19m aerospace museum and learning centre at Filton, on September 6.
Download more information about the West of England Business of the Year Awards here. The deadline for entries is April 30 and there is no cost to enter.
Pictured above: 2015 winners Bott, whose group managing director Clive Woodward is among this year’s judges
