CHAMBER BUSINESS AWARDS CELEBRATE ISLE OF WIGHT EXCELLENCE

VIDEO: CHAMBER BUSINESS AWARDS CELEBRATE ISLE OF WIGHT EXCELLENCE

L-R: Fran Collins (Red Funnel) with Pasquale Paolone, Wayne Matthews, Andy Bloodworth, Steve Hargreaves, Yasuyuki Komiya and Steven Holbrook (Chamber)

Yokogawa Marex in Cowes has been named Business of the Year at the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce Business Awards for Excellence, in association with Red Funnel.

The awards were presented by Anneka Rice before a capacity audience at Cowes Yacht Haven’s events centre on Friday (30th November). The glittering ceremony capped a prestigious night which included a charity auction that raised thousands of pounds for WightAID.

Host Anneka Rice said:

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“I was absolutely thrilled to present the awards at this wonderful event. It was really like being at the Brit Awards! I feel very close to lots of this year’s nominees. I’ve drunk them, I’ve stayed in their beds, I’ve eaten their cottage pie and I’ve even stayed in someone’s garden on Celebrity Hunted!”

Fran Collins, Red Funnel’s Chief Executive Officer said:

“It’s really important to us to support the community in which we trade. We couldn’t do it without all of the small businesses, the big businesses and the independent traders and we think that partnership is hugely important for us to support. We’re very proud to be here tonight as a headline sponsor.”

Wayne Matthews from Yokogawa Marex collected their awards for International Business of The Year and overall IW Chamber Business of The Year. He said:

“We’ve had a really excellent year. Our guys are working exceptionally hard to deal with an over full order book. Most importantly I just returned from Japan this morning and got an in-principle agreement for our expansion plans for next year so we’re very happy and I’d to thank all our staff who make it possible.”
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IW Chamber Chief Executive Steven Holbrook said:

“I’m very proud of our awards event tonight. The feedback has been incredible already. Our shortlist was full of brilliant businesses and we have some amazing winners tonight.
“This year is without doubt the Chamber’s biggest ever business awards, with double the number of entries received and a brand new panel of 18 judges. Our evening started earlier, with more entertainment too including our first ever ice sculpture. Everyone left with high-value goodie bags at the end. We had a great time and we can’t wait to do it all again in 2019”.