An evening of glitz, glamour and glory unfolded at Gurnard Pines late last week, with Island businesses basking beneath a well-earned spotlight during the Best of Business Awards — sponsored by Red Squirrel. The annual Isle of Wight Radio initiative took place on Friday evening (22nd March), with more than 40 local enterprises nominated and 15 award winners. The event was hosted by breakfast show stars Paul Topping and Emily Wells. The night’s inaugural award saw Artisan named Independent Retailer of the Year, beating off stiff competition from Bayliss and Booth and Isle Love Sweets. Tradesperson of the Year was another keenly contested category. Timberfix IOW was named winner, with Lockfit and Greenscapes the other contenders for the crown. Visit Isle of Wight guru, Simon Clark, presented the Best Attraction of the Year award. Despite The National Poo Museum and Wroxall’s Donkey Sanctuary completing a stellar trio of nominees, it was Sandown’s Wildheart Animal Sanctuary which triumphed. The Family Business of the Year was presented by Wightlink’s Kirstie Higgins-Day. Gossips Cafe in Yarmouth was named winner, with Isle Love Sweets and Richardson Yacht Services completing the final three. The Employee of the Year category saw Shane Smith from Brightbulb go head-to-head with Christine Faulkner of Community Spirit and Ellie Herman from Seaview Hotel. It was the Brightbulb behemoth who triumphed, receiving his award from Reuben Loake of sponsors Isle of Wight Jobs after putting in 5 years of service with the design company. 
The next award was for Top Event of the Year, with Festival of Heroes, Walk the Wight, and Brotherhood MMA/Island Fight League in the running. Walk the Wight, which raises funds for Mountbatten in Newport, was named winner. The Isle of Wight Gin Company, Island Roasted and Isle of Wight Ice Cream were named in the Island Produce Company of the Year category. Isle of Wight Ice Cream, which is made in Newport using local milk and cream, rose to the top to take the spoils. Up next was the Best Green/Eco Business Award. The award, which recognises Island businesses that work towards a sustainable and ethical future, was won by Betapak. Reno Drain, Men Only IOW and The Better Days Cafe were named nominees for Contribution to the Community. Founded in 2021 and offering a warm place and a safe space, Men Only IOW received the award. Melanie Lewis was named Apprentice of the Year having undertaken a Level 5 Operations Departmental Manager Apprenticeship Standard over a 2-year period. She was commended for overcoming a myriad of challenges and blossoming dramatically over the duration of the course. Next up was a chance to give the judges a rest and move onto the public vote. Best Breakfast of the Year nominees were Newport’s Town Choice Cafe, Eegons of Cowes and The Salix Beach Cafe in Shanklin. Town Choice Cafe was named the winner for its delectable all-day fare. Pub of the Year – a category keenly contested between The Old Fort in Seaview, Ryde’s The Star Coffee and Ale House and The Waverley in Carisbrooke – was scooped by The Waverley. Best Hairdresser/Salon of the Year saw Elite Hair Design triumph over fellow nominees IW Sensory Barber and Dani’s Beauty Room. The final public award for Best Customer Service was an incredibly close-run thing, with a handful of votes separating the 3 businesses in contention. Snacks and Ladders managed to secure the award, with Sleepee Teepees and Occasions & Ventnor Post Office hot on their heels. The evening’s final award was for the Overall Best Business of the Year. Established in 1988 by husband, wife and son team, Richardson Yacht Services was commended for the core values at the heart of everything the company does. Discussing the event, Claire John, Isle of Wight Radio’s Managing Director, has said:
“Each year we are seeing the nominations grow which is reflective of the vibrancy and tenacity local businesses on the Island demonstrate. “The awards once again highlighted how many talented, hard-working and entrepreneurial business people we have on our Island. “Congratulations to all of our winners and everyone who was nominated on the night, and a big thank you to our sponsors.”
Charlie Panayi, CEO of head sponsor Red Squirrel, said:
“We have been supporters of this event since its inception, driven by our firm belief in celebrating the successes of others. “With a wealth of exceptional local businesses making remarkable contributions, it’s truly gratifying to come together to honour these enterprises and individuals. “Furthermore, I appreciate the element of public voting in this event, emphasising merit over submission quality alone.”
£86,000 refurbing an office that already existed? That’s a lot of money for some paint and lights good old council going with the first quote again
I’m sure my family would love to tender for the works. £86,000 is excessive for a lick of paint and a few stud walls.
I understand the heartache it must be for those sadly bereaved and not getting answers and agree the situation has to improve, but, The council has to look at how it is spending money, take the county hall car parking resurfacing out of the equation and put it towards this more worthwhile case.
See this link too: https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/property/isle-of-wights-county-hall-renovation-to-cost-1-3m/…do we actually know the full story?
What about the cost of new soundproof partitions to facilitate the dedicated courtroom, and partitions for changes to the current layout of the rest of the existing space?
Moving current ceiling lights?
Moving, and installing extra power points and IT cabling?
I see you work for the council.
Most of the people who comment on here between 8 am and 4 pm work for the council. All they do all day is read the Island Echo and comment. They have nothing else to do.
Over the last few years there have been so many sudden and excess deaths in the world,
very sad.
My thoughts and condolences for the families who have lost loved ones during these
difficult times.
Maybe Caroline Sumeray will actually pull her finger out do some work at last. And instead of “hoping to have an Assistant Coroner appointed”, maybe she should actually advertise for one. Perhaps they can find a real grafter to get some work done at last.
She’s never here that’s the problem !
She resides in London and commutes. Maybe to have someone local would help?
Maybe you should apply for the job. Since you know so much . You must know who appoints people for this position
So not only do they have to suffer with the loss of someone I can tell you right now I know they are rushing though these and not even giving people the correct information and to see this is pretty disappointing and just makes me think for sure that they don’t have a bloody clue and just go on what they want to!!!
The first order of business should have been to sack Caroline Sumeray. She is clearly incapable of doing her job and has no empathy whatsoever for the people who are awaiting inquests into the deaths of loved ones. In fact, her attitude has been completely disparaging. She only mirrors the Isle of Wight council themselves in how to be utterly incompetent.
It’s common knowledge in the council that there is high staff turnover in the office. That staff are treated poorly that the coroner sits on everything for months and years but blames everyone else. The staff get the blame, police, hospital everyone but the root cause. The coroner herself.
Doesn’t pay much either, which probably explains a lot.
Senior coroner pay range: £129,872 to £144,303
She gets that for doing bugger all it seems.
Nobody wants to work with her !
About time Ms Lucioni…. MORE CORONERS NEEDED. 93 weeks we waited…
Please complain to the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) (formerly known as the Office for Judicial Complaints). Examples of potential personal misconduct would be the use of insulting, racist or sexist language; or unreasonable delays in holding an inquest or replying to correspondence. There is no charge for complaining to the JCIO via the JCIO website at: http://judicialconduct.judiciary.gov.uk/making-acomplaint.htm
Coroners deal with all complaints about their service, complain to council about the coroner it goes to the coroner. Complain to chief Coroner it goes to the Coroner. Complain to JCIO they discuss with the Coroner and agree with the Coroner. They all p in the same pot. Having met our coroner all I ever got was me, me, me a narcissist, who frankly only cares about herself and not the island and it’s bereaved families. Unless it suits.
Waverley,pub of the year?
seriously?
rigged!
Is this for real or is it sponsored ballsh*t
Gossips Cafe is a lovely location, but filthy.
glitz & glamour night, in jeans?????
Who judges this crap?