A salute to the stars of Torbay Business Awards 2024

It was a big evening for the Spirent Communications team last year.

They took home both the Overall Business of the Year and the Innovation awards. 

With more than 100 employees based in Paignton, many of whom are specialist engineers, Spirent has spent 35 years pioneering solutions for some of the world’s biggest problems. 

One of the core activities involves the development of GPS simulation technology. By simulating a wide range of real-world conditions, Spirent's solutions help companies rigorously test the performance and reliability of their navigation systems.

Spirent serves hundreds of high-profile customers across the world – including companies in the automotive, aerospace, defence, and consumer electronics sectors. 

It was a double win for Beverley Holidays, who won both Inspiring Employer of Year and Tourism Business of Year categories.

Family-owned for over 65 years, Beverly Holidays offers unforgettable camping, lodge and caravan holidays from their award-winning holiday parks in Paignton. The business began in 1959 when Joseph Stanley Jeavons and his wife Marion moved from Staffordshire to Torbay with their three sons and bought 21 acres of farmland in Goodrington. Now, the business has scores of employees and caters for tens of thousands of holidaymakers who visit the English Riviera. 

Best New Business went to the Freedom Boat Club based in Torquay

Opened in the summer of 2023, the company aims to bring a new way of boating to Torbay. The club buys and maintains a fleet of boats that members can access all year round. Freedom Boat Club aspires to be more than just a club, but an inclusive community of like-minded individuals, families and couples of all ages who share a love of boating and being outdoors.

Commissioner's Business Community Champion, sponsored by the Office of Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner, was won by Great Parks Community Centre. 

Located in the heart of the Queen Elizabeth estate in Paignton, the Great Parks Community Association is a registered charity set up in 1990 and run by local residents who give their time and energy voluntarily and for the benefit of young and old alike. The community centre is a venue and home providing projects and services as a community, to prevent social isolation, impact anti-social behaviour and influence healthy lifestyles.

Newton Abbot-based PMR Architecture took home the Small Business of the Year. Founded by John Collar and Paul Rose in the town centre of Newton Abbot, PMR Architecture is an ambitious, multi-award winning, RIBA Chartered Practice with offices in Devon and Sussex. 

The PMR Architecture team work on a wide range of projects, varying from house extensions, new build one-off houses, providing layouts for large housing sites, multi-million-pound commercial schemes and everything in between. 

Outstanding Apprentice of the Year was won by Pennon Group’s Engineering Technician Apprentice Matt Sluman. 

From his first day, Matt has demonstrated exceptional commitment and dedication to both Pennon and his Apprenticeship programme.

QLM Technology, based at the EPIC Centre in Paignton, won the new Greener Futures award for its new type of quantum-technology-based laser-radar, or lidar, that acts like a ‘security camera’ for methane leaks. Their lidar can sensitively detect methane gas, make a 3D picture of a gas plume to locate the source of a leak and measure its size to tell just how big a leak is.  And all of this happens fully autonomously.

Fabulous fryer Charlie James won the first Rising Star Award., sponsored by the Princess Theatre. Charlie had demonstrated exceptional talent and potential through his remarkable journey from humble beginnings to becoming a then top six finalist in the prestigious National Fish and Chips Awards in the Young Fish Fryer of the Year category.

He has spent five years working with Lorraine Arnold as a crucial part of the team at Pier Point. 

The James Wright Award for Inspirational Leadership, or ‘Jimmy Award’, was named in tribute to the father of category sponsor Mark Wright from Majestic Holidays. Last year it was won by Maureen McAllister, the driving force behind Jazz Hands CIC and the Palace Theatre.

Legendary Torbay businessman, Royal British Legion standard bearer and music impresario Lionel Digby, 89, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the community.

The Prestigious Lifetime Award for Contribution to Business was given to Wollens Chief Executive Chris Hart. 

TIMELINE AND HOW TO ENTER TORBAY WEEKLY BUSINESS AWARDS 2025

Enter: go to torbaybusinessawards.co.uk where you will find out how to enter the awards, the categories and their criteria.

Entries are open from today (February 14) and will close at midnight on Friday April 25.

A judging panel will sit to choose the shortlisted finalists of each category

The finalists will be announced online and in paper on Thursday May 15

They will go forward to the finals night at the Riviera International Centre on Wednesday June 11

This year's sponsors:

• TORBAY COUNCIL (headline sponsors and Overall Winner)

• WOLLENS (Best New Business)

• NEWTON ABBOT RACE COURSE (Best Marketing Initiative)

• STAGECOACH (Greener Futures award)

• ENGLISH RIVIERA BID COMPANY (Tourism Company of Year)

• PRINCESS THEATRE (Rising Star Award)

• SOUTH DEVON COLLEGE (Inspiring Employer of Year)

• POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER- Alison Hernandez (Commissioner's Business Community Champion) 

• TORBAY BUSINESS FORUM (Small Business of Year)

• MAJESTIC HOLIDAYS (The James Wright Award for Inspirational Leadership, or ‘Jimmy Award’)

• SALLY ALLEN Innovation