Business forum helps celebrate success at Torbay Business Awards 2025

On the evening of Wednesday, June 11, 2025, the Riviera International Centre in Torquay was transformed into a glittering celebration of innovation, resilience and community spirit. 

The Torbay Naturally Inspiring Business Awards, organised by the Torbay Weekly, brings together over 300 local business leaders, entrepreneurs, and community champions to honour the exceptional contributions of businesses across our bay.

As an organisation designed to bring businesses together, the Torbay Business Forum is very pleased to support and to be a sponsor again this year. The evening is not just about celebrating success, it was about recognising the people, ideas and values that make Torbay what it is today – a great place to do business.

The Torbay Naturally Inspiring Business Awards have quickly become a hallmark of celebration and recognition for local businesses across Torbay, and this matches the Forum’s vision for economic growth, community cohesion, business excellence, and regional identity.

A record-breaking year

This year’s awards saw a record number of entries, with nearly 100 businesses vying for recognition across various categories. The judging panel faced the challenging task of selecting finalists from a pool of outstanding nominations, reflecting the vibrant and diverse business landscape in Torbay.

The evening begins with a warm welcome from Jim Parker, editor of the Torbay Weekly, who has always expressed his gratitude to the sponsors and attendees for their continued support. He highlights the significance of the awards in showcasing the resilience and achievements of local businesses, particularly in the face of recent challenges.

Celebrating the winners

The awards ceremony features a series of inspiring speeches and presentations, culminating in the announcement of the category winners. Each winner exemplified the values of innovation, community engagement, and excellence that the awards aim to celebrate. 

Recognising those achievements really helps to boost morale and encourages continued high performance. The Torbay Naturally Inspiring Business Awards really help to build great behaviours and a positive business culture within Torbay. 

By sponsoring an award category like Small Business of the Year, TBF signals that local entrepreneurship matters, and deserves public celebration. The awards provide visible role models for aspiring entrepreneurs.

This public recognition helps small businesses: build brand credibility; attract new customers; boost morale among teams; and encourage persistence through challenges.

Torbay Business Forum understands that when smaller businesses thrive, the local economy gains resilience — especially in Torbay’s diverse business ecology. By supporting these awards, the TBF is contributing to the very spirit of the Torbay community pride in place.  

Above: Steve Reynolds at the last Torbay Business Forum breakfast at Newton Abbot racecourse

A night of inspiration

The awards ceremony is not only a celebration of business achievements but also an opportunity to reflect on the collective efforts that contribute to the growth and prosperity of Torbay. The evening features inspiring speeches from community leaders who share insights into the importance of community collaboration and sustainable business practices.

The event also provides a platform for networking, allowing attendees to forge new connections and explore potential collaborations that will drive future growth in the region.

Success stories matter 

When Torbay presents itself as a region of innovation and achievement, it appeals to investors, skilled professionals, and new business owners. Award winners show the Bay as: a supportive ecosystem for growth, a community where excellence is recognised and a place with both infrastructure and aspiration.

Torbay Business Forum’s visible role in such an awards framework positions Torbay as prime for business — helping to attract inward investment and retain local talent.

Looking ahead

As we look forward to the future, the Torbay Business Forum remains committed to supporting and promoting the diverse and dynamic business community in our bay. The success of the Torbay Naturally Inspiring Business Awards 2025 serves as a reminder of the incredible talent and resilience within our local businesses.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and finalists and express our gratitude to the sponsors, judges, and attendees who made this event possible. Together, we continue to build a brighter future for Torbay, where innovation, community and excellence thrive.

For more information on the award winners and to view highlights from the event, which took place on Wednesday evening, June 11, after this week's Torbay Weekly had gone to press, please visit the official Torbay Business Awards website online   www.torbaybusinessawards.co.uk

Success breeds success and once honoured, it will help to fuel ambition, spark growth and build a brighter future for Torbay.

Torbay Business Forum

The TBF is a voluntary organisation set up to bring businesses together throughout Torbay and South Devon with the sole purpose of making the area a more prosperous place to live, work and play. 

We do this by organising monthly business breakfasts with an engaging speaker, gaining attendances of over 70 people. 

We stage the  Riviera Connect Business Expo in October with over 100 exhibitors, produced in collaboration with the English Riviera BID Company. With a broad audience of over 1,000 local business people, the TBF also has strong links with organisations such as the Chambers of Commerce, Torbay Council, the Destination Management Group and the ERBID Co.

You can find out more online  at www.torbaybusinessforum.com