The stage is set for the first Torbay Weekly Naturally Inspiring Business Awards

The stage is all set for the finals night of the first Torbay Weekly Naturally Inspiring Business Awards

A judging panel was impressed by the number and quality of entries in the first year of the awards

They were faced with the tough task of whittling down a short list of potential winners from each category.

Those short listed will now go forward to the awards evening to see if they have won.

The judging panel, who met in the boardoom of Wollens' new offices on The Terrace in Torquay, was drawn from representatives of the awards sponsors - Torbay Council, TDA, The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, the English Riviera BID Company, Inter-Line Building Supplies, South Devon College, Wollens solicitors and the Torbay Business Forum.

Those short-listed are:

Inspiring Employer of the Year: Riviera Insurance,  PGL Barton Hall Activity Centre,  Torquay Dinosaur World Ltd.

Social Enterprise of the Year:  Sound Communities CIC,  Turning Heads – Changing Perceptions and Lives, Devon Farm Kitchen.

Innovation Award: TLH Leisure Resort, Indi-Yang, Mindmaps Wellbeing.

Safer Bay Award: Torbay Street Pastors, Richard Randle, Spencer Talbot.

Small Business of the Year: Conroy Couch Jewellers, English Riviera Walking Tours, Acm garage.

New Business of the Year: WeDo eBikes Ltd, Indi-Yang, 5 Wytches.

Tourism Business of Year: Beverley Holidays, Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company, Wesup.

Business Resilience Award:  Pier Point Torquay Ltd, Bay's Brewery, Ocean Torbay

Karime Hassan, Exeter City Council’s Chief Executive and Growth Director, has agreed to be the guest VIP speaker at the awards finals night at the Imperial Hotel in Torquay on Thursday June 9.

Tickets are on sale for the event. You can obtain them by going to naturallyinspiringawards.co.uk or direct through Eventbrite.