IT was a hat-trick of wins for construction firm Hawkins Group at the 2017 Oxfordshire Business Awards.
On Friday night more than 500 business leaders and staff gathered at the King's Centre in Osney Mead, West Oxford, for the 23rd annual awards.
The host for the black tie dinner was broadcaster Gyles Brandreth and winners were announced after being shortlisted in 12 categories.
Banbury-based Hawkins Group won big on the night.
The firm won The NatWest Large Business Award, and group managing director Mike Hawkins was named the Shaw Gibbs Young Business Person of the Year.
The Company then won the overall Darke & Taylor Business of the Year Award at the end of the night.
Mr Hawkins said: "I'm over the moon – I am here because of my staff.
"I feel quite emotional that we have won three awards in one night."
AND THE WINNER IS....
The Hays Employer of the Year Award
Winner: Adestra
Shortlisted: Miele; Harrison Catering Servic
The Oxford Science Park Innovation Award
Winner: Perspectum Diagnostics
Shortlisted: Sesui; Reaction Engines
The Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Apprenticeship of the Year Award
Winner: Nielsen
Shortlisted: Oxford University; SocialSidekick
The Oxfordshire LEP New Business Award
Winner: Lentus Composites
Shortlisted: Savoir Fare; The Burnside Partnership
The Knights Small Business Award
Winner: Ue Coffee Roasters
Shortlisted: Oxford Space Systems; Savvy Construction
The NatWest Large Business Award
Winner: Hawkins Group
Shortlisted: Oxford Products; Tibbetts Group
The Shaw Gibbs Young Business Person of the Year Award
Winner: Mike Hawkins (Hawkins Group)
Shortlisted: Richard Marsh (CIS); Mark Walford (TrustedCare)
The Oxford Times Charity and Community Award
Winner: SpecialEffect
Shortlisted: Blue Skye Thinking; Sobell House Hospice Charity
The Heart Cultural Events and Tourism Award
Winner: Cowley Road Works (Cowley Road Carnival)
Shortlisted: Manor Cottages; Huffkins
The Brita Green Award
Winner: Grundon Waste Management
Shortlisted: Go Green Taxis; Polythene UK
The Syndicut Marketing Excellence Award
Winner: Hunts
Shortlisted: Blue Skye Thinking; The Rooflight Company
The Shaw Gibbs Business Person of the Year Award
Winner: Jonathan Tibbetts (Tibbetts Group)
Shortlisted: Mike Lawton (Oxford Space Systems); Kate Allen (Allen Associates)
The Darke & Taylor Business of the Year Award
Winner: Hawkins Group
Awards chairman Paul Lowe said the switch to a new venue this year had been a success.
The awards had previously been hosted at the Four Pillars Hotel – now the De Vere Oxford Thames hotel – in Sandford-on-Thames.
He said: "The switch has been a great success – I think everything worked very well.
"The Oxfordshire Business Awards go from strength to strength – tickets sold out in record time in just over a week and at our judges' meeting the judges reported that the standard of entries had been the best in years.
"Entries come from all parts of the county and reflect the diverse nature of Oxfordshire businesses.
"You and your businesses should feel justifiably proud of what you have achieved - you are all winners."
Mr Lowe said the awards would not be able to take place without the backing of sponsors.
He added: "It's not just the financial commitment, the sponsors go out judging and commit a lot of time to the awards."
Mr Lowe added that Mr Brandreth had been 'the best speaker in 23 years'.
Charlbury-based SpecialEffect, which helps people with serious disabilities to enjoy life through video games, won The Oxford Times Charity and Community Award.
Fundraiser Nick Streeter, who has been involved with the charity since it was formed in 2007, said: "This is a huge boost. We did not expect to win and I think in this section each charity is a winner.
"I think this award gives staff and volunteers confidence and shows them what a difference we can make."
Sarah Airey, a spokeswoman for Cowley Road Works, said she was delighted the Cowley Road Carnival, which takes place this year on Sunday, July 2, had won The Heart Cultural Events and Tourism Award.
She said: "The carnival brings in people from the city, the county and the whole country – it's the second biggest after the Notting Hill Carnival.
"It's brilliant to get this award in the run-up to the carnival."
Kidlington-based printing firm Hunts won the Syndicut Marketing Excellence Award.
CEO Timon Colegrove said: "We are thrilled. We are a printing company that has taken the journey to become a creative marketing business."
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