Triumphant companies across a range of sectors including technology, retail, manufacturing and construction were honoured at the M.E.N Business of the Year Awards 2019.
The winning firms were revealed during a glittering ceremony at Manchester’s Principal Hotel.
More than 350 guests turned out for the event, which marked the 27th anniversary of the prestigious awards.
Executive sponsors for this year’s awards are PwC, Manchester Airport, Robert Walters, Hill Dickinson, Barclays, Brewin Dolphin, and LDC.
Category sponsors are Bolton School and Salford Business School.
The winner of the category for firms with a head office outside Greater Manchester - but with significant operations within the M.E.N. circulation area - went to one of the north west’s leading contractors, Russells Construction, which beat stiff competition from Dentsu Aegis and Virtual Human Resources Group.
The winner of the category for firms with a turnover over £100m went to the 海角视频’s number one phone recycler, Stockport-based musicMagpie.
The company beat Salford recruiter Morson Group and business services provider Verastar.
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In the category for firms with a turnover of £50m-£100m, the winner was EDAM Group, the Manchester-based credit hire and post-accident services company winning over Manchester-based promotional products company Brand Addition.
The winning business in the turnover of £25m-£50m went to specialist materials manufacturer M&I Materials, which pipped to the post innovative packaging firm Duo 海角视频, Manchester finance company Evolution Money, and producer of natural yoghurts Lancashire Farm Dairies.
Manufacturer HMG Paints won in the £10m-£25m category.
It beat off competition from software development firm Godel Technologies and Utilities Design & Planning.
In the £5m-£10m turnover category, Steamforged Games, the Manchester-based developer and retailer of tabletop games, was crowned winner.
They won over equipment hire business Quick Reach Powered Access, retail display suppliers 100 Percent Group and energy infrastructure specialists Aberla Services.
The winner in the turnover between £1m-£5m category was announced as AlphaBiolabs, the Warrington-based DNA, drug and alcohol testing company.
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It beat off competition from BODA SKINS, the Salford-based global fashion brand, and Manchester fintech company AccessPay.
In the One to Watch category, the award was picked up by digital training specialists Code Nation, which pipped Manchester fashion brand Nadine Merabi and business management consultants Kan Do Ventures.
This year the event also introduced a new category, recognising one company for its outstanding contribution to CSR.
Utilities Design & Planning was given the Gold Award for CSR for its work.
The Salford-based civil engineering company has been trailling a scheme where serving offenders are offered paid work placements leading to full-time jobs on their release.
The scheme has so far been a success and UDP has so far employed several ex-offenders.
As in previous years a special Mitchell Henry Prize and a Judges Choice award were also handed out.
The Mitchell Henry Prize, sponsored by LDC, celebrates the most ambitious and growing business in Greater Manchester.
This year’s prize was presented to Godel Technologies, the Manchester-based software development company which has grown by over 50 per cent in headcount and has shown consecutive year-on-year revenue growth for the past four years.
It employes 1,000 members of staff across sites in Manchester, London and seven location in Belarus.
Judges said: “The growth in this company has been exponential with impressive revenue growth thanks to a demand in tech talent which Godel is helping to rapidly deliver while maintaining growth across all its capabilities.”
The Barclays Judges Choice award went to Rochdale-based Lancashire Farm Dairies.
This award aims to reward a business that has made a wider contribution to the region, as well as having a strong 12 months.
Judges said: “This company has transformed itself from catering towards independent retailers in the ethnic food market to one that is now also working with major supermarkets.
“This is a company that has continued to evolve, investing in its site, its people and products to become a leading producer and supplier of yoghurts.”
The event was once again hosted by news presenter Nicholas Owen.
M.E.N. business editor Shelina Begum said: “Congratulations to all our winners.
“The evening marked our 27th awards ceremony recognising firms across a number of sectors such as retail, manufacturing, technology, finance, fashion and construction.
“Together they underpin a strong business community here in Manchester and the innovation taking place across a number of areas which are keeping these companies at the forefront of what they do.
“We had a fantastic number of entries this year and judges spent months visiting each company and agreeing the shortlist. We say this every year - but the quality of entrants this time around has been truly exceptional. Arriving at the final shortlist was no easy task let alone picking the winners.”
Here is the full list of winners:
Turnover £100m+ sponsored by PwC
- musicMagpie
Turnover £50m - £100m sponsored by Robert Walters
- EDAM Group
Turnover £25m - £50m sponsored by Hill Dickinson
- M&I Materials Ltd
Turnover £10m - £25m sponsored by Brewin Dolphin
- HMG Paints Ltd
Turnover £5m - £10m sponsored by Manchester Evening News
- Steamforged Games Ltd
Turnover £1m - £5m sponsored by Salford Business School
- AlphaBiolabs
One to watch (turnover £0m-£1m) sponsored by Bolton School
- Code Nation
Head office outside Greater Manchester (turnover £50m+) sponsored by Manchester Airport
- Russells Construction
Judges’ Choice Award sponsored by Barclays
- Lancashire Farm Dairies
Mitchell Henry Prize sponsored by LDC
- Godel Technologies
CSR Gold Award sponsored by Business-Live
- Utilities Design & Planning
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