The winners of the fourth annual were announced on Friday night at a ceremony held at the Depot in Cardiff and hosted by TV presenter Jamie Owen.
The event saw 70 finalists from across all parts of Wales and a range of different sectors compete for 20 awards, with north Wales distillery Aber Falls winning the overall award for the 2019 Wales Start-Up of the Year.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, co-founder of the Wales Start-Up Awards and chairman of the judging panel, praised the Abergwyngregyn-based Aber Fal ls. The distillery employs 15 full-time members of staff and has achieved an annual turnover of £4m, despite the fact that its main product will not be ready until 2020.
Prof Jones-Evans added: “I would like to congratulate Aber Falls in creating a business whose aim is to manufacture the best products using the finest ingredients sourced directly from Wales whilst creating a sustainable supply chain in the process and operating as a dual-language business with local employees.
“Aber Falls is an incredible start-up firm that I am sure will grow to be an iconic brand for Wales and demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit of our great nation”.
The awards are the only ones of their kind in Wales to recognise new businesses that are less than three years old.
The 2019 winners
- Wales Start-Up of the Year: Aber Falls Whisky Distillery
- Business to Business Services: ComLink Fire & Security
- Construction Start-Up of the Year: Trades Work Wales
- Consumer Services Start-Up of the Year: Jonny Blades Barbershop
- Creative Start-Up of the Year: Sadler Jones
- Digital Start-Up of the Year: Signum Health
- Financial & Professional Services Start-Up of the Year: Sweetmans & Partners
- Food & Drink Start-Up of the Year: Aber Falls Whisky Distillery
- Global Start-Up of the Year: Youth Development Agency
- Graduate Start-Up of the Year: SmallSpark Space Systems
- Green Start-Up of the Year: Surple
- Innovative Start-Up of the Year: Hexigone Inhibitors
- Manufacturing Start-Up of the Year: Limb-art
- Retail Start-Up of the Year: Letterbox Lab
- Rural Start-Up of the Year: Bargoed Farm Caravan, Camping & Glamping Park and The Moody Cow Farm Shop & Welsh Bistro
- Social Enterprise Start-Up of the Year: The Good Wash Company
- Technology Start-Up of the Year: Credas
- Tourism & Leisure Start-Up of the Year: Adventure Tours 海角视频
- Valleys Start-Up of the Year: miFuture Group
- Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Drop Bear Beer Co
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The awards’ co-founder Liz Brookes, managing director at Grapevine Events Management, said: “The awards have shown us yet again the importance of the start-up sector to the Welsh economy. Wales is home to a wealth of entrepreneurial, talented businesses who have made a significant impact, not just within the sectors of which they operate, but also across the local, national and in some instances the global economy.
“We’re delighted to celebrate the successes of those businesses who are not only making a significant contribution to the Welsh economy and the sectors they serve, but are an inspiration for the next generation of start-ups here in Wales.”
Overall sponsorship was by Capital Law, the national and international provider of legal services.
Alys Carlton, partner at Capital Law, said: “To become an established business, a start-up requires a supportive entrepreneurship ecosystem, and the role of awards ceremonies in that cannot be underestimated.
“Objective validation from third-party sources doesn’t only boost sales and leads, it strengthens team spirit, employee motivation and brand recognition. Awards make it easier for start-ups to work with partners and press, and can also help them attract additional investors and funding.
“This is why Capital Law is delighted to be the headline sponsor of the Wales Start-Up Awards for the second year in a row.”
Other sponsors include NatWest Cymru, Abel & Imray, ALS Managed Services, Bluegg, Business in Focus, Cardiff University, Freight Logistics Solutions, Swansea University, Thermal Compaction Group, Tramshed Tech, Universities Wales, University of South Wales, WCVA and the Welsh Government.