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The 27th M.E.N Business of the Year Awards took place last night honouring businesses across a range of sectors including manufacturing, tech and construction.

Around 350 people turned out for the glittering awards ceremony held at The Principal, Manchester.

Executive sponsors for this year鈥檚 awards include; PwC, Manchester Airport, Robert Walters, Hill Dickinson, Barclays, Brewin Dolphin and LDC.

Category sponsors are Bolton School and Salford Business School.

Turnover 拢100m+ sponsored by PwC - musicMagpie

musicMagpie is a north west tech business at the forefront of the global re-commerce revolution.

Founded by entrepreneurs Steve Oliver and Walter Gleeson in a garage in Stockport in 2007, the international business has undergone a significant transformation since its formative years, from the buying and selling of CDs, DVDs, and video games, to now focusing on consumer technology, such as smartphones, tablets, MacBooks, wearables and game consoles.

The site and mobile app allows customers to get cash easily for their unwanted tech items such as smart phones, iPads, MacBooks and wearables, as well as media items such as CDs, DVDs and books.

In 2016, the company launched its online store enabling consumers to purchase high quality refurbished technology at a fraction of the price of new products.

The business is set to exceed 拢130m in group revenue this year, and has seen accelerated growth since the introduction of its consumer technology offering and also establishing its US business Decluttr, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

It was the first company in the world to pass 10m in eBay feedback and it now exports to buyers in 140 countries around the world.

The brand is one of a select few to have also achieved 100,000 reviews on Trustpilot.

Founder Steve Oliver said: 鈥淲e won in the 拢25m to 拢50m category in 2011 and so to come back and win the top award is amazing and a reflection of how far we have come.

鈥淲e have been on a transformative journey where we have pivoted the business model to become the 海角视频鈥檚 number one phone reseller.

鈥淥ur Decluttr business is growing and now accounts for 30 per cent of turnover. We continue to expand and invest in our business and our staff and tonight鈥檚 awards reflects that.鈥�

Head office outside Greater Manchester (turnover 拢50m+) sponsored by Manchester Airport - Russells Construction

Russells Construction is one of the north west鈥檚 main contractors employing more than 180 staff at its Trafford Park headquarters.

In the summer, the firm attracted significant investment from one of the world鈥檚 largest construction groups, South African-based Wilson Bayly Hornes-Ovcon (WBHO), which acquired a 60 per cent stake in the business as part of a strategic plan to maximise opportunities within the 海角视频 market.

The firm, established in 1997 by Andrew and Gareth Russell, undertakes new build and refurbishment projects for some of the largest developers across the region and beyond, and has built a reputation for innovation, quality and proven delivery at a competitive price.

Clients include operators such as Motel One, Premier Inn, Travelodge, Holiday Inn, Park Inn by Radisson, Waitrose, Morrisons and Yearsley Group, and developers including Select Properties, Derwent Group, Peel Holdings, Royal London Asset Management, Property Alliance Group, Bruntwood and LPC Living.

Turnover in 2018 was 拢60.6m, up from 拢52m in the previous year

Russells Construction is active in Manchester with 11 projects in the city centre, as well as major industrial, logistics and residential schemes throughout the north, midlands and the south east.

Looking ahead, the company is stepping up to become a Tier 1 contractor.

The business is also set to begin delivery of the 拢400m south Heywood masterplan, which includes a 1.45m sq ft employment space and around 1,000 homes.

The additional support of WBHO means the firm has the potential to explore larger, national and public sector projects.

On winning the award, Gareth Russell, joint managing director, said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a fantastic achievement and great credit for all the staff and nice reward for all the effort that鈥檚 been put in by everybody.

鈥淚 think we鈥檝e grown as a business and the buildings that we鈥檙e constructing now are right up there with big 海角视频 construction companies, so we like to think we鈥檙e a formidable force in the Manchester region.鈥�

Joint managing director Andrew Russell added: 鈥淭his award is a recognition of what we鈥檝e constructed in the city centre and in the region and the team we鈥檝e assembled.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got some exciting opportunities coming up, with more of the same, more construction, which been successful for us over our 20-plus year history and that鈥檚 what we like to do, we like to build.鈥�

Turnover 拢50m - 拢100m sponsored by Robert Walters - EDAM Group

Accident management experts EDAM is on track to hit 拢100m turnover by 2020.

The company, which reported revenues of 拢68.3m in 2018 and employs more than 400 staff at its New Acre House base in Manchester, is one of the 海角视频鈥檚 leading service provider of credit hire and post accident services.

Since 2016 EDAM has been on a strong growth trajectory. Having restructured the teams within the business, it launched its 2020 vision a year later with an ambition to double the size of the business in three years.

In 2018 it also opened a new depot in Scotland, increased its fleet, introduced a new leadership development programme, introduced a FCA-standard complaint handling process and created new jobs to implement its growth.

This is the second time the company has won an M.E.N business awards after it was triumphant in the 2010 ceremony, taking home the award in the 拢10m-拢25m category.

EDAM CEO Steve Turner said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to get external recognition for what I think is a great business and for somebody else to see that and recognise it too feels good, it feels very good.

鈥淭he guys work really hard in the business.鈥�

Looking forward, Mr Turner said EDAM 鈥渨ants to grow鈥�.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got a better financial platform, we understand our customers and we want to offer more service to more people鈥�.

Turnover 拢25m - 拢50m sponsored by Hill Dickinson - M&I Materials

Specialist materials manufacturer M&I Materials exports to more than 60 countries around the globe from its Trafford Park base.

The company, which has a network of international offices and production facilities in the Americas, Africa, Middle East, Europe and Asia Pacific, specialises in the commercialisation of materials for demanding applications.

The 拢38m revenue company works across a range of sectors, from power and aerospace to nuclear medicine and high-performance motorsports, with clients including Siemens, ABB, Boeing, NASA and F1.

Its brands include Apiezon, a global market leader in high vacuum greases, sealants and lubricants, Metrosil, a leader in surge protection solutions used to safeguard electrical power networks worldwide, Midel, a fire-safe, biodegradable, ester-based dielectric transformer fluid used by utilities and transformer manufacturers, and Wolfmet, which is recognised as one of the world鈥檚 leading aerospace tungsten providers.

In 2018, the business benefitted from significant capital investment in its Trafford Park site with a new production line and internationally with major initiatives such as the opening if new production facilities in South Africa.

It continues its international expansion with new contracts in New York, China and the Middle East.

CEO Giles Salt said: 鈥淭his awards means so much for all of our staff.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 make a fuss about what we do so to be recognised in this way is great and a huge thank to the judges who took their time to listen to us and learn about the business.

鈥淲e are a Manchester manufacturer with innovative products and we are proud to be doing business in this region and exporting to over 60 countries.鈥�

Turnover 拢10m - 拢25m sponsored by Brewin Dolphin - HMG Paints

Taking home the prize in the 拢10m - 拢25m category, HMG paints said the award was a tribute to their late chairman Brian Falder, the son of the founder of the business.

Founded in 1930, HMG Paints has grown from a tiny room with only three people to become one of the 海角视频鈥檚 largest independent paint manufacturers.

With a broad spectrum of knowledge and expertise, HMG boasts a portfolio including wet paint, powder coatings and aerosols, covering virtually every type of surface imaginable.

This is all backed by an extensive 80-plus years鈥� experience in developing and pioneering coatings for a myriad of industries including; industrial, specialist industrial, automotive, commercial vehicle, defence, aerospace, wood finish, decorative, arts and craft, marine and rail.

Employing local people, the majority of its 181 staff members live within five miles of the business and it has seen generations of families who have worked through the business, passing on knowledge and expertise to future generations.

2019 has been an exciting year for the company as it launches an e-commerce website for its newly launched HMG decorative coatings range. It will be the first time HMG Paints has sold anything online in its history, broadening its clientele.

Another area of growth is the business鈥檚 defence coatings market and toll manufacturing.

Said Gracienne Ikin, digital sales and communications manager: 鈥淏rian was an inspiration to us all and this award is a tribute to him and his hard work.

鈥淗e was firm believer in treating everyone who works at HMG as family and that ethos runs through the business.

鈥淥ur staff will be made up with this, it鈥檚 a great achievement.鈥�

Turnover 拢5m - 拢10m sponsored by Manchester Evening News - Steamforged Games Ltd

Steamforged Games, the tabletop games company, has accelerated its growth following a 拢5m investment earlier this year.

The company which is responsible for tabletop versions of Resident Evil 2, Horizon: Zero Dawn and Dark Souls - Devil May Cry: The Bloody Palace, have been using funds from Foresight Group to support new product development, which is the company鈥檚 principal growth driver and a key strength.

In the pipeline for the next 24 months are eight additional games currently in production or development. The investment will also support the development of the company鈥檚 retail channels and help accelerate international growth.

Co-founders Rich Loxam and Mat Hart are games enthusiasts who have dedicated their free time to create 鈥楪uild Ball鈥�, a sports-based miniature game which went on to achieve critical acclaim. Since then, the team has developed a portfolio of games based on both original and licensed IP.

Their early success led to winning licences to develop games for several renowned video game titles and, in doing so, Steamforged has succeeded in carving out a niche in a market estimated to be worth around 拢2.3bn.

Previously based in the corner of a retail store in Stockport, the company has since moved to 16,000 sq ft premises in Manchester to support its growing team of 52.

Founder Rich Lomax said: 鈥淭his was the first time we have entered anything like this.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e in Manchester you want to win the MEN Business Awards and we鈥檙e delighted.

鈥淭his shows the world what we do and that is making cool games.鈥�

Turnover 拢1m - 拢5m sponsored by Salford Business School - AlphaBiolabs

AlphaBiolabs provides DNA, drug and alcohol testing services to a client base which includes members of the public, businesses, family and immigration law solicitors, social services, the media (including The Jeremy Kyle Show) and universities.

The company, founded in 2004, has one of the largest laboratories of its kind in Europe.

Its DNA testing services include maternity, paternity, sibling, aunt, uncle, grandparents, twin, Y chromosome and pre-natal.

The lab has also developed state-of-the-art techniques to provide an accurate record of alcohol or drug abuse.

Its legal drug and alcohol testing is recognised and admissible in 海角视频 courts with clients nationally.

In May this year, AlphaBiolabs stepped up its innovation drive by equipping its laboratory to settle paternity disputes using DNA samples from a toothbrush.

It follows studies by AlphaBiolabs鈥� in-house geneticists which showed that toothbrushes can provide a good source of DNA.

The method has been adopted at labs in the US and Canada but this is the first time it has become available at a 海角视频 lab.

The company also achieved a 海角视频 first by introducing non-invasive prenatal paternity testing.

AlphaBiolabs director Rachel Davenport said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 absolutely amazing to win this award, I鈥檓 blown away and I鈥檓 speechless because we obviously had stiff competition.

鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of my team, I鈥檝e got the best team ever and we really have a hard-working ethic, day-to-day and week-to-week.

鈥淚t鈥檚 all about just getting on with the job, getting our heads down and getting it done, so to get this external recognition is fantastic.鈥�

Speaking about Alphabiolabs鈥� future plans, Ms Davenport said: 鈥淲e鈥檝e got really great plans we really encourage ideas and a big area we鈥檙e going to look at is the personalised DNA gift testing market, so statistical DNA data can be presented into wall art.鈥�

One to watch (turnover 拢0m-拢1m) sponsored by Bolton School - Code Nation

Digital training specialist Code Nation is helping Greater Manchester residents into tech careers.

The business, founded two years ago by Andy Lord, is aiming to tackle the region鈥檚 skills gap by giving unemployed people the opportunity to retrain and linking Manchester-based businesses to the talent it needs.

Its school provides masters courses in coding and cyber security and teaches students not only digital skills, but industry insight by tailoring its courses with live projects in collaboration with potential employers.

This exposure to the professional world is further enhanced by the school鈥檚 focus on student wellbeing, including self-awareness, teamwork and mindfulness.

Since its launch, Code Nation has launched a campus in Chester with plans to launch across the 海角视频 including Cambridgeshire and Staffordshire.

In addition to creating much needed digital skills in the region, Code Nation has created jobs for 35 people in Manchester.

Said Amber Keats, skills coach at Code Nation: 鈥淭his is a testament to the work we have been doing with our students and instructors and is a recognition of what we are doing in the tech sector.

鈥淭here is a shortage of tech talent and we are training up the talent of the future.鈥�

The Mitchell Henry Prize sponsored by LDC - Godel Technologies

This award celebrated the most ambitious and growing business in Greater Manchester.

Godel Technologies, the Manchester-based software development company, develops business software including technology for point-of-sale and supply chain management, serving sectors from oil and gas to telecoms, retail, manpower, healthcare, finance and education.

Clients include Rentalcars.com, Virgin Holidays, AO.com, Voiteq, AccessPay, Secret Sales, MVF, Utilitywise and Comparethemarket.com and it has seen a number of existing clients scaling their requirements with the firm.

The company provides clients with a 鈥榩od鈥� of developers to provide software delivery.

This includes providing a dedicated team of Godel developers who work on a client鈥檚 project, or godel team members 鈥榮eeding into鈥� the client鈥檚 in-house team.

The company also takes end-to-end ownership of delivering a client鈥檚 solution.

Godel has grown by more than 50 per cent in headcount and now employs 1,000 staff across sites in Manchester, London and seven locations in Belarus.

The company has also shown consecutive year-on-year revenue growth for the past four years with 2018 turnover climbing 57 per cent to 拢21m.

Michelle Nock, VP of marketing at Godel, said: 鈥淭he growth we鈥檝e had over the past couple of years has been phenomenal so to be shortlisted alone and then to win an award in Manchester is amazing for us.

She added: 鈥淲e鈥檝e got a business plan in place and we鈥檙e already hitting the target that we鈥檝e set ourselves for this year, so let鈥檚 see where the next three years gets us.鈥�

The Barclays Judges Choice award - Lancashire Farm Dairies

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Rochdale-headquartered Lancashire Farm Dairies started life in 1984 as Pakeeza Dairies, working out of a small unit producing a range of set and stirred natural yoghurts.

While the company鈥檚 formative years included supplying to the ethnic food market - which is still an important part of the business - it diversified when it won its first listing with major supermarket Asda in 2010.

The company has now grown to become one of the 海角视频鈥檚 leading natural yoghurt producers with listings in Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury鈥檚 and Iceland as well as discounters Aldi and Lidl.

Once seen as a solely ethnic brand, sold exclusively in the world food aisles, the business re-positioned it self through its Lancashire Farm brand to appeal to a broader demographic.

Last year, the 拢37m turnover business became the only 海角视频 yoghurt brand to be made with exclusively free range milk - which means its herd grazes outside for at least 150 days a year.

While the business is setting new standards for the 海角视频 yoghurt producers, it is also challenging the bigger players in the industry such as Muller, Arla, Danone and Lactalis.

Jack Morrison, brand manager at Lancashire Farm Dairies, said: 鈥淭his is a major achievement for our staff, the business founders and for Rochdale where we are based.

鈥淲e鈥檝e moved into new markets over the years and this award reflects our journey and expansion but also our innovative products such as our free range yoghurts.鈥�

Sarfaraz Akram, chief operating officer, added: 鈥淭hank you to all the team for their hard work, dedication and commitment over the last 35 years. Here is to another 35 years!鈥�

Gold Award for CSR - Utilities Design & Planning

Utilities Design & Planning was recognised for its work with ex-offenders.

The Salford-based civil engineering contractor has now successfully placed three ex-offenders, who are now working full-time within the business, since it launched its training scheme.

The company has been working with Labour Ready, a recruitment agency which supplies trained permanent staff to the construction and associated industries, to trial a scheme where serving offenders are offered paid work placements during the latter part of their sentence, with the promise of a full-time job upon their release.

The company, which employs 150 staff, provides specialist traffic management services from design and planning surveys and plans to consultancy, road closures, diversions and temporary traffic lights.

It also provides services in planning and installing the full range of civil engineering services and utility services.

Mike Flynn, who became managing director of UDP in 2017, said: 鈥淭his award means a lot to us as it shows the impact we鈥檝e had by putting back into society.

鈥淭he business is built around people and we need to continue to invest in people within society that might not have had the opportunity some of us have had.

鈥淭he business we run today is all about giving people a second chance and that鈥檚 proved to have a really positive impact in society and also proved positive for us as a business.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got great investors and the board has supported every decision made and that鈥檚 got us to where we are today.鈥�