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From pole dance instructors through to accountants, the South West has some very successful businesses. But don’t just take our word for it, all these have been highlighted as exemplars by their peers.

The companies and individuals highlighted here are all either award-winners or in the running to lift a trophy. So let’s celebrate the South West’s business successes:

Sam Remmer – in pole position amongst pole dancers

Sam Remmer, who runs Plymouth’s Art of Dance studio, was honoured with the Industry Contribution award at the Pole World expo, the º£½ÇÊÓƵ’s largest for the growing industry, in Bristol in August 2019.

A Pole Dance Community four-star instructor Sam said: “I am still over the moon with my national award for contribution to the pole dancing Industry. Massive thank you to Pole World Festival for the honour. PWF is an epic event and it is a pleasure to see so other dedicated and passionate polers also picking up awards for their hard work.

“I actually went all shaky and emotional. I have worked so hard for the pole industry since the start of my career in 2001 and I am still passionate about pole. To gain recognition for this is a truly, wonderful thing.”

Cornish Mutual - seventh heaven for insurer

Cornish Mutual has been named a Chartered Insurer for the seventh consecutive year. The South West general insurer is the only firm based west of Bristol, and the º£½ÇÊÓƵ’s only mutual insurance company, to hold the accolade, which is awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) to represent the highest standards in the insurance sector.

There are more than 900 general insurance companies in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ, but only 34 have been awarded chartered status from the CII.

In 2012, Cornish Mutual became the first mutual insurance company in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ and the first insurer in the South West to achieve Chartered status. The company also has two Fellows of the CII and over 70 CII qualified employees among its teams.