All the Winners from Powys Business Awards

A Hay-on-Wye company which specialises in providing outsourced packaging solutions to the pharmaceutical industry, has been named Powys Business of the Year.

PCI Pharma Services completed the double by also collecting the Outstanding Commitment to Training Award at the Powys Business Awards held at The Hafren, Newtown on Friday. The awards are organised by Mid Wales Manufacturing Group.

The company, which has a workforce of 360 and a turnover of £40 million, increased turnover by 24% and profits by 88% over the last two financial years.

By prioritising training, PCI Pharma Services ensures that rigorous international regulations governing the pharmaceutical industry are adhered to.

Collecting the awards with account manager Paige Morgan, the company’s training supervisor Tracey Lewis said: “I am delighted to collect these awards on behalf of PCI. They are a fantastic achievement for our team at Hay-on-Wye and make all the hard work worthwhile.

“I have been with the company for 22 years and I am extremely proud to be representing PCI Pharma Services. It’s a great company to work for because it is so passionate about supporting their people.”

The company, which has a workforce of 360 and a turnover of £40 million, prioritises training to ensure that rigorous international regulations governing the pharmaceutical industry are adhered to.

The judges praised the company’s “exemplary” staff training which resulted in extensive savings in production and waste.

“It is a company that is creating more job opportunities for local people and has shown strong growth in both turnover and profit over the last few years,” they said. “It certainly is a flag waving business for Powys employing over 360 people at its facility in Hay.”

The overall Powys Business of the Year Award was sponsored by Powys County Council, while the Training Award was sponsored by NiBS Ltd. Compere for the evening was BBC Wales presenter Claire Summers.

Pioneering Newtown company CellPath, which specialises in the design and manufacture of consumables and equipment used in the diagnosis of cancer, collected the Technology and Innovation Award, sponsored by Trax JH Ltd, for the third time.

The Entrepreneurship Award, sponsored by Welsh Government, went to groundworks and infrastructure specialists EvaBuild Ltd of Newtown, who added their third Powys Business Award to their collection.

Happy Horse Retirement Home Ltd at Crai, near Brecon, the first private retirement home of its kind for horses in Great Britain, galloped away with Judges Award.

The other award winners were: Start-up Business Award, sponsored by The County Times: Dragon UAV, Newtown. Entrepreneurship Award, sponsored by Welsh Government: EvaBuild Ltd, Newtown. Small Business Growth Award, sponsored by Myrick Training: 5C Services, Builth Wells. Social Enterprise / Charity Award, sponsored by Mid Wales Housing Association Ltd: East Radnorshire Day Centre, Presteigne. Micro Business (Under 10 employees) Award, sponsored by The Cambrian News and Brecon & Radnor Express: AL Technical, Newtown. Excellence in Leadership & Management Award, sponsored by Nidec Control Techniques: McCartneys LLP, Newtown. Mentor of the Year in Hospitality and Lifestyle, sponsored by Cambrian Training Company: Sharon Quine, Llangors Church in Wales School. Growth Award, sponsored by Development Bank of Wales: Clywedog Riverside Holiday Home and Red Kite Touring, Llanidloes. Small Business (under 30 employees) Award, sponsored by Mid Wales Manufacturing Group: Hilltop Honey Ltd, Newtown. International Trade Award, sponsored by Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors: Parry & Evans Ltd, Welshpool. Technology and Innovation Award, sponsored by Trax JH Ltd: CellPath Ltd, Newtown. Best Tourism Business Award, sponsored by NPTC Group of Colleges: Dan Yr Ogof, The National Showcaves Centre for Wales, Abercraf.

The runners-up were: Start-up Business Award: Celtic Woodland Holidays, Builth Wells and The UK Loose Leaf Tea Company Ltd, Brecon. Entrepreneurship Award: Camp Cynrig Glamping Village, Brecon and Glyngynwydd Wedding Barn and Cottages, Llangurig. Outstanding Commitment to Training Award: Happy Horse Retirement Home Ltd, Brecon and Charcroft Electronics, Llanwrtyd Wells.

Small Business Growth Award: AL Technical, Newtown and Varleys of Newtown Ltd, Newtown. Social Enterprise / Charity Award: Oriel Davies, Newtown and Montgomery Institute/ Cloverlands Model Car Museum, Montgomery. Micro Business Award: Mid Wales Shooting Centre, Trefeglwys and Clywedog Riverside Holiday Home and Red Kite Touring, Llanidloes. Excellence in Leadership & Management Award: Compact Orbital Gears, Rhayader and PYC, Welshpool. 

Mentor of the Year in Hospitality and Lifestyle Award: Affinity Home Care Group, Newtown. Growth Award: Hilltop Honey Ltd, Newtown and EvaBuild Ltd, Newtown. 

Small Business Award: Confederate Chemicals Ltd, Newtown and Davlec Limited, Welshpool. International Trade Award: CellPath Ltd, Newtown and Earthbound Organics International Ltd, Llandrindod Wells. Technology and Innovation Award: Etic Lab LLP, Newtown; S P Filling Systems Ltd, Llandrindod Wells and Plant i, Machynlleth. Best Tourism Business Award: Corris Craft Centre with King Arthur's Labyrinth, Machynlleth and Plas Dinam Country House, Llandinam.