The Winners Are

Friday 26^th September witnessed a historic 17^th annual South Wales Business Awards, where the best of the Welsh business community assembled to celebrate their achievements.

Held at the iconic Hilton Hotel Cardiff and hosted by Welsh television and radio royalty – Sara Edwards. The 2025 awards were the biggest and most eagerly contested yet. The independent judging panel found the process so incredibly difficult, that they choose to implement a “Silver Award Winner” to reflect the competitiveness and standard of the nominees.

The winners of the South Wales Business Awards are as follows:

Business Services Business of the Year

• GS Verde Group – Winner
• Ajuda – Silver Award Winner

 Business Services Business of the Year (SME)

• So.Social Media – Winner
• FitPro Lead Gen – Silver Award Winner 

Business Services Business of the Year (Micro Business)

• Eureka Capital Allowances – Winner
• Crack On Coaching – Silver Award Winner

Employer of the Year

• Ysgol Antur Cwm – Winner
• Fleet EV – Silver Award Winner

Employer of the Year (SME)

• NF Fitness – Winner
• AD Marketing – Silver Award Winner

Family Business of the Year

• Black Mountain Adventure – Winner
• Kris of All Trades Ltd – Silver Award Winner

Female Entrepreneur of the Year

• Chloe Stanford – Always Responsive Commercial Cleaning – Winner
• Lauren Evans – Fablas Ice Cream – Co Silver Award Winner
• Nina Chivers – Nina Estate Agents – Co Silver Award Winners

Female Entrepreneur of the Year (SME)

• Laura Abraham – The Grown Up School – Winner
• Michelle Evans – Riverside Funeral Services – Silver Award Winner 

Female Entrepreneur of the Year (Micro Business)

• Leanne Griffiths – NF Fitness – Winner
• Jodie Hughes – VIP Cosmetics Tattoos & Piercings – Silver Award Winner 

Financial Services Business of the Year

• DWJ Wealth Management – Winner
• Cariad Mortgage Solutions – Silver Award Winner

Green Business of the Year

• Fleet EV – Winner
• Inspire Green – Silver Award Winner

Female Technological & Innovative Business of the Year

• AD Marketing – Alix Charles – Winner
• Cansford Laboratories – Kim Bagley – Silver Award Winner

 Male Technological & Innovative Business of the Year

• The Social Work Way – Matthew Davies – Winner
• SystemX – Gareth Arnold & Liam Denston – Silver Award Winner

Retail Business of the Year

• Mor A Sawna – Winner
• The Tair Bull Inn – Libanus – Co Silver Award Winner
• Ladies Who Travel – Co Silver Award Winner

Female Startup of the Year

• Vale Wellness – Dr Anne Alison – Winner
• Spuddy Lovely – Jessica Williams – Silver Award Winner

Male Startup of the Year

• Navitas Solutions Group – William Winter – Winner
• U-Test Diagnostics – Harry Griffiths – Silver Award Winner

Young Entrepreneur of the Year

• Laura Abraham – The Grown Up School – Winner
• Heidi Jehu – Enaid Wellness – Silver Award Winner

 Student of the Year

• Rebekah Jones – University of Wales Trinity Saint David – Winner
• Robert Yeo – University of Wales Trinity Saint David – Winner

South Wales Business of the Year 2025

GS Verde

GS Verde Group CEO & South Wales Business of the Year winner Nigel Greenaway said, “GS Verde Group are delighted with the recognition at the South Wales Business Awards. Winning these prestige awards reflects well on our hard working and ambitious team, and it is a boost to our business to be highlighted in this manner”.

Founder of the South Wales Business Awards, Wesley Skene noted, “It’s clear that something very unique is happening in Wales. Despite of all the economic challenges both nationally and globally, Welsh entrepreneurship is thriving. Our CEO’s, founders and business leaders rise to every challenge posed, with an unwillingness to accept anything less than success. Entrepreneurship is sown into the DNA of Welsh society which is something we are needing to rely upon increasingly as time moves forward.”

The awards were also an opportunity to raise funds for our nominated charity – YMCA Cardiff. A total of over £1,200 was raised for an incredibly important cause. The awards would like to thank our fantastic sponsors – University of Wales Trinity Saint David – Feature Sponsor & Swansea Building Society – Event Sponsor.

South Wales Business Awards 2025

The Nominees Are

We are delighted to announce the nominees for the 2025 South Wales Business Awards. Since the awards launched in 2008, there has been a strong and yearly growth to the number and standard of applications.

However, 2025 has changed all understanding of what is normally expected in applications. This year’s awards have shattered the record for applications, with a standard that is simply astounding. Wales, despite all the economic headwinds, is moving forward at a pace like no other region of the UK.

The Nominees are as follows:

Business Services Business of the Year

• Always Responsive Commercial Cleaning
• Moorhouse Group Ltd
• GS Verde Group
• Clean Mate Ltd
• Ajuda
• Fleet EV

Business Services Business of the Year (SME)

• Robertsons IP
• So.Social Media
• FP Lead Gen
• Flexi-Print 

Business Services Business of the Year (Micro Business)

• Eureka Capital Allowances
• Crack On Coaching
• Flow Fight Wear

Employer of the Year

• Little Inspirations
• Ysgol Antur Cwm
• Quote Detective
• Nuaire
• Fleet EV 

Employer of the Year (SME)

• NF Fitness
• AD Marketing
• Cariad Mortgage Solutions

Family Business of the Year

• Kris of All Trades Ltd
• Fablas Ice Cream
• Coffee Spot
• The Tair Bull Inn, Libanus
• Black Mountain Adventure

Female Entrepreneur of the Year

• Lauren Evans – Fablas Ice Cream
• Kim Bagley – Cansford Laboratories
• Katie Bullon – activ Marketing Franchise
• Nina Chivers – Nina Estate Agents
• Georgina Hambly – Hambly Estates
• Chloe Stanford – Always Responsive Commercial Cleaning
• Danni Watts-Jones – DWJ Wealth Management
• Emma Wilkins – Commercial Telecoms – Welsh Business Show – Welsh Construction Show – Neurodivergent Show – Prefer Properties
• Dawn Evans – Ajuda Ltd 

Female Entrepreneur of the Year (SME)

• Alix Charles – AD Marketing
• Michelle Evans – Riverside Funeral Services
• Dr Anne Alison – Vale Wellness
• Suzanne Ward – Bloom Financial Planning
• Laura Abraham – The Grown Up School

Female Entrepreneur of the Year (Micro Business)

• Heidi Jehu – Enaid Wellness Studio
• Leanne Griffiths – NF Fitness
• Nicola Crawley – Inner Belief
• Jodie Hughes – VIP Cosmetics Tattoos & Piercings

Financial Services Business of the Year

• Cariad Mortgage Solutions
• Hill & Co Financial Advisers Ltd
• DWJ Wealth Management
• Quote Detective
• Bloom Financial Planning
• Moorhouse Group
• Balch Mortgages
• GS Verde
• Hoop Recruitment 

Green Business of the Year

• Ysgol Antur Cwm
• Eco Oven Cleaning
• Fleet EV
• Inspire Green

Female Technological & Innovative Business of the Year

• Cansford Laboratories – Kim Bagley
• AD Marketing – Alix Charles
• The Grown Up School – Laura Abraham
• Little Inspirations Ltd – Jenine Gill

 Male Technological & Innovative Business of the Year

• Nataim UK Ltd – Gary Rawlings
• FP Lead Gen – David Kyle
• Expert LMS – Mark Bowden
• The Social Work Way – Matthew Davies
• SystemX – Gareth Arnold & Liam Denston
• U-Test Diagnostics – Harry & Jamie Griffiths

 Retail Business of the Year

• Little Inspirations
• Flow Fight Wear
• Ladies Who Travel
• Flex-Print Ltd
• Hikitalo
• Mor A Sawna
• The Tair Bull Inn – Libanus
• Black Mountain Adventure

 Female Startup of the Year

• NF Fitness – Leanne Griffiths
• Mor A Sawna – Kathryn Donovan
• Vale Wellness – Dr Anne Alison
• Enaid Wellness Studio – Heidi Jehu
• Diversity Skin & Beauty Studio – Danielle Scott
• Spuddy Lovely – Jessica Williams

 Male Startup of the Year

• Ysgol Antur Cwm – Gavin Lewis
• Hikitalo – William Jenkins
• Pressed & Fresh – Jason Webb-Wood
• Navitas Solutions Group – William Winter
• U-Test Diagnostics – Harry Griffiths
• Craptical Classics – Sam Perry

 Young Entrepreneur of the Year

• Jessica Williams – Spuddy Lovely
• Caitlin Jenkins – Cait’s Cakes
• Haydn Wakeling – Black Swan Productions
• Joshua Powell – Inspire Green
• Danielle Scott – Diversity & Beauty Studio
• Vinita Yadav – VKY Group
• Heidi Jehu – Enaid Wellness
• Laura Abraham – The Grown Up School

 South Wales Business Awards Founder – Wesley Skene said, “We would like to congratulate the class of 2025. This year’s shortlisting process has been especially tough. It’s clear that Wales is a very special country and that entrepreneurship is at the core of Welsh culture. We are very much looking forward to celebrating with all of the nominees on the 26^th September at the black tie gala ceremony.” 

Tickets for the awards are now on sale at www.southwalesbusinessawards.co.uk

The Winners Are

Friday evening saw the elite of the Welsh business community gather to recognise their achievements at the 16^th annual South Wales Business Awards.

Hosted by one of Welsh television and radio’s most popular presenters Sara Edwards at the iconic Hilton Hotel – Cardiff.

2024 has broken all records for the volume and standard of applications. The independent judging panel found the process incredibly challenging to pick this year’s winners.

The winners of the South Wales Business Awards are as follows:

Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Rhys Mallows – Mallows Bottling

Young Entrepreneur of the Year (SME) – Chandler Durbessich-Reed – Mother Hen Eggs

Start-up of the Year – Coffi Kitoko

Start-up of the Year (SME) – Suburban

Start-up of the Year (Micro) – No FKS Fitness

Retail & Tourism Business of the Year – Mor A Sawna Ltd

Female Entrepreneur of the Year – Caryl Thomas – SPK Property Solutions

Female Entrepreneur of the Year (SME) – Joanne Fisher – Joanne Fisher Law

Business Services Business of the Year – CleverChefs Group

Business Services Business of the Year (SME) – Fit Pro Lead Gen

Technological & Innovative Business of the year – Flotek Group

Technological & Innovative Business of the year (SME) – Steer IT Solutions

Employer of the Year – Little Inspiration Day Nursery

Green Business of the Year – Snow White Laundries

Green Business of the Year (SME) – Kit4Crew Powered by Real SFX

South Wales Business of the Year 2024 – Caryl Thomas – SPK Property Solutions & Joanne Fisher – Joanne Fisher Law

2024 also witnessed the first ever joint winners of the South Wales Business of the Year. After a hotly debated judging process, the independent judging panel remained deadlocked. As such, the whole judging team felt it right to awards joint winners for 2024.

Founder of the South Wales Business Awards, Wesley Skene said, “As the Welsh economy navigates the increasingly difficult conditions in the UK and global economy, its patently obvious that Welsh businesses are facing the challenges head on. We’ve seen incredible displays of innovation and creativity. New markets being developed, new ways of doing business. Wales can be incredibly proud of its business community. With 2024 being the most successful awards to date, 2025 has a hill to climb to surpass this most phenomenal of years.”

The South Wales Business Awards would also like to thank our sponsors, Swansea Building Society, The Development bank of Wales, and nominated charity YMCA – Cardiff.

South Wales Business Awards 2023 – The Winners Are

Friday the 15^th September saw the elite of the Welsh business community gather to recognise their achievements at the South Wales Business Awards.

Hosted by one of Welsh television and radio’s most popular presenters Sara Edwards at the iconic Hilton Hotel – Cardiff. This year’s awards was an opportunity to celebrate the 15^th anniversary of the South Wales Business Awards.

2023 has been the most competitive awards in its history. This year has seen more applications, and a standard that far exceeds any other year.

The winners of the South Wales Business Awards are as follows:

• Young Entrepreneur of the year – Oliver Lewis – Hawkstone Commercials
• Young Entrepreneur of the year (SME) – Emily Hicks – Studio Hicks
• New start-up of the year – Flotek Group
• New start-up of the year (SME) – ICAN Education
• Retail & Tourism Business of the year – Solar Buddies
• Female Entrepreneur of the year – Jenine Gill – Little Inspirations Ltd
• Female Entrepreneur of the year (SME) – Kelly Farr – Your North
• Technological & Innovative Business of the year – Pontus Research
• Business Services Business of the year – Flotek Group
• Business Services Business of the year (SME) – ntitle ltd
• South Wales Business of the Year 2023 – Flotek Group

Feature Sponsor – Swansea Building Society – (Richard Miles, Head of Savings & Marketing / Area Manager, East) said, The Swansea Building Society were delighted to be sponsors of the highly successful South Wales Business Awards in 2023. The standard of entries was incredible and all those who entered deserved great credit for what they have achieved. Well done to all the nominees and winners who continue to show how vibrant and innovative South Wales and the businesses that operate here are. As a local South Wales business celebrating its 100^th anniversary in 2023, we were pleased to be able to celebrate with all those who attended, and a great night was had by all.

Founder of the South Wales Business Awards, Wesley Skene said, “Since 2008 we’ve seen the absolute best of the Welsh business community at the South Wales Business Awards. Each year the standard has increased. 2023 is the pinnacle of the award’s long history. I’m in awe of what our country and business community does. Despite all the difficult economic challenges, Wales and its economy is in good heart.”

Friday evening was also an opportunity to raise funds for nominated charity Dreams and Wishes. £600 was raised for seriously ill children and children with life limiting conditions.

With 2023’s awards being such a memorable evening, 2024 has a lot to live up to. Plans are well underway to make 2024 an even better evening.

South Wales Business Awards 2023 – The Nominees Are!!

The South Wales Business Awards is delighted to announce the nominees for the 2023 South Wales Business Awards. In the 15 years since the launch of the awards, we’ve seen an increase in the standard and volume of applications year on. However, 2023 has been a year like no other. Applications have reached astonishing levels with standards to match. It’s clear that the South Wales Business Awards is Wales’s leading business awards, and the Welsh business community is thriving.

The nominees are as follows:

Young Entrepreneur of the year

• Oliver Lewis – Hawkstone Commercials
• Emily Lewis – Two Fold
• Jack Ellis – Flawless Detailing

Young Entrepreneur of the year (SME)

• Emily Hicks – Studio Hicks
• Georgina James – GEEJ Coaching
• Kieran Birch – Open Socials
• Sophie Box – Time Together Contact Centre

New start-up of the year

• Archer Technology Group
• Flotek Group
• Better Finance & Leasing 

New start-up of the year (SME)

• ICAN Education
• Time Together Contact Centre
• Time For (Monmouthshire Cleaning)

 Retail & Tourism Business of the year

• The Travel Business
• J&A Phillips – Builders Merchants
• Little Inspirations Ltd
• Solar Buddies
• Tredegar Park Mini Golf
• Cyncoed Dental

Female Entrepreneur of the year

• Sharon Green – Valleys Education
• Ellie Fowler – The Travel Business
• Jenine Gill – Little Inspirations Ltd
• Dawn Evans – Ajuda
• Laura Waters & Kelly Aspland – Solar Buddies

Female Entrepreneur of the year (SME)

• Kelly Farr – Your North
• Katie Moss – Otium Concierge
• Caroline Smith – Smudged
• Jenna McDonnell – Jenna McDonnell

 Technological & Innovative Business of the year

• Hawkstone Commercials / Hawkstone Motor Finance
• Carbone Code Solutions
• Solar Buddies
• Pontus Research

Business Services Business of the year

• Flotek Group
• Hawkstone Commercials
• Mallows Bottling
• HH Business Finance
• Order Uniform UK Ltd
• Effective HRM

Business Services Business of the year (SME)  

• Rockall Safety
• ntitle Ltd  
• Correct Careers Coaching
• One 2 One Therapy
• Challenger Business Services

The South Wales Business Awards would like to congratulate all those that have been nominated and thank everyone who took the time and effort to apply. The winners will be announced Friday 15^th September at the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff.

Wesley Skene

South Wales Business Awards

South Wales Business Awards 2022 – The Nominees Are!!!!!

The South Wales Business Awards is pleased to announce the nominees for the 2022 South Wales Business Awards. The short-listing process was incredibly difficult and competitive. Each year sees an increase in applications and standard of applications. However, the last two years have been unprecedented and once again shows why Wales is one of the leading entrepreneurial lights.

The nominees are as follows:

Young Entrepreneur of the year

• Rhys Mallows – Mallows Bottling
• Kieran Gething – G. Gething & Sons
• Ella Jones – Ancora Equestrian Ltd
• Georgina James – GEEJ Coaching
• Jarred & Gareth Harrington-Jones – Hadjax Pet Services
• Thomas James – Luna Tides

New start-up of the year

• 10 LOC (Ltd)
• Hawkstone Commercials
• The Green Mile Training Camp
• G Burger
• Mallows Bottling
• Day’s Recruitment
• Carbon Code Solutions

Retail & Tourism Business of the year

• The Travel Business
• Gething Sports
• Little Inspirations Day Nursery
• V3 Apparel

Female Entrepreneur of the year

• Kelly Farr – YourNorth
• Rachel Bedgood – Complete Background Screening
• Gretchen Betts – Magenta Finance
• Gemma Richards – SA Flyers
• Caryl Thomas – Sparkles Property Solutions
• Gabrielle Pring – Academii

Technological & Innovative Business of the year

• Hospital Innovations
• Cryo Cube
• Poet Systems Ltd
• Wales Interactive
• Walden Phillips Ltd
• GS Verde Group 

Business Services Business of the year

• Apollo Teaching Services
• Hoop Recruitment
• Complete Background Screening
• Freight Logistics Solutions
• Cadre Advisory
• Pontus Research
• Zeal Tax

Business Services Business of the year (SME)

• Alliance Marketing Agency
• Cleaning with Distinction
• YourNorth
• PGM Solicitors

The South Wales Business Awards would like to congratulate all those that have been nominated and thank everyone who took the time and effort to apply. The winners will be announced Friday 30^th September at the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff.

Wesley Skene

South Wales Business Awards