The Finalists Are!!

We are delighted to announce the finalists for the 2026 South Wales Business Awards. In the 18 years of the awards, we have seen an increase in the amount of applications year on.

However, 2026 has seen a staggering jump in the volume and standard of applications. This year’s awards passed our 2025 numbers with almost 6 weeks to spare.

The finalists are as follows: 

Business Services Business of the Year

  • EduVenture Ltd
  • Flotek Group
  • Howells
  • The Independent General Practice (IGP)
  • Ogi
  • Royal Educare
  • Bluetube Scaffolding Ltd
  • Thomas Recruitment Group

Business Services Business of the Year (SME)

  • AD Marketing Group Ltd
  • Hannah McCartan Consultancy
  • FP Lead Gen
  • Newport Stays Ltd
  • Praise Healthcare
  • Social Media
  • RSI Consulting

 Business Services Business of the Year (Micro Business)

  • Mckenna Pahang Digital Marketing Strategy
  • Pink Palm Studio
  • Porth Design
  • MTD Fast Track
  • WhiteForm Cleaning

 Community Interest Company of the Year (CIC)

  • Well Woman (CIC)
  • Ride Like a Girl (CIC)
  • Therapeutic Activities Group CIC

 Family Business of the Year

  • Castle Plumbing Supplies
  • Bluetube Scaffolding
  • The Bootleggers
  • City Moves
  • Pyle Garden Centre
  • Royal Educare

     Family Business of the Year (SME)

  • FP Lead Gen
  • Cardio Core/Little Legends Play Hub
  • Little Bit Different
  • Brian Thomas Funeral Services

 Female Entrepreneur of the Year

  • Dr Anne Alison – Vale Wellness
  • Danni Watts-Jones – DWJ Wealth Management
  • Michelle Evans – Fablas Ice Cream
  • Jennine Gill – Little Inspirations
  • Esther Kayode – Praise Health Care Recruitment Agency
  • Shareen Geers – Ladies Who Travel

Female Entrepreneur of the Year (SME)

  • Alix Charles – AD Marketing
  • Beth Thomas – Cariad Mortgage Solutions
  • Sarah Wells – Cardio Core Fitness/Well Women (CIC)
  • Hannah McCartan – Hannah McCartan Consultancy
  • Zoe Hodgkinson – Hair Design by Zoe
  • Carys Daniels – Tyfu Play Café
  • Finola Wilson – Impact Wales

Female Entrepreneur of the Year (Micro Business)

  • Victoria Isaac – Little Bit Different
  • Jessica Williams – Spuddy Lovely
  • Ana Hostly – Vitality with Ana 

Financial Services Business of the Year

  • Accountancy Solutions
  • Cadre Advisory
  • Cariad Mortgage Solutions
  • Chris Hopkins Independent Financial Advisor
  • DWJ Wealth Management
  • Hill & Co Financial Advisors ltd
  • Quote Detective
  • Stratton Mortgages
  • Driverly

Green Business of the Year

  • Gone Solar
  • N3XUS AI
  • Get Zero Ltd
  • The Full EV
  • ULEX Energy

Retail Business of the Year

  • Storage Giant
  • Vale Wellness
  • Pyle Garden Centre 

Retail Business of the Year (SME)

  • Mor a Sawna Ltd
  • Living Well Physiotherapy
  • Little Bit Different
  • The Station – Coychurch

Retail Business of the Year (Micro)

  • R&L Rugs
  • AJ Wardrobe Edit

Startup of the Year (Ltd)

  • Newport Stays Ltd
  • Cardiff Ultrasound Clinic
  • Ladies Who Travel
  • South Wales Safety
  • STRATEM
  • ULEX Energy
  • Wilkins Wardrobes Ltd
  • Cariad Mortgage Solutions
  • Good Day Choir

Startup of the Year (Sole Trader)

  • Larry’s Coffee
  • CENW Home
  • Charlene Luxton Independent Funeral Services
  • Living Well Physiotherapy
  • Mckenna Pahang Digital Marketing Strategy
  • NOMAURA
  • Sweet 2 Badd
  • WhiteForm Cleaning

 Technological & Innovative Business of the Year

  • Afon Technology Ltd
  • Driverly
  • Green Orbit Ltd
  • Learna
  • Navitas Solutions Group Ltd
  • N3EXUS AI
  • Ogi
  • Systems X
  • Afro Ubuntu Tradenet
  • EduVenture Ltd

Tourism & Hospitality Business of the Year

  • Fablas Ice Cream
  • Cardiff Airport
  • Ladies Who Travel

Tourism & Hospitality Business of the Year (SME)

  • Banc Coffee & Records
  • Gower Golf Getaways
  • Larry’s Coffee
  • Spuddy Lovely

Workplace of the Year

  • Little Inspirations Ltd
  • Howells
  • The Independent General Practice (IGP)
  • Royal Educare
  • Thomas Recruitment Group
  • EduVenture
  • Blue Heart Care Group

Workplace of the Year (SME)

  • AD Marketing Group Ltd
  • Mor a Sawna
  • Spuddy Lovely

Young Entrepreneur of the Year

  • Will Coughlan & Aaron Wainwright – Banc Coffee & Records
  • Sam Jones – Blue Heart Care Group
  • Jessica Williams – Spuddy Lovely
  • Ana Hostly – Vitality with Ana
  • Mollie Vincent-Burnett – Face Aesthetics by MVB
  • NOMAURA – Naomi White

South Wales Business Awards Founder – Wesley Skene said, “We would like to congratulate our class of 2026 finalists. It has been an incredibly challenging shortlisting process. It is obvious that Wales is a key part of the UK entrepreneurship story, and a major driver in the future of the Welsh and UK economy.  

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