Awards celebrate best in business in Brighton and Hove

The city's best businesses were celebrated at the ninth annual Brighton and Hove Business Awards.

The great and the good of the local business world descended on Brighton Pier for the awards ceremony and the big winner on the night was Ambiental, which took home two prizes, including Best Environmental Industry Company.

The Kitchen Store also enjoyed a fruitful night, claiming the title of Fastest-growing Business and being highly commended in the Best Independent Retailer category, which was won by The Book Nook.

Other winners on the night included The Young People's Centre, which took home Greatest Contribution to the Community, and The Treatment Rooms, which won the title of Best Customer Service.

The Sealife Centre was named Best Place to Visit while Paddle Round the Pier - which was supported by Brighton and Hove Independent as official media partner - took the Best Event in the City.

Business Beyond The City

Winner: Ambiental

Highly-commended: Stelfox

Finalist: Grovelands

Finalist: Visual Acuity

Greatest Contribution To The Community

Winner: The Young People's Centre

Finalist: Brighton and Hove Albion FC

Finalist: Dv8 Sussex

Best Customer Service

Winner: The Treatment Rooms

Finalist: Blanch House

Finalist: Bonett's Estate Agents

Best Environmental Industry Company

Winner: Ambiental

Highly-commended: Jurys Inn Brighton

Finalist: The Big Lemon

Best Event in the City      

Winner: Paddle Round The Pier

Highly-commended: Best of British

Finalist: Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival

Best Independent Retailer          

Winner: The Book Nook

Highly-commended: The Kitchen Store

Finalist: La Cave a Fromage

Professional Services Award

Winner: DC Storm

Finalist: Classic Consulting

Finalist: IEP Financial

Best New Kids On The Block       

Winner: Gene Commerce Ltd

Finalist: Dwell Agency

Finalist: Emporium

Finalist: Fresh As A Daisy

Best Place to Visit

Winner: Brighton Sea Life Centre

Finalist: Brighton and Hove Albion FC

Finalist: Emporium

Best Place To Work

Winner: Stelfox

Finalist: European Recruitment

Finalist: OST Energy Limited

Finalist: The Student Room

Creative Industries Award

Winner: Bozboz Ltd

Finalist: Oliver and Graimes

Finalist: Tru Thoughts Recordings

Fastest-growing Business Award

Winner: The Kitchen Store

Finalist: ideal networks

Finalist: European Recruitment

Managing Director of the Year    

Winner: Neil Purssey, Fireco

Finalist: Paul Barber, Brighton and Hove Albion FC

Finalist: Alan Margetts, The Kitchen Store

Finalist: David Wicks, European Recruitment