The driving forces behind three of the most promising businesses in the county are celebrating today after being unveiled as the winners of a special competition.

Headington-based Savvy Maintenance and Renovations, Oxford milkshake bar Shakespeare’s and Banbury corporate health monitoring company Healthy Performance took the honours in the Business Accelerators competition run by Newsquest Oxfordshire, publisher of the Oxford Mail.

A total of 37 entries were submitted in the competition aimed at small businesses.

And the winning trio will each receive three months’ free advertising in Newsquest titles along with mentoring from judges and business experts Brendon Cross, Bob Urwin and Mike Jennings.

All three judges were impressed by the quality of entries in the competition, which has been backed by Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron and Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Deborah Meaden.

Mr Urwin, who runs Martin & Co lettings agency in Oxford and was part of a team which launched the Oxford Journal in 1973 before going on to help establish free newspapers around the country, highlighted the strengths of each winning business.

He said: “I was impressed by the honesty and sincerity of Healthy Performance founder Wayne Campbell. The model he demonstrated was sound and costs could be easily controlled.

“I could see huge potential for growing this business.

“Amee Thomas, co-owner of Shakespeare’s, clearly has a business head, recognising the importance of adjusting ingredients from summer to winter and putting hot drinks on the menu. I would defy anyone not to be impressed by her focus and personality.

“And I believe Savvy, headed up by Stephen Dunne, is a business that will not only survive in these uncertain economic times but will prosper and grow.”

Mr Jennings, who is chairman of the family business which runs the Monument Business Park in Chalgrove, the business park at The Boundary, Garsington, and three centres in Oxford, Abingdon and Didcot, added: “The winning companies showed many qualities including good service, innovation and even fun which are all essential elements in a good business.”

And Mr Cross, founder of Witney-based telecommunications firm STL Communications, said: “What a great competition with lots of excellent entries and some totally committed entrepreneurs.

“Let’s hope this becomes an annual fixture in the Oxfordshire small business calendar.”

What the judges said...

Brendon Cross: What a great competition with lots of excellent entries and some totally committed entrepreneurs. Let’s hope this becomes an annual fixture – Bob Urwin: Savvy, headed up by Stephen Dunne, is a business that will not only survive in these uncertain economic times but will prosper and grow. Mike Jennings: The winning companies showed many qualities, including good service, innovation and even fun, which are all essential elements in running a good business