OXFORDSHIRE Business Awards chairman Paul Lowe has applauded the quality of finalists in the 2015 competition ahead of a sold-out gala dinner next month.

Mr Lowe said the award sponsors “had a good meeting and healthy debate about the category finalists” on May 6.

He added: “The general feedback was that the quality of the entrants was good. There are a lot of fresh faces on the list.”

The awards attracted a record 350 entries this year, up nearly 20 per cent up on the 2014 awards and slightly more than the previous record year of 2013.

Mr Lowe said the gala dinner, to be held at the Oxford Thames Four Pillars Hotel in Sandford on June 19, when the winners will be announced, had already sold out.

About 500 people are expected to attend.

He said: “Tickets have flown off the shelf. They have gone in record time and we have a waiting list.”

At least three finalists this year won awards in 2014, although in different categories.

Harwell-based space technology company Oxford Space Systems is shortlisted again for the Oxfordshire LEP New Business award, which it won last year.

The Hook Norton Brewery is a finalist for the Four Pillars Cultural Events and Tourism award, and won the Marketing Excellence award in 2014.

And Kidlington-based electrical contractors Darke & Taylor, which won the Large Business award in 2014, is up for the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship of the Year award.

Darke & Taylor commercial director Simon Newton said: “We were all very excited to be nominated again as it was certainly a great event last time for everyone involved.

“This one is more from the heart, it is more personal than last time and it comes from a more personal place. It means more to us as apprentices are a fundamental part of our business. Most of us began as apprentices.”

Paul Loeffen, chief executive of Cobalt Lights Systems, which is a finalist for the Oxford Brookes University Innovation award, said: “We’re delighted to be considered for that award. It’s a good recognition for the work our staff have put in.”

This is the first time Cobalt Light Systems, which is based in Milton Park, has been nominated for the Oxfordshire Business Awards.

Lisa Ward, director of the Oxfordshire Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre, which is a finalist for the Oxford Times Charity and Community award, said: “We’re absolutely over the moon to be shortlisted for the award. I think it reflects the growth of the organisation over the last five years and the many more women we’re now able to support. And it also pays tribute to the many volunteers, without whose support we wouldn’t be able to exist.”

Charlotte Pimm, 27, owner of dog grooming business Woozelbears, which has parlours in Witney and Swindon, is a finalist for the Shaw Gibbs Young Business Person of the Year award.

She said: “This really is fantastic. I set up the business at 22 years of age. I didn’t even know how businesses worked or have a cash box.

“It all started after my dog gave birth to some puppies. I sold them and then had some money. From there it was either try to buy a house or start a business.”

Oxford Mail:
Entrepeuner: Charlotte Pimm of Woozelbears is a Young Business Person of the Year award finalist

Woozelbears, which has eight employees, now attracts about 170 dogs a week for treatments, including 120 dogs for hydrotherapy.

Shaun Froggett, 35, owner of Brize Norton crocodile zoo Crocodiles of the World, which has been shortlisted for the Cultural Events & Tourism award, said: “It’s fantastic. It’s nice to be nominated for what we are doing.”

Mr Froggett sold his house four years ago to start the zoo, which now has 15 different types of crocodile.

“I’ve kept crocodiles privately for about 10 years and so it was a natural progression for me. We have about 14 employees, ranging from zoo keeper to office personnel.”

Ben Prior, owner of Hinksey Hill-based Active Education Group, and a finalist for the Shaw Gibbs Business Person of the Year Award, said: “We were really chuffed to be nominated, but it’s really more about the people that work for us. They’re the ones that deserve it. We’ve worked really hard.”

Active Education Group organises educational and recreational programmes for schools during holiday periods.

Mr Prior said: “I did a sports science degree and then straight out of university I started up my own education company.

“I had previously worked for one and I thought to myself, ‘I could do that’.”