Management consultants Newton Europe was last night named Business of the Year in the 2016 Oxfordshire Business Awards.

The business management consultancy based in Kingston Bagpuize scored a hat-trick of awards, as it also picked up the Employer of the Year Award and the Large Business Award.

More than 400 business leaders and their staff gathered at the glittering awards ceremony at the Oxford Thames Four Pillars Hotel in Sandford-on-Thames.

"This is superb - I'm speechless," said Newton Europe director James Frost after his team was named Darke & Taylor Business of the Year.

He added: "A lot of our staff are in Cornwall right now for our summer conference so we will be heading back down there to celebrate this with them."

After Newton Europe won The Hays Employer of the Year Award Mr Frost said: "We are a people business through and through.

"It's in our DNA that when people join us we give them the most incredible opportunities for personal development."

About 300 firms came forward this year to compete in 15 different categories.

This year the awards, now in their 22nd year, include a new Food or Drink Producer of the Year Award, sponsored by caterers Oxford Fine Dining.

Three finalists for each category were chosen by judges, and guest speaker for the evening was Sky Sports presenter David Jones.

Awards chairman Paul Lowe said: "Tonight sees a celebration of some of Oxfordshire's most prestigious companies.

"It is a huge privilege to be associated with these awards as they go from strength to strength.

"Growth has been the buzzword for the past few years but there is a very important vote on the country's future just around the corner.

"This county is well placed to survive any effects if we do decide to leave (the European Union)."

Aspire, an award-winning employment charity based in Oxford, won The Oxford Times Charity and Community Award.

Joint chief executive officer Paul Roberts said: "It's a privilege to get this award - all the people we help have one thing in common - they are facing a barrier or social exclusion and they come to Aspire to change their lives."

Simon Biltcliffe, of Bicester-based print firm Webmart, won The Shaw Gibbs Business Person of the Year.

He said: "Being a Marxist, it's a prerequisite that I share this award with my staff - I'm made up."

The Savills Property Award was won by Bicester Heritage, a centre for historic motoring and aviation.

Managing director Daniel Geoghegan said: "This award validates our pathway and we have a great future ahead of us."

Bicester-based Andy's Barber Shop won The Inchcape Mercedes-Benz Retail Award.

"There was strong competition so we are chuffed to bits," said director Andy Willis.

The winners were:

•The Hays Employer of the Year Award: Newton Europe. Shortlisted Oxford Products, The Rooflight Company.

•The Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Apprenticeship of the Year Award: Stuart Barr CDR. Shortlisted Norbar Torque Tools, Grundon Waste Management.

•The Oxfordshire LEP New Business Award: iRepairTech. Shortlisted Fidelis Market Consultants, Aerial Motion Pictures.

•The Knights Small Business Award: Ross & Ross Food. Shortlisted CIS, Ue Coffee Roasters.

•The NatWest Large Business Award:Newton Europe. Shortlisted Hunts, Oxford Products.

•The Shaw Gibbs Young Business Person of the Year Award: Stuart Barr of Stuart Barr CDR. Shortlisted Darren Aston of Aston & James, Richard Marsh of CIS.

•The Oxford Science Park Innovation Award: Oxford Space Systems. Shortlisted Zeta Specialist Lighting, Gusto Telecom.

•The Inchcape Mercedes-Benz Retail Award: Andy's Barber Shop.Shortlisted Lily's Attic, Bakers Butchers.

•The Oxford Times Charity and Community Award: Aspire. Shortlisted SeeSaw, The Hummingbird Centre.

•The Heart Cultural Events and Tourism Award: Thame Food Festival. Shortlisted Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, NiRa Events/Oxford Christmas Market.

•The Oxford Fine Dining Food or Drink Producer of the Year Award: Hook Norton Brewery. Shortlisted Ue Coffee Roasters, Cotswold Fudge Co.

•The Shaw Gibbs Business Person of the Year: Simon Biltcliffe of Webmart. Shortlisted Annie Sloan of Annie Sloan, David King of Project 12 Spray Coatings.

•The Savills Property Award: Bicester Heritage. ShortlistedMEPC Milton Park, Heyford Park.

•The Ridgeway Marketing Excellence Award: Perfectly Picked. Shortlisted Oxford United, Webexpenses.

•The Darke & Taylor Business of the Year Award: Newton Europe.

For more pictures of the winners and the awards ceremony see Monday's Oxford Mail.