Success has bred success over the past seven years for the new Oxfordshire Business of the Year.

Banbury-based Crompton Technology was formed by directors Scott Roberts, Mike Dewhirst and Roger Davidson, who bought up plastics company PPL in 2000.

After changing the name, the company moved at high speed into the business of developing carbon fibre composites for use in the autosports industry.

Now the company employs 95 people, having taken on 17 this year and 26 in 2006, and has developed a carbon fibre propshaft which is lighter and stronger than its conventional rivals.

Marketing manager Leon Houseman said: "We are taking on skilled people and this area of Oxfordshire is the right place to be for finding them.

He added: "The whole awards process has been very useful and we would would definitely recommend others to enter."

The firm also provides materials for the aerospace and medical industries.

There was a double celebration for Nigel Harris, managing director of Bicester fruit and vegetable distributor, Fresh Direct. He claimed the coveted Business Person of the Year title, while his firm also won the Growing Business category at the awards held at the Four Pillars Hotel, Sandford.

Mr Harris, 36, said: "It is fantastic to be recognised - everyone at the company has done a remarkable job in what is a family-owned Oxfordshire business. We will be putting the logos on our lorries as we are really proud of what we have achieved in making this business so strong."

Fresh Direct employs about 500 people - 350 of them in Bicester - and handles 2,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables a week, supplying 14,000 customers in the hotel and restaurant trade. Turnover is expected to grow from £74m this year to £110m in 2008.

Annabel Dunstan, managing director of Milton Park-based public relations firm Three Monkeys Communications, delivered a knockout blow to her partner of more than 20 years Richard Lewis of Oxford sound and film studio Tom, Dick and Debbie Productions.

She was able to take the Creative Award with Mr Lewis having to settle for the runner-up prize.

Ms Dunstan said: "We decided to have a bit of fun on the night and there are no hard feelings!

"It feels great to be recognised as part of the Oxfordshire business scene and we look forward to raising our profile even higher in the future."

The Young Business Person of the Year title went to Oliver McGovern, managing director of the property and construction firm the MD Group, based near Farmoor.

Mr McGovern, 28, a former apprentice at Rover in Cowley, Oxford, started the business from scratch with school friend Stephen Dunne. It now has a turnover of £8.5m.

He said: "I am really honoured to have won. It is great to think that all the hard work has paid off and I am thankful to my friends and family for supporting me. I will definitely be entering again next year in another category."

The Tourism Award went to designer shopping outlet Bicester Village which has seen visitor numbers soar in the last year with 3.5 million visitors travelling from locations as far afield as China and Russia.

Community relations manager Miranda Markham said: "Growth has been phenomenal in the last 12 months and we will continue to work with all tourist attractions to ensure Oxfordshire is on the map as a great county."

The winnners are: BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Winner: Crompton Technology Group, Banbury INNOVATION Winner: Omprompt, Milton Park Runners up: Helveta, Harwell; Crompton Technology Group, Banbury SUSTAINABILITY Winner: Ice Energy Heat Pumps, Eynsham Runners up: Easy Peasy Nappies, Kidlington; Grundon Waste Management, Wallingford CHARITY AND COMMUNITY Winner: Oxford Philomusica, Oxford Runners up: The Midcounties Co-op, Botley; Plunkett Foundation, Woodstock BUILDING SERVICES Winner: Stewart Milne Timber Systems, Witney Runners up: CBG Consulting, Farmoor; Chris Lewis Security Services, Cowley GROWING BUSINESS Winner: Fresh Direct, Bicester Runners up: Chris Lewis Security Services, Cowley; Crompton Technology Group, Banbury CUSTOMER AND STAFF CARE Winner: Champion Recruitment, Oxford Runners up: Oxford Registration Service, Oxford; Oxford Playhouse, Oxford CREATIVE Winner: Three Monkeys Communications, Milton Park Runners up: The Marketing Practice, Lockinge; Tom, Dick & Debbie Productions, Oxford TOURISM Winner: Bicester Village, Bicester; Runners up: Vale and Downland Museum, Wantage; Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford SMALL BUSINESS Winner: Regenatec, Milton Park Runners up: Applied Landscape Design, Bicester; Little Kickers Franchises, Banbury YOUNG BUSINESS PERSON Winner: Oliver McGovern, MD Construction, Oxford Runners up: Mick Morris, Automotion Studio, Oxford; Deanne Wright, Sew Sublime, Banbury BUSINESS PERSON Winner: Nigel Harris, Fresh Direct, Oxford Runners up: Karim Sekkat, KAS Technologies Abingdon; Sarah Steele, Old Station Nursery, Faringdon