The MNA, which publishes Britain's biggest selling regional newspaper the Express & Star and sixth biggest the Shropshire Star, held the Real Awards 2013 at Telford International Centre on Friday.

Prizes in 21 categories were awarded to staff across every department, watched by an audience of colleagues and guests.

Managing director Phil Inman, who hosted the evening, said: "The awards highlight the positive impact our business continues to have upon the communities we support, the customers we serve and the readers we inform.

"Our employees' combined efforts mean we have a business to be proud of and a future to really believe in. "

The headline winners included Shirley Tart, who was honoured with the directors' discretionary award for her contribution to the business over 50 years.

A video tribute to Shirley included comments from senior members of the MNA business. MNA editorial director and Express & Star editor Keith Harrison said: "Shirley Tart is a legend in journalistic circles, not just locally but at a national level."

MNA magazines general manager Tom Graham said: "Shirley Tart is synonymous with the Shropshire Star."

Shropshire Star editor Martin Wright added: "I don't think anybody will match the length of service which Shirley has given the Star."

Ms Tart said: "It's such an honour and I feel so privileged. I wouldn't have ever been able to do some of the amazing things I've done in my career if it wasn't for MNA."

The MNA Training Academy staff won team of the year and the colleagues who combined to win the classifieds advertising section relaunch scooped project team of the year.

MNA Training Academy manager Sally Green said: "We are all thrilled. The hard work we do benefits the business in the long term."

The team leader of the year award was shared between Express & Star head of news Becky Woods and Shropshire Star regional advertising manager Petra Smith.

Becky said: "I've never worked with a harder working team of people. This is for them as much as myself."

Petra added: "I am really surprised and pleased to win this award. It's for me and the whole of my amazing team."

Deputy classified sales manager Claire Smith won long serving employee of the year.

In editorial, Express & Star political editor Daniel Wainwright was named West Midlands journalist of the year for the second year running, Jennifer Meierhans was Shropshire journalist of the year and Wolves reporter Tim Nash won sports desk person of the year.

Daniel Wainwright said: "I work with some of the most brilliant and talented people in the business.

"I am very grateful that people think I am worthy to win again."

Two other editorial awards went to Express & Star employees. Melissa Coombs was sub editor of the year and photographer of the year was Tim Thursfield, another back to back winner.

In the advertising department, Mia Wright won Shropshire sales person of the year, Roger Harris was West Midlands sales person of the year and Carlie Clarke won classifieds advertising sales person of the year.

The new employee of the year was junior graphic designer Mark Johnson. He said: "I want to thank the creative team for making me feel welcome and for voting for me."

The services department employee of the year was personnel officer Matt Austin, while Trina Brown took the financial employee award.

The digital person of the year was response and fulfilment executive Daniel Amos, Dean Doughty was crowned driver and distribution team member of the year and David Stanworth was named production person of the year.

Dean Doughty said: "I'd like to thank the company as a whole, I'm over the moon. This is so unexpected and fantastic."

The public facing award went to Shropshire Star head of editorial support Tania Taylor and Kevin Edwards was named circulation person of the year.

It was a triple celebration for Mr Edwards, who was celebrating his birthday and wedding anniversary.

He said: "Being recognized is amazing, thanks again to everyone. I wasn't expecting this."

In total, 380 guests attended the event, with colleagues from across the MNA portfolio – daily newspapers, weeklies, magazines and digital – joined by Claverley colleagues from the Guiton newspapers

The sponsors for the event included Goss, Renault, Resolute Forest Products, Norske Skog, Wyatt International, Precision Colour Printing, Nasa, Fujifilm, MJC Group and Flint Group.

And the winners are. . .

The Midland News Association, publisher of the Wolverhampton-based Express & Star and the Ketley, Telford-based Shropshire Star Newspapers, Real Awards winners were:

New employee of the year: Mark Johnson, junior graphic designer

Services department employee of the year: Matt Austin, personnel officer

Sports desk person of the year: Tim Nash, sports writer

Financial employee of the year: Trina Brown, supervisor

Sub editor of the year: Melissa Coombs, acting chief sub editor, Express & Star

Long serving employee of the year: Claire Smith, deputy classified sales manager

2013 directors' discretionary award: Shirley Tart, associate editor of Shropshire Magazine

Digital person of the year: Daniel Amos, response and fulfilment executive

Driver and distribution team member of the year: Dean Doughty, driver/loader

Production person of the year: David Stanworth, advertisement production overseer

Photographer of the year: Tim Thursfield, senior chief photographer

Public facing award: Tania Taylor, editor's secretary/head of editorial support

Shropshire sales person of the year: Mia Wright, sales representative

West Midlands sales person of the year: Roger Harris, sales representative

Circulation person of the year: Kevin Edwards, group head of sales development

Shropshire journalist of the year: Jennifer Meierhans, senior reporter

West Midlands journalist of the year: Daniel Wainwright, political editor

Team leader of the year award: Petra Smith, regional manager/Becky Woods, chief news editor

Project team of the year prize: Classifieds relaunch team

Team of the year: MNA Training Academy