Celebrating best in business

The pride and passion of the Black Country was on show at a night celebrating homegrown success in the world of business.

A capacity crowd at Wolverhampton Racecourse watched Willenhall-based Aspray Transport, pictured, win an unprecedented four awards at the Express & Star's Best of the Black Country event.

James Cadman, managing director of Aqualux, was also delighted to take the top raffle prize of the evening, an £800 black diamond necklace donated by John Henn, of Wolverhampton jewellers TA Henn.

The sixth year of the awards attracted 500 people to celebrate the achievements of the men and women of the region who have combined business savvy and hard work with entrepreneurial flair.

News presenter Joanne Malin, from ITV Central, was compere and told the audience: "I have to tell you that the standard of the 25 finalists this year was stunning. Almost without exception, the judges reported enormous difficulty in selecting the eventual winner of each category."

The top prize capped an evening of unbelievable delight for a strong party from Aspray Transport. Separate teams of judges individually awarded them four of the eight awards up for grabs, including the blue riband Business of the Year award.

Announcement of the win saw the overjoyed Aspray team leapt to their feet, hugging each other and cheering. Managing director Stuart Laight said: "It is something you could not even dream about. It is a tribute to all our staff, each and every one of them who have given so much support.

"I told everyone that we were just glad to be nominated but to have won not just one but four awards is difficult to take in." Transport firm Aspray, which employs 527 people on the road and at its headquarters in Willenhall, also drove off with the awards for Workforce Development, Business Growth and Innovation, and Outstanding Business Achievement. This last was a personal triumph for Stuart Laight, as it was the only award made during the evening to an individual and was presented to him for his business leadership and work expanding the family-owned company in recent years.

"When two of my colleagues told me they had nominated me for this award, I didn't know whether to kick them or kiss them. I think I'll kiss them," said Mr Laight.

The night also provided reasons for celebration for a string of other Black Country businesses.

Wolverhampton's Promise Finance took the Customer Service award, winning praise from the judges for its "structured staff training, development and review programmes that made full use of new technology". Group sales director Karen Chilton said: "It is just great – great for all the staff that make us special. We did not expect this. We are only four-years-old and have grown from 100 to over 200 staff, all local people – they are what make us stand out."

The award for Best Use of Digital Technology went to another Wolverhampton firm, Multidmedia, based on the city's science park, for the outstanding success of its software products which saw it go head-to-head with industry giants Adobe.

For managing director Jaspal Sohal, the joy of success was tinged with sadness.

He said: "It means so much to me, especially in a week when my grandmother passed away."

Young Business of the Year was waste management company AWM, which employs 140 people at sites all over the Black Country.

Founded in 2004, it has already achieved an annual turnover of £10million. Managing director Paul Woodhead said: "I am elated, for myself and for all our employees." The West Midlands Champions award went to Freshway Foods of Wolverhampton. Judges described the firm as having "built up skills and techniques through a series of training and capital investments, increasing their share in a constantly evolving market."

Graham Wright, who runs the firm with his brother Alan, said: "We are absolutely delighted to pick up this award on behalf of our hard-working, dedicated and loyal workforce."

Guest of honour was Roy Richardson, head of the famous development family.

He said: "Events like this show the potential of the Black Country and show what we are achieving here."

The event raised almost £3,000 for the chosen charity of the evening, the Acorn Children's Hospice. As well as the stunning top prize of an £800 diamond necklace, the raffle offered other prizes including a balloon flight for two courtesy of Virgin Balloon Flights; a meal for four in the Horizon's Restaurant at Wolverhampton Racecourse; and a sparkling six bottles of Moet & Chandon champagne.

Joanne Malin also paid tribute to the businesses and organisations that had backed the event.

"A campaign like Best of the Black Country, and an awards night like this, would not happen without sponsors," she said.

Lead sponsors were Bank of Scotland Corporate and Advantage West Midlands, BDO Stoy Hayward, Higgs & Sons, Black Country Learning and Skills Council, NTL:Telewest Business, Precision Colour Printing and the Express & Star, plus two associate sponsors, ITV Central and Wolverhampton Racecourse.