Finalists announced for the first Vale and Bridgend Business Awards
Following four successful years, the Vale Business Awards announced earlier this year that they would return for a fifth year on a bigger stage, expanding to include Bridgend. The Vale and Bridgend Business Awards celebrate the very best businesses and entrepreneurs across the two regions, while creating opportunities to drive collaboration and connections across both areas.
This year, 60 companies and individuals have been shortlisted across 13 categories. Finalists will be interviewed by a judging panel chaired by David Stevens Ex Group Chief Executive Office, Admiral Group plc. David will be joined on the panel by sponsors and business experts from across the two regions for 3 days of Judging.
The winners, will be revealed at the prestigious black-tie awards evening on Friday 6th November at OffGrid31, Bridgend.
Chair of Judges; David Stevens CBE said:
“We would like to say a huge thank you to all of the businesses that entered the Vale and Bridgend Business Awards and for the effort they put in to their applications. We are immensely impressed by the calibre of applications this year which made it very challenging for us to determine the shortlist! We look forward to meeting the shortlisted applicants during the judging process and celebrating the achievements of Vale and Bridgend business communities at the Awards Ceremony in November”.
Liz Brookes of Grapevine Event Management commented:
“We are delighted to announce the shortlist for first Vale and Bridgend Business Awards. The support for this year's awards has been outstanding, and for over a decade we have celebrated the incredible talent and achievements of the business communities. This year's shortlist is exceptional, and we look forward to meeting the entrepreneurs and business leaders at the upcoming judging interviews.”
The shortlist for the 2026 The Vale and Bridgend Business Awards is:
Creative and Digital Business of the Year:
- Health and Sea
- Fine Rolling Media
- Red Kite UAV
- Wales Interactive
Employer of the Year
- Cadre Advisory
- Flotek Group
- Pyle Garden Centre
- The Coach Brewing Co
Entrepreneur of the Year
- Ruth John – Reset Wellbeing
- Kristian Kane – Fine Rolling Media
- Ross Harris – RHA Commercial
- Matty O'Brien – Matty's Chop Shop
Food and Farming Business of the Year
- Celtic Roots Farm & Gardens
- Ffos Farm
- Glyndŵr Vineyard
- The Welsh Honey Company
Financial & Professional Service Business of the Year
- Bear Human Resources
- Bevan Buckland
- Cadre Advisory
- LimestoneGrey
- Rha Commercial Ltd
Green Business of the Year
- DCN Renewables Ltd
- Dyffryn Gardens – National Trust
- GreenspaceSOS
- The Coach Brewing Co
Micro Business of the Year
- Bark Works
- Bridgend Nutrition
- CVS-Technical Ltd
- KM Aesthetics
- Mapstone Dog Grooming
Retail Business of the Year
- Cocoplum
- Farnhams Fish and Chips
- Riverside Hardware & Eng Supplies
- Pyle Garden Centre
- The Bike Shop Wales
SME of the Year
- Flotek Group
- Roperhurst
- Cobbles
Start-Up Business of the Year
- Bark & Breakfast Bridgend
- Butterfly Beauty
- Dirwest
- Porthcawl Padel
- Larry's Coffee
Tourism & Leisure Business of the Year
- Cardiff Airport
- Cobbles
- Dyffryn Gardens – National Trust
- Fablas Ice Cream
- The Glamorgan History Walks
Third Sector Organisation of the Year
- GreenspaceSOS
- Kenfig Nature Trust
- More Than Flags and Rainbows CIC
- Motion Control Dance
- 1092 (Bridgend) Squadron RAF Air Cadets
Young Business Person of the Year
- Alice Holder – Vale Dog Groomers
- Charlie Thomas – Fablas
- Maisie Brown – Mais Nails
- Michaela & Megan Poacher – Holiday Lets
- Tiffany Jones – Soul and Soma
This year the awards are sponsored and supported by; The awards are kindly supported by category sponsors; Bevan Buckland, Red Kite Solicitors, Renishaw, Sparkles Cleaning Wales & West, Evermore and Stills. Business News Wales is the media sponsor.
The awards are organised by Grapevine Event Management. Tickets are now on sale for the Vale and Bridgend Business Awards, with an Earlybird rate available for a limited time only, at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/grapevineeventmanagementltd/2315495
