The best firms and entrepreneurs in the Swansea Bay City Region can be revealed.
The Swansea Bay Business Awards 2022, held at the Brangwyn Hall, recognised business excellence across 11 award categories, with double success for Swansea-based Au Vodka taking both the Judges’ Choice Award as well as the coveted overall Company of the Year title.
Swansea friends Charlie Morgan, 26, and Jackson Quinn, 29, have been on the journey of a lifetime since starting Au Vodka back in 2015. From a limited run of 2,000 bottles to now manufacturing 35,000 bottles daily, the brand has experienced skyrocketing growth as it has become a game changer within the alcohol industry.
The brand, underpinned by excellent marketing, use of social media, and product endorsement, has also enjoyed international expansion - and is now sold in 40 countries from Spain to Australia and most recently 32 states across the US. AU Vodka has also experienced exceptional revenue and profit growth. The latest audited figures to April, 2021, showed revenues soaring from just over £705,000 a year earlier to £38.3m, with a pre-tax profit of £12.8m. Growth is continuing as the business has moved from promising start-up to thriving mid-sized business.
It has also provided a boost for the local economy, with an increase in staff from an initial handful to more than 50 dedicated full-time staff working out of newly renovated Swansea headquarters.
Other winners
The Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by the British Business Bank, Gavin Griffiths, the founder of Gavin Griffiths Recycling.
Gavin Griffiths is the founder of Swansea-based Gavin Griffiths Recycling
During the pandemic, the company invested in a new recycling site in Cwmgwili, despite the wider challenging economic climate. With investment and vision, the site has been turned into a cutting edge waste processing plant - with the increased capabilities allowing the firm to access new markets and increase turnover.
Family Company of the Year, Day’s Rental
Founded in 1956, Swansea-based Day’s Rental has been a family business for decades - and today operates a fleet of 8,500 vehicles across the UK. As a family business it strives to make sure that its employees truly feel like part of a team - with an emphasis on recognising the contribution of employees, as well as working together to provide customers with an outstanding service.
The Medium to Large Business Award, Swansea Building Society
Founded in 1923, Swansea Building Society this year saw assets reaching £500m. With a commitment to the high street it continues to expand it head count while recently investing £1m in improving its IT infrastructure.
Ranked the most profitable mutual in the sector it remains one of the few financial institutions in the UK that receives no wholesale funding or support from the Bank of England in the form of cheap funding. Its balance sheet is funded entirely by customer savings balances and its own capital reserves built up from retained profits over many years.
Small Business of the Year, sponsored by Swansea Building Society, Nappi Cycle
The Ammanford-based business firm works with all 22 local authorities in Wales recovering and recycling nappies via collection services - so diverting 41 million nappies a year from ending up in landfill sites.
Set up in 2008, is an exemplar of innovation for the region and has recently partnered in a trial where fibres from nappies are being added to bitumen glueing together asphalt road services.
Tech Company of the Year, sponsored by Morgan LaRoche, Vortex IoT
Neath-based Vortex IoT business develops and builds environmental sensors - designed to provide clients with detailed and comprehensive data.
With a particular focus on fighting air pollution, Vortex aims to help make cities greener and safer - and has expanded significantly in recent years. In particular, the business recently opened a new office space and moved to a new industrial facility - and is now capable of producing 100 air sensors per week.
Women in Construction, sponsored by Pennant Homes, Charlotte Hale
Charlotte is the operations director of Neath-based SO Modular, a rapidly expanding timber frame manufacturer. The firm designs and manufactures innovative timber frame components for national homebuilders, contractors and housing associations across the UK. In 2019, it invested £6.5m in creating a sustainable and energy efficient 250,000 sq ft facility by regenerating the iconic The Old Metal Box Factory in Neath.
Young Business Person of the Year, sponsored by Gower College Swansea, Alex Coldea
Romanian-born Alex is a Swansea Universitgy computer science graduate turned entrepreneur as chief executive of Swansea-based tech firm Dill (trading name).
Dill’s tech allows students and staff to skip queues at university canteens. However, the start-up continues to build new software markets around catering automation - including a food safety, allergen and food labelling product in partnership with Brother, the hardware company. The Dill print platform enables clients to print product and allergen labels on-demand.
It has also started working with restaurants in London, bakeries, supermarkets and we’re about to launch now in a few major British chains.
Women in Tech/Digital, sponsored by Vortex IoT, Ruth Bowley
Ruth is scale-up and manufacturing manager with Port Talbot technology firm Hexigone Inhibitors. Initially managing manufacturing and quality control, following a series of promotions she is now the firm’s scale-up and manufacturing manager.
She is responsible for managing the manufacturing process, making sure Hexigone is producing the right amount of its corrosion inhibitors. She is currently working on a project to qualify new recycled raw materials.
Start Up Company of the Year, Bayview Aluminium
Bayview Aluminum is a family-run business which coordinates all aspects of aluminium glazing projects.
The Swansea firm is constantly innovating and investing to add new ranges which can be tailored to specific customer needs.
Launched four months before the pandemic, Bayview Aluminum has four full-time employees and has supported three apprentices, while growing a large 500-plus customer base which has high retention rates.
The Swansea Bay Business Awards are also supported by Bernie Davies Global, drinks sponsor and Focus Carmarthen Enterprise Hub, event sponsor.
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