In association with Newport Now, the South Wales Business Awards has launched its first business awards, bringing a key, prestigious event in the local business calendar.
A team of judges made up from the sponsors of each category and including South Wales Argus MD Hussain Bayoomi, editor Nicole Garnon and business editor Jo Barnes got together to whittle down the entries to three finalists in each category.
Newport-based Industrial Automation and Control Ltd leads the field being named as finalists in four categories. The firm was shortlisted for Large Business of the Year, Environmental Business of the Year, and Training and Development Business of the Year. The company's managing director Peter Lewis has also been shortlisted in the Entrepreneur of the Year category.
Other multiple finalists include Specsavers, at Friars Walk, Livertons Opticians and Newport-based The Escape Rooms.
Named on the shortlist for the Contribution to the Community Award, sponsored by Monmouthshire Building Society, alongside the Dragons are Phil Bessant Limited and St David's Hospice Care, which are both based in Newport.
The Dragons operate a number of successful community projects both at Rodney Parade and out in the region, expanding year on year to incorporate more schools, more clubs and new initiatives.
Working with the WRU, these projects continue to develop the team's links with educational organisations and the local community, with thousands of children benefiting from being part of match days both in Newport and at the Principality Stadium, as well as supporting individuals from all backgrounds through partnerships such as: Tackle Rugby, School of Hard Knocks, Prince's Trust, plus work experience programmes.
Hussain Bayoomi Managing Director of the South Wales Argus, said of the 2018 Awards: "The awards are a fantastic opportunity for the business community in south east Wales to tell their story to a hyper local, pan-Wales and national audience.
"The awards will allow businesses in the private, public or third sector to get together and celebrate their successes, innovation and talent.
"The awards ceremony will take place at the Newport Centre, in Newport city centre, on September 27, 2018, bringing business leaders from the across the region together for an evening of celebration."
