Winners of the Cambridge Independent Business Awards 2024 are revealed

The winners of the inaugural Cambridge Independent Business Awards have been revealed at a glittering black-tie ceremony.

Held in the spectacular Great Hall at King’s College, Cambridge, in front of a capacity audience, the awards were a true celebration of the achievements and talent across a wide range of sectors.

Winners and highly commended finalists were revealed across 14 categories.

But before they took to the stage, the first award of the night went to our Lifetime Achievement Award winner, chosen after careful consideration by a panel.

It went to Alison Wright, co-owner of Cambridge bakery business Fitzbillies, who addressed the audience and told some of her remarkable story.

Like many bakeries on UK high streets, Fitzbillies suffered challenging trading conditions and closed in 2011 due to bankruptcy for the second time. When Alison Wright and Tim Hayward saw a lament about the loss of its famous Chelsea buns from Stephen Fry, they took action. Alison, who hails from Cambridge and had fond childhood memories of Fitzbillies, left a successful career in London to take a chance on rescuing the business. Thirteen years on, it is thriving and has expanded with sites in Trumpington Street, Bridge Street and King’s Parade.

Alison received her award from Kelly Peck, managing partner of our headline sponsor, Barr Ellison Law.

Following Alison’s acceptance speech, it was time to reveal the winners of our categories, beginning with Start-up of the Year, which was won by well:o, the UK’s first dental wellness studio, which was launched in Station Place, Cambridge, in November 2023.

Three Business of the Year awards were handed out during the evening.

Small Business of the Year (for businesses with one to 24 employees) went to TR Global Events, which has delivered a plethora of eclectic and varied events for clients and earned fantastic feedback for them.

Medium Business of the Year (25-249 employees) was won by IQGeo, the geospatial software company that has grown its market share and revenues impressively, and which has just been acquired by global investment firm KKR for £333million.

Large Business of the Year (250 employees-plus) went to the impressive Costello Medical, a consultancy that provides expert scientific support in the analysis, interpretation and communication of clinical and health economic data.

The final award of the evening was for Business Person of the Year, which went to Peter Burrows, chief executive of The Cambridge Building Society, reflecting his innovation and leadership. The audience heard that while delivering record results, Peter had also focused on organisational culture, improved customer service scores and expanded the building society’s pioneering Rent to Home scheme through which renters get money back towards a deposit to buy a home. It capped a successful night for The Cambridge, which also earned the Employer of the Year award.

The full list of winners can be seen below.

The evening also featured entertainment, including a drinks reception sponsored by property consultancy Bidwells, a magician and, following an exquisite three-course dinner, a Phantom of the Opera performance from the brilliant Encore Entertainment, while a silent auction raised money for the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.

Editor Paul Brackley, who hosted the evening and chaired the independent judging panel, said: “It was a pleasure to celebrate the successes of our varied business community. We were overwhelmed by the quality - and quantity - of entries that we received to our inaugural awards. Well done to all those who made it to the shortlist - and congratulations to all of our winners.

“I would also like to thank our sponsors, whose invaluable support enabled us to launch these awards. We look forward to holding them again next year.”

At the start of the awards, Paul also paid tribute to the late Cambridge entrepreneur Mike Lynch, who died along with his daughter Hannah and five others when the Bayesian yacht sank off the coat of Sicily in the summer.

Look out for a souvenir supplement with our pictures from the night and the story of all our winners inside the Cambridge Independent, out from Wednesday, 2 October.

Winners of the Cambridge Independent Business Awards 2024

Lifetime Achievement Award
Sponsored by Barr Ellison
Winner: Alison Wright, Fitzbillies

Start-up of the Year
Winner: well:o
Highly Commended: Fitness Rush Community CIC

Small Business of the Year
Winner: TR Global Events
Highly Commended: Conscious Communications

The Green Award
Winner: Let’s Go Circular from the Grand Arcade
Highly Commended: Hilton Cambridge City Centre

Social Enterprise of the Year
Sponsored by The Cambridge Building Society
Winner: Abbey People
Highly Commended: Owl Bikes

Innovation of the Year
Winner: Cambridge Vacuum Engineering
Highly Commended: HutanBio

Employer of the Year
Sponsored by Pure
Winner: The Cambridge Building Society
Highly Commended: Domino Printing

Medium Business of the Year
Sponsored by FORA
Winner: IQGeo
Highly Commended: Elite Swimming Academy.

Apprentice/Trainee of the Year
Sponsored by Form the Future
Winner: Abigail Mason
Highly Commended: Jeffrey Seidu

The Award for Collaboration
Sponsored by AstraZeneca
Winner: Cambridge 2030
Highly Commended: Get Synergised

Hospitality Business of the Year
Sponsored by Cambridge BID
Winner: Hilton Cambridge City Centre
Highly Commended: Stapleford Granary

Retailer of the Year
Winner: Grape Britannia
Highly Commended: Kitchensmiths

Scale-up of the Year
Sponsored by BDO
Winner: Qkine
Highly Commended: Coracle

Large Business of the Year
Sponsored by Conscious Communications
Winner: Costello Medical
Highly Commended: Redgate Software

Business Person of the Year
Sponsored by Kale & Damson
Winner: Peter Burrows, The Cambridge Building Society
Highly Commended: Ali Knowles, Ollie and his Super Powers