More than 400 guests attended the awards ceremony at The Midland, Manchester on Wednesday evening (15 October) to see the best businesses from right across the region celebrate a remarkable year of achievement.

The spirit of the evening was captured by guest speaker Emma Degg, chief executive of the North West Business Leadership Team, who opened the event with a rousing tribute to the businesses of the region when she said: "The North West has always been my beacon, because you celebrate the heretics, those who say 'why not?' and don't ask why?"

Gareth Ainsworth of Godel Technologies won CEO of the year, he said: "We've gone through a lot of challenges, but this year was all about getting some growth back into the business, which we have done. It's onwards and upwards over the next three years."

The Fast Growth company of the year went to Liverpool supplements business Applied Nutrition, which successfully floated on the stock market a year ago.

The large company award went to APEM Group and CEO Leah McGimpsey collected the award.

The Ambassador award went to Brandon Leigh, chief executive of Seashell Trust.

Described as "a remarkable individual" the former CFO of PZ Cussons, who has now put his skills towards running a charity, "exemplifies what it means to be a business leader with heart, driving commercial success while uplifting communities and championing inclusion."

He said: "I'm born and bred in Manchester, and Manchester is a phenomenal place to be. I was blessed to work in a wonderful FTSE 250 business, led by the late great Sir John Zochonis, and it was built on values and the importance of giving back to community.

"I'm a firm believer in things are meant to be and having supported the wonderful Seashell Trust in different ways, I was asked to go and be their CEO on an interim basis. I haven't been a CEO before, but it's a wonderful organisation, supporting children and young adults with some of the most complex disabilities in the UK.

"But it's all about the team. I'm proud to play the role of leader of that team. We've got 750 staff at Seashell, and every single one contributes to the well being and wonderful outcomes we achieve for our young people. So I'm extremely fortunate to have gone from a commercial CFO role into the third sector and to be leading Seashell Trust as a National Centre of Excellence. I'm still shaking. Thank you."

TheBusinessDesk.com's annual awards are supported by headline partners CMS, PwC, RBC Brewin Dolphin, Robert Walters and Verlingue.

Every company which entered met with judges in recent weeks before the shortlist was created.

TheBusinessDesk.com's North West editor, Michael Taylor, said: "A huge congratulations to all our winners and finalists.

"We have in place a rigorous judging process which really put all of those shortlisted through their paces and the judges faced really tough calls in not only choosing winners, but selecting who would make it onto the shortlist.

"Businesses had to commit to a process that has really showed the very best of the North West and how the economy is facing up to a huge number of challenges.

"The judges heard not only incredible stories of resilience and innovation, but also how the spirit of togetherness and fairness runs through so many businesses."

ALL THE WINNERS:

Start Up of the year: Public Sector Media Sponsored by TheBusinessDesk.com Shortlisted: CORE, Kelmore, North West Jewellery School, Sowena Group

Community Impact: Together Sponsored by TheBusinessDesk.com Shortlisted: Agent, B-engineering, Gymfinity Gymnastics, HMG Paints, Pareto Financial Planning

Innovation: Think Hire Sponsored by The Business Grid Shortlisted: Atkins Realis, CORE, Rovtech, Shield Safety Group, The Discrete Heat Co

Property: Urban Splash Sponsored by Verlingue Shortlisted: Nicholson Group, Northern Group, OBI

Employer of the Year: Vernon Building Society Sponsored by Robert Walters Shortlisted: Agent, Alpine Fire Engineers, B-engineering, Cooper Parry, HMG Paints, Omni RMS, Panache Cruises, Principle Networks

International Trade: Cocogreen Sponsored by CMS Shortlisted: APEM Group, Fort Vale Engineering, My Fabulosa, QBS Technology Group

Investment: Symphony Commerce Sponsored by Verlingue Shortlisted: Contollo Group, Eleven Sports Media, River Capital, Rovtech

Family Business: Quest Personal Care Global Sponsored by PwC Shortlisted: DASCO Construction, HMG Paint, JW Lees, Supreme Search Specialists

Small Business (up to 50 employees): Kelmore Sponsored by TheBusinessDesk.com Shortlisted: Crosby Coffee, BC Training, Psycho Peacock, The Discrete Heat Co, Prolight Concepts Group, Bespoke Bids Consultancy

Medium Business (51-250 employees): Eleven Sports Media Sponsored by RBC Brewin Dolphin Shortlisted: Alpine Fire Engineers, Applied Nutrition, Capify, CoolKit, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Panache Cruises, Vernon Building Society

Large Business (251+ employees): APEM Sponsored by CMS Shortlisted: Apadmi, EssenceMediacom, Godel Technologies Europe, JW Lees, OakNorth, Weightmans

Fast Growth Business: Applied Nutrition Sponsored by RBC Brewin Dolphin Shortlisted: Apadmi, C4 Care, HaulageHub, Nurtured Childcare, QBS Technology Group, Quest Personal Care Global, Think Hire

CEO of the Year: Gareth Ainsworth, Godel Technologies Europe Sponsored by Robert Walters Shortlisted: Tom Ryder (Applied Nutrition), Rob Ditchfield (B-engineering), Thomas Ogden (Coco Green), Ruth Percival (Contollo Group), Matt Cairns (Eleven Sports Media), Louise Shaw (Omni Resource Management Solutions), Mark Flanagan (Shield Safety Group)

Ambassador: Brandon Leigh, Seashell Trust Sponsored by PwC

The charity for the night was Lifeshare, thank you to everyone for giving so generously.

See source.