THE owner of Fairford and Lechlade Business Club's (FLBC) Business of the Year was thrilled to win "first big award."

The winners of the Cotswold club's annual awards were announced on Saturday night (30) during a sold-out ceremony at the Crown of Crucis hotel.

There had been an unprecedented amount of entries for this year’s awards, which could be submitted by businesses themselves or others, with the winners selected by a panel of judges.

The Business of the Year Award went to Fairford-based New Wave Seafood, owned by Tim Boyd, while Business Person of the Year was presented to Miles Gannon of M. Gannon Plumbing & Heating in Lechlade.

Tim, who was also a runner-up for the Business Person of the Year, set up New Wave Seafood in 1989. He said he sent in the nomination himself after seeing an article about the awards in the Standard around Christmas.

“I didn’t expect to win,” said Tim, 50. “It’s nice to get recognised locally.

"It’s the first big award we’ve won.

"I’ve been runner-up for awards in Cotswold Life, and won the Editors’ Choice, but this is the first big award for New Wave.

“I’d just like to say thank-you to our loyal customers and the fantastic team we’ve got,” he added.

Other winners included Cirencester-based Bluestone Insurance (New Business of the Year), Geo-4D of Faringdon (Most Innovative Business of the Year) and Clare Bartoszewska, Holly Brogden, Emily Fey, Josh Hooker, Rebecca Noles, Alice Wilder and Li Yang - Farmor’s School’s ‘Seasons’ Young Enterprise team (Outstanding Business Students of the Year).

Finally, the Howard Dowler Award, which recognises an outstanding contribution to the community, was presented to Mike Tanner of Fairford Town FC. Mike, club president, has volunteered at Fairford Town since 1973.

The Howard Dowler Award is named in memory of a founder member of FLBC who died in 2009. The winner was selected and presented by FLBC chairman Helen Webb.

Ms Webb also announced that there will be an additional award for 2017 in memory of Bob Warren, an FLBC founder and former landlord of the Trout Inn who died in December.

The Bob Warren Hospitality Award, will be open to businesses in the food, drink, catering or hospitality industry to enter.