THREE of the best business owners in Wiltshire received awards recognition at last year's ceremony - and you could follow in their footsteps.

Wiltshire Business Awards judges from RSM had the difficult job of deciding who would be the Business Person of the Year in the small, medium and large business categories.

Emerald Crawford, owner of the Emerald Florence Lash and Brow Specialists salon in Trowbridge, came out on top in the small business category.

She said: "This is overwhelming and amazing, I could not have done this without my team, the girls are incredible and supportive, they ground me and keep me going, they are everything to me.

"This was a childhood dream which I made reality with a lot of hard work and determination."

Nick Evans of health and safety training and services provider Safewell triumphed in the medium business category. He said: "I'm a bit speechless. In running this business, I'm lucky to have the team that works with me, they keep me grounded.

"I view running a business as like a video game - each time you do something new it unlocks a new level and you can do new things.

"Making money is not a main goal of the company but it helps us be able to afford to do interesting and exciting things."

Howard Goff of the global integrated PCB production company NCAB Group celebrated winning in the large business category. He said: "Until this award, I was always the bridesmaid but never the bride. I'm a very lucky man, I work in a very talented group of people.

"Some of them have been with me for more than 20 years and followed me when I set this company up 10 years ago and had a bit of a bumpy start.

"The proudest thing for me is when I look at my team I see a mix of people, some almost as old as me and some are younger than my children.

"We can invest in young people and manoeuvre them through our organisation with a lot of responsibility."

Entries are now open for this year's ceremony - so get involved!

For more information, email wbawards@wiltshire.newsquest.co.uk or visit wiltshirebusinessawards.co.uk