The winners of the biennial Cornwall Manufacturers Group awards have been announced, recognising the very best and brightest of manufacturing talent in the county.

Top business leaders, exporters, apprentices, community projects and innovations were celebrated at a special ceremony hosted by Mike Rigby, UK head of manufacturing for Barclays, and attended by over 150 of the counties business leaders and manufacturing pioneers.

This year’s competition saw an exceptional quality and number of entrants with the judges, chaired by Mel Colton-Dyer, chief operating officer at the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, praising the fresh, young talent seizing the opportunity to work in the rewarding and valuable manufacturing sector.

There were three finalists in each of the six award categories with the winners as follows:

Business Leadership Award, Richard James, director of Hewaswater Engineering, St Austell; Manufacturer of the Year, Spiral UK, Helston; Apprentice of the Year, Samual Weedon from Daften Die Casting, Wadebridge; Environmental/Community Project, Polymermedics, St Austell; Innovation of the Year, Composite Integration, who also won Exporter of the Year.

Eric Nicholls, chair of the Cornwall Manufacturers Group, said: “Tonight has been a great success, not only for the winners and finalists but for manufacturing as a whole. This event showcases our vibrant and diverse sector, shines a spotlight on the increasingly national and international role Cornwall’s manufacturers play and escalates the recognition by business leaders of the importance of manufacturing to Cornwall’s economy.”