The ceremony marked the achievements of the finest companies in Greater Peterborough, both household names and upcoming businesses. It rewarded the best qualities in many aspects of business, such as the energy and entrepreneurship need to create a successful company, customer care, workforce development, environmental excellence and contribution to the community.

About 250 guests, which included business and civic leaders, attended the celebration at the Holiday Inn, in Thorpe Wood, Peterborough. They enjoyed a champagne and canapes reception before dinner and the awards presentation.

Evening Telegraph editor Mark Edwards welcomed everyone to the "celebration of Peterborough business success and the celebration of you."

He said: "It is pleasing to see so many companies entering the awards despite the challenging conditions. and there are ever more entering the environmental award category."

After thanking the judges and awards sponsors, Mark handed over to the evening's host.

Jeremy took to the stage and set about "warming up" the guests by inviting table responses throughout the room.

He followed up by recalling his time working with Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight, as well as recounting amusing anecdotes from listeners to his Radio 2 show.

Jeremy, who started his journalism career at the Coventry Evening Telegraph, was keen to stress the importance newspapers such as The Evening Telegraph play in the local community before presenting businesses with their awards.


The winners:

• Retail Award, sponsored by North Westgate: Waterstones.


• Highly commended: Specsavers and John Lewis.


• Workforce Development Award, sponsored by Royal Mail: Perkins.


• Highly commended: Marshall Motor Group and Greenstones.


• Environmental Achievement Award, sponsored by Opportunity Peterborough: Queensgate.


• Highly commended: Midas Technolgies and Compass.


• Contribution to the Community Award, sponsored by Peterborough City Council: Cross Keys Homes.


• Highly commended: Specsavers and John Lewis.


• Customer Care Award, sponsored by Norwich and Peterborough Building Society: Peterborough Audi.


• Highly commended: Global Rebar Services and Rockingham Retirement.


• Business person of the Year Award, sponsored by Buckles Solicitors: Matthew Bullock, chief executive, Norwich and Peterborough Building Society.


• Business of the Year Award (Small), sponsored by Rawlinsons Chartered Accountants: Rockingham retirement.


• Highly commended: Bluestone Creative and Zest Solutions


• Business of the Year Award (Medium), sponsored by Barclays Commercial: The One group


• Highly commended: Specsavers and Complete IT.


• Business of the Year (Large): Thomas Cook Uk & Ireland.


• Highly commended: Perkins Engines and Landis GYR.

Full coverage including a photo gallery: ET Business Awards - at peterboroughtoday.co.uk/businessawards.

It was a night of excitement and cheers for nine winners to celebrate their success following months of hard work during a painstaking judging process.

Among the roll of honour were long-established names, such as Thomas Cook, Perkins and Queensgate, and younger companies including Rockingham Retirement, The One Group and Cross Keys Homes.

The organisers broke with tradition to announce a straight winner of the Business Person of the Year, Matthew Bullock, chief executive of Norwich and Peterborough Building Society.

Matthew, who was unable to attend, said: "I am really grateful and humbled by receiving this award – it is great honour. I am very grateful for everybody for judging me in this way."

Mr Bullock spoke of a "changed view of ourselves," and drew parallels between the "work we do in the society, at the Norwich and Peterborough, and the city of Peterborough. Like the Norwich and Peterborough Building Society, Peterborough is a city on the way up.

"People are changing their views of, and paying attention to, the city. it is a wonderful place to live in and, on most measures, is now a wonderful environmental city."

The upbeat view of Peterborough was reflected in the very high standard of entries which gave the judges a daunting task to select the nine category winners.