• Swindon & Wiltshire News
• Monday April 7 2014

Pebley Beach named Wiltshire Business of the Year

Swindon motor dealer Pebley Beach was crowned Wiltshire Business of the Year at the 20th Wiltshire Business Awards last night (Friday).

The Suzuki and Hyundai dealer picked up the accolade at a glittering ceremony at CenterParcs Longleat.

The competition got off to a good start for managing director Dominic Threlfall and his team, when they picked up the Apprenticeship Business of the Year award.

“That’s the one I wanted to win – I can go home happy,” said Dom, whose had made a point of filling his table with younger members of staff, several of whom had joined the firm as apprentices and were progressing through the company’s promotion structure.

He was even happier that he’d managed to sneak off stage without giving a speech, but there was no such luck at the end of the ceremony, when – to the surprise and delight of everyone on his table – the firm picked up the top award for Overall Excellence.

Visibly moved, he told his team from the rostrum “You do all the hard work, I take the glory.

“I have such a good team behind me that it makes me look good.”

The night began with a message from Prime Minister David Cameron, read out by the host, BBC Wiltshire’s Graham Rodgers.

“Tonight you’re celebrating the very best in Wiltshire business, the hard working people and organisations that are helping this country become the enterprise capital of Europe,” said the PM.

Other award recipients included:

• White Horse Employment Network – Small Business of the Year
• Liz Ledger, Total Swindon – Business Person of the Year
• Carepo – Customer and Staff Care award
• Park Lane Press – Best Environmental Business
• Etherlive – Innovation and Growth Award
• Chris Priddy, Swindon YFC – Leadership and Social Influence
• Hills Waste Solutions – Services to the Community