Three firms from the Bristol area have been named among the finalists for the coveted PwC West of England Business of the Year Awards – the region’s most prestigious business accolades.
Recruitment specialist Resource Solutions Group (RSG), advanced engineering group Viper Innovations, and Bodywise (UK), which trades under the Natracare brand, will line up against seven other firms from across the South West at the glittering awards gala dinner in September. 
The eagerly-contested awards have showcased the cream of the region’s firms since they were launched 29 years ago by accountancy giant PwC. Previous winners read like a who’s-who of some of the West’s most-respected companies.
The awards have maintained their unique position due to their stringent judging process. All shortlisted finalists receive a personal visit from the judges, who look for best practice in areas such as training, innovation and community engagement alongside a track record of exemplary and sustainable financial performance.
Another strength is that the awards only have two categories: for business with a turnover above £30m and for those turning over less than £30m.
Clifton-based RSG, which has been shortlisted in the £30m-plus category, boasts a strong track record of growth. It was founded in Bristol in 1975 and has since grown from a single recruitment company into a multimillion pound network of expert recruitment businesses with 10offices across the UK.
It provides a range of individually tailored and professional recruitment services to multi-nationals, household names and small and medium-sized businesses and last year reached a turnover of £250m for the first time. It is still led by founder Keith Dawe along with CEO Mike Beesley.
Hoping to land the title in the sub-£30m turnover category are Bradley Stoke-based Bodywise (UK) and Viper Innovations, which has its head office and main manufacturing base in Portishead.
Bodywise (UK) manufactures and sells organic and natural feminine hygiene and baby care products under the Natracare brand. A major player in the green consumer sector, Natracare says that it stands for more than just organic and natural products.
It describes itself as an ethical company committed to offering organic and natural solutions for personal health care “that leave a soft footprint on the earth”.
It only uses organic and natural materials that meet the highest organic, environmental and biodegradable standards and have been sourced from raw material producers that manage and monitor resources respectfully and share its principles.
The business was launched in 1989 by Susie Hewson to sell the world’s first alternative to conventionally produced feminine hygiene products.
Viper Innovations, which also has a base in Aberdeen, has a well-established reputation in the global subsea oil and gas market, where it products monitor, detect and locate cable insulation and conductor faults on well heads. 
A Queen’s Award winner, it has recently used its ground-breaking technology to break into the UK rail industry with an innovative product that reduces delays caused by signal failure.
PwC regional leader Katharine Finn, pictured, said: “The shortlist optimises the very best of the West businesses. These businesses have created unique opportunities for themselves and those they employ.
“They are to be celebrated and recognised for their contribution to not only the regional economy but to the UK and overseas.”
The awards are again staged in association with business performance group Circle2Success and Devon and Cornwall Business Council.
Bristol Business News is once again the awards’ official media partner with its sister titles Swindon Business News and Bath Business News.
The awards will be handed over at a gala dinner on September 6 when guests will dine under Concorde at Aerospace Bristol, pictured below. The £19m aerospace museum and learning centre at Filton is due to open later in the year.
Last year’s £30m-plus category winner was Chipping Sodbury-based Ian Williams, which provides a range of to the property sector ranging from painting to bathroom and kitchen refurbishments and renewable energy.
The smaller category winner was Taunton-based Ministry of Cake, which makes a range of high-quality desserts, won the category for firms with a turnover of less than £30m. The firm has since been acquired by French confectionery giant Mademoiselle Desserts.
Other recent winners have included Mitie, the high-growth Bristol-based outsourcing group, Wiltshire-based household appliance giant Dyson and Swindon construction group Beard.
The full shortlists are:
£30m turnover-plus category:
ADEY Professional Heating Solutions, based in Cheltenham
Cotteswold Dairy, based in Tewsksbury
Independent Vetcare (IVC), based in Bath
Resource Solutions Group (RSG), based in Bristol
Swallowfield, based in Somerset
St Austell Brewery, based in Cornwall
Under £30m turnover category:
Bodywise (UK), based in Bristol
Exeter Rugby Club, based in Exeter
Red Paddle, based in Helwell, Devon
Viper Innovations, based in Bristol
