THE winners of this year's Evening Post Business Awards were announced last night at a gala dinner.

And one of the city's most popular tourist attractions, the ss Great Britain, picked up the prestigious Business of the Year prize.

Trustee and co-vice chairman Janet Brinnand picked up the award.

She said: "We are thrilled, absolutely thrilled and delighted.

"We are so proud to be here – proud of Brunel and proud of the ss Great Britain. But more than anything, we are proud of Bristol."

The event, held at the Thistle Hotel in the city centre, was attended by more than 300 guests including some of the best-known business leaders working in the city.

The awards are now in their fifth year and winners were announced in eight categories and a special lifetime achievement award went to Trevor Smallwood.

The man who turned bus company Badger Line into one of the biggest public transport companies in the country was a guest of honour and picked up his award in person.

The Evening Post also announced the winner of the competition to use an industrial unit in Bedminster free of charge for the next 12 months.

The competition is being run in partnership with business park firm Segro and the prize was picked up by St Phillips based MMA Apparel, who specialise in supplying martial arts uniforms.

Dawna Stickler, managing director of Evening Post publisher Bristol News and Media, chaired the panel of independent judges whose job was to choose last night's winners.

She said: "We were thrilled and delighted with the quality and quantity of this year's entries.

"Even though it made it an incredibly tough task choosing the winners for the judges it is reassuring in these difficult times that there are still plenty of firms and businesses out there who are flourishing.

"We have been running these awards for five years and each year they get bigger and better. We are already looking forward and planning for next year's awards.

"I would also like to take the opportunity to thank all the sponsors for their backing and involvement."

In the Family Business category Nailsea Electrical, a firm run by Peter Gilks was named winner.

The runners-up were Dolphin Lifts and Pak Butchers.

Clifton firm Mubaloo was named Innovator of the Year while the runners-up were Andrews Estate Agents and the Better Food Company.

First Bus Company won the Green Award and the runners-up in the category were Green Motion and the Better Food Company.

Pukka Herbs, from Hartcliffe, won the Turnover Less Than £5 million category and the runners-up were Pak Butchers and Mubaloo.

The category for Businesses With A Turnover Of More Than £5 million was won by the Doubletree By Hilton hotel in Congresbury.

The runners-up were Red Recruitment and Mail Handling International.

The Social Responsibility award went to Easton-based Pak Butchers and the runners-up were the Bristol Rugby Community Foundation and John Lewis.

The award for the best Apprentice Scheme went to Bristol City Council and the runners-up were First Bus and hairdressers Jay Jays.

The runners-up in the Business of the Year were Bristol Airport and Mubaloo.

■ A special 24-page supplement giving all the details and photographs from last night's event is being published in next Wednesday's Evening Post.