Big-hitters from the business world celebrated the best companies, entrepreneurs and innovations of the district.

The third annual Bradford Means Business awards were held at the Aagrah Midpoint Suite in Thornbury on Saturday.

The glittering black-tie ceremony was hosted by the Telegraph & Argus, with support from Bradford Chamber of Commerce and Bradford Council.

Giving the keynote speech was Peter Marks CBE, who has recently retired as boss of the Co-operative Group.

He said: “I’m a Bradford-born man and I’m very proud of Bradford. Bradford has a tremendous heritage of business so I’m delighted to be here tonight.”

Mr Marks gave an inspirational account of his rise to the top of the group, which started when he joined the Co-op from St Bede’s School, Bradford, in 1967.

And he offered a word of advice to award-winners – to celebrate their success with every member of their organisation.

He said: “Awards are okay, it’s a nice evening, but it means so much more to employees. People who are associated with organisations that win awards get a kick out of it.”

Telegraph & Argus editor Perry Austin-Clarke thanked all those who had entered the awards.

He said: “There were a huge number of fascinating stories of skill, hard work, determination and enterprise and we’d have liked to give every one of them a trophy.”

Bradford Council leader Councillor David Green gave a speech in which he talked about the importance of the public and private sectors working together.

He said: “Too often we look at business and the public sector and we see them as separate entities. That, in a city such as Bradford, is a major mistake.”

The event was compered by former broadcaster Jon Hammond, who kept the audience informed, entertained and amused throughout the evening.

People also put their hands in their pockets for a good cause. A game of ‘stand up, sit down bingo’ raised £2,200 for the Telegraph & Argus Crocus Appeal, which aims to fund the next generation of cancer research taking place in the heart of the city.

The big winner on the night was Danielle Dixon, of Kinder Haven Nurseries, who won the Woman in Business award before being crowned Winner of Winners.

In her acceptance speech she said: “I’m really ecstatic. This absolutely means the world because I am Bradford born and bred – a low achiever but hard worker.”

The evening’s big winners were: Business or technical innovation of the year: Victor Manufacturing Ltd; Retail leisure or hospitality business of the year: Ring O’Bells; Environmental health and social care business of the year: Park House Healthcare; New business of the year: AGR Racking; Woman in business: Danielle Dixon of Kinder Haven Nurseries; Small/medium business of the year: Advanced Supply Chain; Job creator of the year: Incommunities; Employer of the year: Kings Security; Business personality of the year: Paul Mackie of Rex Procter and Partners; Manufacturer of the year: Borgwarner; Winner of winners: Danielle Dixon of Kinder Haven Nurseries