A GLITTERING evening showcasing the best of Bradford's businesses rounded off an excellent Bradford Means Business Awards ceremony where shortlisted companies vied for top honours in 10 corporate categories.

Launched by the Telegraph & Argus seven years ago, the event has become an eagerly anticipated date on business calendars where their hard work and dedication is recognised.

ALL THE BRADFORD MEANS BUSINESS AWARDS WINNERS 2017

  • New Business of the Year - Edward Street Bakery
  • Retail/Leisure or Hospitality Business of the Year - Casa Espresso
  • Small or Medium Enterprise of the Year - Tong Garden Centre
  • Manufacturer of the Year - Christeyns UK Ltd
  • Job Creator of the Year - ECSC Group Limited
  • Woman in Business - Janine Dutton
  • Employer of the Year - Accent Group
  • Apprentice of the Year - Kieran Heptonstall
  • Business Personality of the Year - Nasser Malik
  • Business or Technical Innovation of the Year - Enable2
  • Winner of Winners - ECSC

Last night's Winner of Winners, who also was winner of Job Creator of the Year, was cyber security company ECSC.

It was founded in 2000 and now operates in 25 countries and employs 110 people who protect its clients from cyber attacks.

ECSC floated on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange in December last year and in 17 years has progressed to achieve a turnover of £4.5 million.

CEO Ian Mann said: "We are very proud to have won these awards. There are 110 of us and each one is a winner.

"Cyber attacks are becoming more frequent and we are here to protect businesses of all sizes, from two or three employees to huge conglomerates, against them."

Compere for the evening was former T&A editor Perry Austin-Clarke who said: "We are here to celebrate business and especially business success in the Bradford district and I think we have a great deal to shout about in that regard."

Nigel Burton, the paper's current editor spoke about the huge number of employers in the city. He praised the likes of Bradford-based Morrisons for its job creation and overall success as well as lauding the smaller companies which make up the business sector.

He also thanked the Council for its continued support of the event as it struggled against ever increasing austerity.

"It would have been easy for them to step back but their support has never wavered and for that we should all be truly grateful," he said.

Turning to the hundreds of guests at the Oscar-style ceremony at the Aagrah Midpoint, in Thornbury, he added: "Looking at the businesses shortlisted it is clear there are no losers tonight."

Mr Burton thanked sponsors: Regal Foods, Craven College, Bradford Chamber of Commerce, The Broadway, City Training Services, Keelham Farm Shop, JHE Recruitment, provident Financial, BHP Accountants and Kirkgate Shopping Centre, for their commitment.

Guest speaker was commercial director of tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire, Peter Dodd.

Mr Dodd spoke at length about how cycling and world-renowned events such as the Tour de France in 2014 and the Tour de Yorkshire whose third stage set off from the city centre in April had brought a world-wide audience to the county.

"The opportunities [cycling] has brought is endless. Bradford has a can-do attitude and there are many more great things to come."

Imran Khan, deputy leader of Bradford Council praised the city and its businesses and told them the future of the city was in their hands and that "enterprise is in our DNA". He said: "You have a great role to play in Bradford's resurgence. Bradford needs to be more self confident of the assets we have and we are shouting them from the rooftops. We need people to be forward-thinking and build the economy of tomorrow. There is no doubt that Bradford is on its way up."