CARDINAL, a leading specialist interior fit-out business, captured this year’s Tech Company of the Year prize.

Although its headquarters are in Bradford, the company, founded in 1989, works across the UK and international markets.

Cardinal works in a diverse range of sectors including retail, education and workplaces, as well as residential, healthcare and leisure.

Recent projects have included transforming Northgate House in Halifax into a new teaching space for Trinity Sixth Form Academy, and new self-scan express tills at Marks & Spencer, using virtual reality technology.

They feel VR changed things for them dramatically as clients could see exactly what they were getting at an early stage.

Cardinal's mission is to be a trusted partner to all their clients, suppliers and customers.

Not only was this award, which is sponsored by the University of Bradford, based on the companies technological achievements but it also took into account development and business growth in the past 18 months.

The judges took into consideration how each business created new and sustainable technology for the future of the Bradford district.

Design & Development Director Dean Baldwin highlighted the importance of communication and how Cardinal could adjust with no panic despite a worldwide pandemic beginning.

Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus, Mr Baldwin said: "It feels quite special to win this award.

"The last 18 months has been hugely challenging.

"When you are designing something, communication is crucial.

"The award that we have won is all about communication for me.

"The face-to-face meetings have not been available.

"The fact that we took 18 months prior to the pandemic to do Zoom meetings, it almost felt like we pre-empted what nobody knew.

"Everybody who is at this event, all need the same reward because they have tried so hard to get over the last year and half.

"For as long as we are achieving, we need to be an employer and bring in Bradford-based people to our company.

"It just feels like we have done something different to succeed."

Salts Mill-based Software Company Titus Learning and the city centre’s Exa Networks were also up for the gong.