Its been a tense wait for the nominees in the Made in Bury Business Awards 2013, but winners were announced in a sparkling ceremony on Friday 22nd November. The Made in Bury Business Awards will become a major annual event in the Bury business calendar and has been organised by thebestof bury in conjunction with Bury Council and Tower FM.

In no particular order, the winners highly commended and commended businesses for each category are as follows:

Best in Class Award - Start-up Business
Winner - Cuckoo - 3DM Leisure Limited
Highly Commended - Platinum Care
Commended - Natural Balance Pilates

Best in Class Award - Creative
Winner - Martin Stembridge Photography
Highly Commended - Fluid Creative
Commended - Brand Idol

Best in Class Award - Food & Drink
Winner - Albert Matthews Butchers
Highly Commended - The Bury Black Pudding Co. Ltd
Commended - Barista Cafe Bars Ltd

Best in Class Award - Health & Beauty
Winner - Carriages Hair and Beauty
Highly Commended - Ramsbottom Dental Surgery
Commended - Susan Pattison Chartered Neurological Physiotherapists Ltd

Best in Class Award - Customer Excellence
Winner - Microcare Business Communications
Highly Commended - Leckenby's Licensed Tea Rooms
Commended - HEARTH OF THE RAM

Best in Class Award - Technology
Winner - John Caunt Scientific Ltd
Highly Commended - Continum Group Ltd
Commended - Rowe Hankins Limited

Best in Class Award - Retailer
Winner - All Mobility Bury Ltd
Highly Commended - Brighter Blinds Ltd
Commended - Purple Tiger

Best in Class Award - Environmental Impact
Winner - Incredible Edible Tottington
Highly Commended - Japanese Knotweed Solutions Ltd
Commended - Faith in Nature
Commended - Milliken Industrials Limited

Best in Class Award - Legal & Financial
Winner - Woodcocks Haworth & Nuttall Solicitors
Highly Commended - Brytannic
Commended - Horsfield & Smith

Best in Class Award - Backing Young Bury
Winner - EAT (Employment and Training) Pennines Ltd
Highly Commended - Anthony Marshall Ltd
Commended - Hargreaves Ductwork Ltd

Best in Class Award - Manufacturing & Engineering
Winner - The Bury Black Pudding Co. Ltd
Highly Commended - Milliken Industrials Limited
Commended - Rowe Hankins Limited

Best in Class Award - Motoring & Transport
Winner - East Lancashire Railway
Highly Commended - Freedhome Luxury Motorhome & Campervan Hire
Commended - RRG Bury

Best in Class Award - Family Business
Winner - HEARTH OF THE RAM
Highly Commended - Lex Business Equipment Ltd
Commended - Holchem Laboratories Limited

Best in Class Award - Property & Construction
Winner - Japanese Knotweed Solutions Ltd
Highly Commended - Bespoke Landscapes
Commended - Belvoir Bury

Best in Class Award - Tourism & Leisure
Winner - The Fusilier Museum
Highly Commended - East Lancashire Railway
Commended - Bury Market

Best in Class Award - Community Impact
Winner - Bury Hospice
Highly Commended - RE>BUILD (Bury)
Commended - Bloco Ashe Bury Community Samba Group

Businesses were whittled down from six in each category at a Meet & Greet? event with the judges on Friday 18th October. There was a real buzz in the room as the nominees and judges got to know each other and the event was a fantastic networking opportunity. The judges then split into panels to deliberate the final three in the shortlists. As the competition was so fierce and the calibre of businesses entering the awards was phenomenal, this was no mean feat!

The winners, as well as those businesses in the places of highly commended and commended, were announced at a sparkling awards ceremony at the Longfield Suite, Prestwich. A surprise award for "Outstanding Achievement" was given to Milliken Industrials Ltd, an organisation that's been here in Bury for more than 50 years, supports the local community and invests heavily into apprenticeships.

The ceremony included a drinks reception and a delicious three course meal. As there were 300 guests, the ceremony was also a great opportunity for networking. Special thanks go to BBC Radios Andy Crane (our host), magician extraordinaire Ian Lavin, photographer Andy Whitehead , musicians from Holy Cross Sixth Form College and the Hospitality and Photography students from Bury College.

Thebestof bury, judges and sponsors would like to congratulate all the businesses who took part in this prestigious event and now look forward to the 2014 Made in Bury Business Awards.