SEVEN honours were given to business from Test Valley at a prestigious awards ceremony. 

The Test Valley Business Awards returned to the Army Flying Museum in Middle Wallop on Thursday, October 25 to honour businesses from Andover, Romsey, Stockbridge and all over Test Valley. 

To read a full report from the night, click here. 

This gallery shows photographs of all the winners, taken by AndreapennA Photography. 

Business in the Community Award

Sponsored by Barratt David Wilson Homes Southampton

Winner: Stannah

Since its founding in the 1860s, Stannah has supported social causes and charities, focusing on local communities where they operate. Their charitable efforts are organized around five key areas: supporting the disadvantaged, health and wellbeing, the environment, community events, and STEM. Stannah encourages employee involvement by offering two paid volunteering days and a 100% match funding scheme for personal charitable activities. They also commit to multi-year funding for core charities. Since 2017, Stannah has donated over £400,000 and recruits around 18 apprentices annually in various roles.

Highly commended: Ironsight Activities

Highly commended: Finkley Down Farm

Sustainability Award 

Sponsored by Test Valley Borough Council

Winner: Preformed Line Products

PLP plays a key role in bringing offshore wind energy from Scotland to England and has been ISO 14001 accredited since 2017. In response to the 2022 energy crisis, they employed a Graduate Environmental Engineer to monitor and reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Investments in energy-efficient foundry pots and heat-saving measures have led to a 50% reduction in energy use over two years. PLP has implemented carbon footprint assessments and tracks Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. By 2024, a 343kW solar array is expected to cover 45% of their electricity needs.

Highly commended: EP Projects

Highly commended: Lemon & Jinja

Business Innovation and Technology Award

Sponsored by University of Southampton Science Park

Winner: Ilika Technologies

Ilika, founded in 2004, has grown into a team of over 70 innovators across two state-of-the-art facilities in Romsey. The company develops solid-state batteries (SSBs) for electric vehicles (EVs) that offer increased capacity, longer range, faster charging, and enhanced safety compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. Their SSB brand, Goliath, features strong sustainability credentials. As the only UK developer of SSBs, Ilika aims to address range anxiety and safety concerns in the EV market, competing with companies in the US and Asia. With a robust patent portfolio, Ilika engages the automotive industry and regularly hosts visits from leading global manufacturers.

Highly commended: Pudsey Diamond Engineering

Highly commended: Botlib AI

New Business of the Year Award

Sponsored by Access Care

Winner: K&B Sewing Machines

Founded by Katie Matthews, K&B Sewing Machines offers a wide range of services beyond selling and servicing sewing machines. The business, in Romsey, provides machine servicing, haberdashery, fabrics, craft kits, books, workshops, and pop-up events, earning a reputation for exceptional service, especially for Hampshire schools and colleges. Katie focuses on community engagement, promoting creativity and mental health support through courses and workshops. She offers work experience for students, and her book, The Ultimate Sewing Machine Mastery, reached No. 1 in its Amazon category. She is developing an online course titled “Getting the Best from Your Sewing Machine”.

Highly commended: Bridge End Alpacas

Highly commended: Phatapp

Rural Business of the Year Award

Sponsored by The Oak, Smannell

Winner: TH White Pro Agri

Since opening in 2016, TH White Pro Agri in Stockbridge has flourished, providing machinery sales and services to the agricultural community across the Test Valley. The team has expanded from four to over 20 staff, including four apprentices, and is available year-round. They engage with local schools to educate young people about UK agriculture and sponsor Romsey Young Farmers, hosting events like the annual charity tractor run. In 2022, they became the first and only Case IH 'Master' service dealership and were named Service Dealer of the Year.

Highly commended: Army Flying Museum

Highly commended: Oaktrack

Small Business of the Year Award

Sponsored by Parker Bullen

Winner: Emily The Physio

A holistic healthcare provider, Emily the Physio has evolved from a home-based operation into The Wellbeing Hub, a dedicated facility empowering individuals to take charge of their health. Offering services like physiotherapy, blood testing, dietetics, and mindfulness, the company ensures tailored healthcare, including pregnancy support and post-stroke rehabilitation. In response to COVID-19, they adapted by introducing virtual classes and implementing safety measures for in-person appointments. This has driven revenue from £5,000 in its first year to over £50,000 in 2023/24, with projections to surpass £80,000 in 2024/25.

Highly commended: Nidge’s Artisan Pizza Kitchen

Highly commended: Tembo Cleaning Service

Young Business Person of the Year Award

Sponsored by The Sparsholt College Group

Winner: Georgina Sutton-Welch – Innoveq

Georgina runs a specialist equine centre for local horse owners, offering monthly livery packages and daily sessions focused on sports therapy, conditioning, rehabilitation, and performance optimisation, utilising her qualifications as an insured Equine Sports Massage & Rehabilitation Therapist. The centre also hosts informative talks and clinics, fostering a community for amateur and professional riders, with free events encouraging discussions about horses. Clients, aged 14 to 70+, build friendships that promote positive mental health and combat rural isolation. The centre has employed 15 locals, providing free training and work placements for students from Sparsholt College and local schools.

Highly commended: India Seddon – Sit Walk Stay

Highly commended: Rebecca Cork – Paultons Golf Centre

The awards were sponsored by: Access Care, Test Valley Borough Council, Parker Bullen Solicitors, Barratt Homes, Sparsholt College. University of Southampton Science Park, The Oak Smannell. 

Also helping to support the awards were Bulpitt Print, McCrimmon & Reid, AndreapennA Photography, Kimbridge Barn, Pear Trees Sales and Procurement, The Incuhive Space, Andover Women in Business, DMS Technologies, Addis Property Maintenance and The SP Bar. 

Click the top image to scroll through the pictures, taken by AndreapennA Photography.