It’s always a great night and I love to hear all the good news stories of how businesses are bucking the trend for doom and gloom and actually thriving and expanding in difficult times.

There were several businesses that stood out on the night.

The most obvious one was ADG Corporation who took out the big one of 2017 business of the year and backed it up with wins in the workplace of choice (more than 10 employees) and service excellence categories.

I have to admit I knew very little about this business before the night but are a labour hire company that has diversified since the end of the mining boom.

What was also obvious from talking to them was their enthusiasm for their firm and they were obviously doing the “soft skills” well, remunerating their staff well and making sure that their people were front and centre of their business. 

It was a pleasure to talk to them and I congratulate them on their success.

ADG were a newcomer to the awards but two notable repeat winners that did well again this years were Start Construction and Hire and Sanctum Medi Spa Retreat.

These two businesses took out several awards in 2016 and they were back among the winners again in 2017 with Start taking out the Sustainability in business and Workplace of choice (less than 10 employees) and Sanctum Medi taking out the New Investment and service excellence (Health and beauty) awards.

A personal favourite was Samantha Corlis, the young go-ahead owner of Sanctum Medi Spa Retreat taking out the young business person of the year, an award the North West Star sponsors and which I had the great pleasure of presenting.

It was great also to see the very active Zonta club win the community organisation award and Sue Carson win the community service hero award for her wonderful work with Paws, Hoofs and Claws.

To all winners and nominees, congratulations on your hard work. You are the reason the great North West will survive and thrive into the future – Derek Barry