NEWPORT Now BID was proud to be the headline sponsor for the first South Wales Argus Business Awards last Thursday.

The glittering ceremony at the Newport Centre (and what a fantastic job Newport Live did in transforming the venue for the event) saw many brilliant city businesses pick up awards for their fantastic work.

Two awards were dedicated to BID Levy payers in the city centre and we were pleased to honour Kymin as the Best BID Independent and Specsavers as the Best BID National. Both are active BID members who work hard to promote the city centre.

Other award-winning businesses from within the BID area included Liverton Opticians, The Escape Rooms and Monmouthshire Building Society.

Congratulations to all the winners, including the overall Business of the Year – Industrial Automation and Control, based at Queensway Meadows.

The BID was also pleased other judges supported its nomination for the inaugural Lifetime Achievement award. Acorn Recruitment founder Matt Southall, Newport born and bred, was a worthy winner for all he has achieved during more than 25 years in business.

Paralympic gold medallist Mark Colbourne gave an inspirational and humbling speech about how he triumphed over a life-changing injury – and how anything can be achieved with 100 per cent dedication and effort.

The key message from the awards ceremony was how proud Newport should be of its business community.

We are a city of innovators, entrepreneurs and job creators. Too often those facts are drowned out by negativity and bickering on social media.

Newport’s businesses are thriving. As a city, we need to shout about that more often. Other places do.

Our thanks to the South Wales Argus for organising such a great event.

The BID looks forward to continuing its partnership with the South Wales Argus Business Awards for many years to come.