Unsung heroes who go the extra mile to support their communities took their turn in the limelight as they were honoured at a glittering annual awards ceremony.

Ipswich Star: The team from Student Life CIC - winners of the Big Bang Award. Picture: DE PHOTOThe team from Student Life CIC - winners of the Big Bang Award. Picture: DE PHOTO (Image: Archant)

Groups, individuals and companies were praised and thanked for their dedication in helping a range of causes and projects across the Suffolk Coastal district.

They were treated to a special night as the 2018 Suffolk Coastal Business and Community Awards – organised by Suffolk Coastal District Council – were held at The Hangar, Kesgrave Hall.

TJ Haworth-Culf, cabinet member for customers, communities and leisure, said: “I am always surprised and heartened not just by the dedication and energy that people show in supporting their local communities, but also in the breadth of the ways that our winners find to help and support the community.

“I would like to thank them all, as well as all those who nominated them for these awards. A big thank you also goes to our sponsors.

Ipswich Star: The team from Suffolk Babies, winners of New Business of the Year, after opening their own centre and launch a free antenatal workshop. Picture: DE PHOTOThe team from Suffolk Babies, winners of New Business of the Year, after opening their own centre and launch a free antenatal workshop. Picture: DE PHOTO (Image: Archant)

“The way these awards continue to go from strength to strength says a great deal about the fantastic community spirit across Suffolk Coastal and is one of the reasons this is such a fantastic place to live.”

With a record number of entries for the awards this year, judges had a tough job to shortlist the finalists and agree the winners.

On the night 250 people attended including more than 70 businesses and groups represented alongside the many individual finalists and distinguished guests.

A total of 13 awards were presented throughout the evening, covering categories including Customer Focus, Services to the Community, People Development, Encouraging Tourism and Business Growth – celebrating the business and community initiatives and successes that have taken place in Suffolk Coastal over the last 18 months.

Ipswich Star: Heavenly Hairstyling took the Business Growth Award for its success over the past year. Picture: DE PHOTOHeavenly Hairstyling took the Business Growth Award for its success over the past year. Picture: DE PHOTO (Image: Archant)

Winners received an engraved trophy and all the finalists were awarded a bottle of Adnams Prosecco with their certificates.

The evening was hosted for a fourth time by Steve Allen a comedian, writer and presenter of BBC2’s The Mash Report.

The evening opened with a drinks reception sponsored by Gotelee Solicitors. Guests enjoyed a meal followed by dancing to live music from Suffolk band JS and The Lockerbillies.

Ipswich Star: The Health and Wellbeing award winners - AHP Suffolk. Picture: DE PHOTOThe Health and Wellbeing award winners - AHP Suffolk. Picture: DE PHOTO (Image: Archant)

FULL LIST OF WINNERS & RUNNERS UP

New Business of the Year sponsored by EB Carpets & Flooring

WINNER: Suffolk Babies – for opening their own centre and developing and launching a free antenatal workshop for all pregnant women registered with Ipswich Hospital.

RUNNERS UP: IP Twelve Lettings & Property Management & Inspirations CIC.

Ipswich Star: The Friendship Circle launched by David Button Independent Funeral Directors, which won the company the Great Idea Award. Left to right: David Button, Pat Smith, Pauline Richardson, Yvonne McCourt and Ann DempseyThe Friendship Circle launched by David Button Independent Funeral Directors, which won the company the Great Idea Award. Left to right: David Button, Pat Smith, Pauline Richardson, Yvonne McCourt and Ann Dempsey (Image: Archant)

Business Growth Award sponsored by Menta

WINNER: Heavenly Hairstyling - for turning an old book shop into a successful hair and beauty salon, adding a spa on site and growing to a team of 12.

RUNNERS UP: Archway Carpets & David Button Independent Funeral Services.

Ipswich Star: Archway Carpets won the Customer Focus Award at the Suffolk Coastal Business and Community Awards. Picture: DE PHOTOArchway Carpets won the Customer Focus Award at the Suffolk Coastal Business and Community Awards. Picture: DE PHOTO (Image: Archant)

Customer Focus Award sponsored by Christies Care

WINNER: Archway Carpets - for their excellent customer feedback and commitment to be the best in customer service and to ensure the focus remains on the customer.

RUNNERS UP: R&S Hardware & Tilley & Grace.

Encouraging Tourism sponsored by Suffolk Places

WINNER: Framlingham Business Association - for the positive impact that its programme of events has on the economy of the town - including The Great Framlingham Sausage Festival, Heritage Open days, a Christmas and Charity Market.

RUNNERS UP: myFestival & Ufford Park Woodbridge.

Services to the community (group) sponsored by Suffolk Coastal Norse

WINNER: Leiston Town Pastors - for looking after people who are in a vulnerable state late at night, particularly those who have been out drinking in the town centre.

RUNNERS UP: Kesgrave Town Councillors & Poppy’s Pantry.

Services to the community (individual) sponsored by Places for People

WINNER: Maggie Lusher - for transforming Kesgrave Library into a thriving and much-loved community facility which meets the needs of children and families in the area

RUNNERS UP: Ron Spore & Ken Green.

Big Bang Award sponsored by EDF Energy

WINNER: Student Life Suffolk CIC - for creating a framework that enables students to immerse themselves in all aspects of producing a high quality, student led print & digital publication.

RUNNER UP: AHP Suffolk

Club of the Year sponsored by Ufford Park

WINNER: Felixstowe & Walton United FC - for winning 40 out of 50 league matches, attracting nearly 8000 spectators to the 25 home league games, doubling match-day income and dramatically increasing the takings over the bar and clubhouse through social events that bring the club together.

RUNNERS UP: Felixstowe Road Runners & Woodbridge Shufflers

Great Idea Award sponsored by Suffolk Coastal District Council

WINNER: David Button Independent Funeral Directors - for forming ‘The Friendship Circle’ to prove grief doesn’t have to be lonely - and invited bereaved ladies to attend a ‘get together’ coffee morning which is now a well-attended monthly event.

RUNNERS UP: Jacky Carpenter & Sophie Ayers, & The Organising Committee of MH100 Event

Health & Wellbeing sponsored by De Vere Care

WINNER: AHP Suffolk - for actively working with local educational institutions in the past few months to promote physiotherapy to students.

RUNNERS UP: Art for Cure & Kesgrave Junior Parkrun

People Development sponsored by David Button Independent Funeral Directors

WINNER: Poppy’s Pantry – for maintaining a profitable commercial business through the products it sells, while benefiting the community through the employment and progression opportunities it provides for people with disabilities and/or disadvantages.

RUNNERS UP: The Rock Project & Lofty Heights

Team of the Year sponsored by Ian Culf Roofer & Builder

WINNER: Homestart in Suffolk - for securing £200,000 of funding - awarded in recognition of the service that volunteers provide to local families, and for recruiting and training an additional 27 people, making a team of 110 volunteers.

RUNNERS UP: Art for Cure Events Team & Leiston Town Pastors

Enabling Communities Award sponsored by Suffolk Coastal District Council

WINNER: Deben Community Farm – for their work with young people to build awareness and understanding of how food is produced. They work with schools and families and create opportunities for disadvantaged individuals to gain social and practical skills by undertaking tasks on the farm.

RUNNERS UP: Kesgrave Computer Club, The Long Shop Museum & Aldeburgh Play Area