TWO West Somerset firms have narrowly missed out on the top spot in the Somerset Business Awards.

The zero-waste shop, ‘Our Precious Earth’ in Minehead, had been in the runnings in the ‘Start-Up of the year’ category.

Business owner Keith Hunt, who earlier this year was handed an award by former Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis, said being in the final was “like an award in itself.”

The eco-friendly store, which was set up to “make a difference” has also previously been named among the country’s top 100 small businesses by Small Business Britain.

Roadwater-based Singer Instruments, an “employee-owned” tech firm based in Exmoor, was pipped to the post in the ‘Employer of the Year’ awards by Wells-based HR firm, Blossom HR.

Somerset Chamber Chief Executive, Emma Rawlings, said the quality of entries had again been incredible and thanked everyone who had supported the awards. She said: “We have some amazing businesses in Somerset and it was fantastic to be able to honour just some of their achievements. 

“We know many have faced some extremely challenging trading conditions again this last 12 months, so it was encouraging to hear about the successes of our finalists and winners and to be able to help them celebrate through the awards.”

Albert Goodman returned as the main sponsor of the awards. Michael Cahill, a Partner at Albert Goodman, said: “This is our fourteenth year as main sponsor and we have seen some excellent businesses enter the awards and then go on to even greater things.”