Finalists revealed for chamber business awards

The finalists have been revealed for the 2026 Shropshire Chamber Business Awards.

Exotic Zoo in Telford, materials firm Jesmonite in Bishop's Castle and The Hundred House hotel and pub at Norton are among those with multiple nominations.

The chamber said a record number of entries were received for this year's competition which will see 13 different category awards presented at a ceremony in June.

In addition, the John Clayton Award will be given to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the county's business community.

This year's finalists come from all corners of Shropshire and teams of independent judges will now be touring the county over the coming weeks to meet them before choosing their winners.

Nearly 500 tickets have already been reserved for this year's ceremony.

Ruth Ross, chief executive of Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "We have once again been amazed and delighted by the volume and quality of entries. It's really refreshing to see so many first-time entrants and finalists this year.

"They represent the very best of the Shropshire business community - organisations that are innovating, investing in their people and driving growth. Being shortlisted is a significant achievement in itself and it reflects the hard work, resilience and ambition that underpin our local economy.

"This competition matters because it shines a light on businesses across all corners of Shropshire who are pushing standards higher, year after year. The judging process is rigorous and the calibre of entries continues to rise.

"That tells us something important - our county is home to exceptional talent, and businesses here are not just keeping pace but leading the way. As a chamber, we see first-hand how these awards inspire confidence, collaboration and pride.

"They celebrate success, but they also encourage businesses of all sizes to raise their aspirations. This year's finalists set a powerful example of what can be achieved and we are delighted to recognise their contribution to the prosperity of our county."

The award ceremony takes place on June 19 at Telford International Centre.

The finalists in the 2026 awards are:

Company of the Year

Aviramp, Telford

Bridgnorth Aluminium

Fowler & Gilbert, Market Drayton

Kraft Heinz, Telford

Pave-Aways, Knockin

Riverside Cabins, Shrewsbury

Shropshire Festivals, Buildwas

New Business (formed since January 2023)

Handleys Stitch Interiors, Broseley

Kindridge Bid Solutions, Telford

The Salwey Lodge, Ludlow

Titan Platforms, Telford

Small Business (up to ten staff)

Elevated Support, Ludlow

European Innovation, Telford

GWR Fasteners, Oswestry

Shropshire Festivals, Buildwas

Customer Service

Cardington Rural Escapes

Dulson Training Limited, Rodington

Elite Hampers, Telford

Shropshire Floats, Myddle

Business Growth

Affco Flow Control, Telford

CEL, Telford

Exascale Limited, Telford

Shuker Building & Development, Shrewsbury

Community Champion

Exotic Zoo, Telford

In-Comm Training, Telford

McPhillips, Telford

R1 Construction, Shrewsbury

Manufacturing and Engineering

Aviramp, Telford

CEL, Telford

Iconsys, Telford

Kraft Heinz, Telford

Retail, Leisure and Hospitality

Exotic Zoo, Telford

Hadley Park House Hotel, Telford

Salop Leisure, Shrewsbury

The Hundred House, Norton

Best Place to Work

Jesmonite, Bishop's Castle

Lingen Davies Cancer Support, Shrewsbury

Midlands Air Ambulance, Cosford

Pave Aways, Knockin

Innovation

Jesmonite, Bishop's Castle

Pegs, Shrewsbury

Planet Doughnut, Shrewsbury

UserBoost, Oswestry

Sustainability

Lohas Fertiliser, Shawbury

Preloved Tech, Newport

Scrubmission, Telford

Wild Shropshire, Whitchurch

Young Person (aged 30 or below)

Cian Iddison - Dyke Yaxley, Shrewsbury

Emilie Kerr - Lingen Davies, Shrewsbury

Jack Ryan - Sygneus, Shrewsbury

Dan Sherratt - R1 Construction, Shrewsbury

Tourism and Leisure

Exotic Zoo, Telford

Marrington Escapes, Shrewsbury

Sabrina Tours, Shrewsbury

The Hundred House, Norton