THE BUBBLY has been popped and the winners of this year’s South Essex Business Awards have been announced.

More than 400 people gathered together at the Cliffs Pavilion in Southend to celebrate the best of in business in South Essex.

During the glitzy ceremony winners and runners up were presented with prizes to mark their achievements.

See photos, all the results and highlights from the evening in our special supplement in the Echo on October 7.

The winners are:

New Company

Winner: Fresh box

Highly commended: Fabricake Sugarcraft

Small Business of the Year Winner:

Qualitas Inspection Services

Highly Commended: The Sculpture Studios

Excellent Customer Service Small

Winner: Shampooches

Excellent Customer Service Medium

Winner: Systematics

Excellent Customer Service Large 

Winner: Konica Minolta

Growing Business

Winner: The Underfloor Heating Store

Highly Commended: Darwin Recruitment

Best Use of Social Media

Winner: Amos Estates

Excellence in Marketing

Winner: Forever Boutique

Highly Commended: Contractor Wizard

Community Charity

Winner: Basildon and Thurrock Hospital's Polly Parrot Appeal

 Community Private

Winner: Blatella Films

Business to Business

Winner: Rossi Ice Cream

Highly Commended: Palmers Solicitors

Environmental Awareness

Winner: Urban Farmers

Apprentice of the Year

Winner: Kerenza Rouse - AJ Chambers

Highly Commended: Frederick Gill - Duncan Wealth Management

Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Winner: Lee Sturgess Polar Creative

Highly Commended: Ria Carroll Ri Ri's Boutique

Business Woman of the Year

Karla Spinks KS Recruitment

Business Man of the Year

Andrew Hilliard AJ Chambers