Businesses and charities have had an early Christmas present with the news they have been shortlisted for the Somerset Business Awards 2026!
It was another record year for entries and the judges had a tough time deciding which firms to put through to the next stage of the competition, which is run annually by Somerset Chamber of Commerce.
This year is the 21st year of the county-wide business awards which are supported once again by headline sponsor Albert Goodman, plus a host of leading Somerset companies.
The 2026 judges and sponsors.
The 2026 shortlisted nominees come from all corners of the county, including Yeovil, Weston-super-Mare, North Petherton, Cheddar, Highbridge, Taunton, Bridgwater, Roadwater, Street, Yatton, Sandford, North Curry, Cheddar, Watchet, Shepton Mallet, Bleadon, Uphill, Chard, Minehead, Wellington, Chilthorne Dormer, Somerton, Glastonbury, Bradford-on-Tone, Middlezoy, Nunney, Langport, Castle Cary, Hambridge, Wincanton, Bruton, Withycombe and Ilminster.
The shortlisted companies and charities will now be visited by the judges before they announce the finalists at the beginning of February. The grand final will be held at the Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, on March 26, 2026.
Somerset Chamber Managing Director, David Crew, thanked everyone who had entered the awards and said the most hotly contested categories had included Service Excellence, Small Business of the Year and Apprentice of the Year.
He said: “It was great to see so many entries from all corners of the county, representing a wide range of sectors and industries.
“The awards are a fantastic way to share success stories and I am grateful for the sponsorship and support of so many of Somerset’s leading businesses.
“I am looking forward to the final as it is always a great opportunity to celebrate the successes and achievements of Somerset’s many incredible businesses and organisations.”
The shortlisted companies, charities, individuals and organisations are:
Albert Goodman Family Business of the Year Award
A J Wakely & Sons, Yeovil
Datel Services Ltd, Weston-super-Mare
Junction 24, North Petherton
Nickel-Electro Ltd, Weston-super-Mare
Polyvine Ltd, Cheddar
Speedy Storage, Highbridge
Small Business of the Year (turnover up to £0.5 million) sponsored by Gather Technology Ltd
Be Astute, Nunney
Blunt Notion, Yeovil
Dowlas Property Group, Cheddar
Snugs Custom-Fit Ltd, Watchet
The FutureStrong Partnership CIC, Weston-super-Mare
The Kiln Café, Langport
Medium Business of the Year (turnover up to £5 million) sponsored by Brown & Brown
Chrysalis Courses, Bridgwater
First Class Comms Ltd, Weston
Riverside Holiday Village, Bleadon
The Middlewick, Glastonbury
The Sleek Easy Clean, Glastonbury
Wrencon, Taunton
Large Business of the Year (turnover over £5 million) sponsored by UCS College Group
Amicus Law, Taunton
Berry & Escott, Bridgwater
Civils Store, Shepton Mallet
Diverse Fine Foods, Taunton
Refresco, Bridgwater
Stantec, Taunton
Best Use of Digital Technology Award sponsored by Westcotts
Darren Honeywell Video + Photography, North Curry
FHOSS, Weston-super-Mare
Lanier South West, Cheddar
Snugs Custom-Fit Ltd, Watchet
Toucan Law, Weston-super-Mare
Charity of the Year Award sponsored by Clarke Willmott
Aishahs Food Charity, Weston-super-Mare
Arc, Taunton
Samaritans of Taunton
Watch CIO, Chard
Weston Hospicecare
Youth Adventure Trust
Employer of the Year sponsored by Stephens Scown
Calleva Limited, Bridgwater
Civils Store, Shepton Mallet
Optimus Education Limited, Taunton
Pro Apprenticeships, Taunton
Refresco, Bridgwater
Singer Instruments, Roadwater
Investing in Somerset Award sponsored by Hinkley Point C
Channel Events, Minehead
Imagine the Possibilities, Taunton
Reminiscence Learning, Wellington
School in a Bag, Chilthorne Dormer
SS&L CIC, Bridgwater
The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts, Weston-super-Mare
Start-up of the Year Award sponsored by Battens Solicitors
Be Laser & Skin Clinic, Taunton
Mini Kingdom Soft Play, Yeovil
The Better Living Clinic, Taunton
The FutureStrong Partnership CIC, Weston-super-Mare
West Country Cabs Ltd, Ilminster
Apprentice of the Year Award sponsored by University Centre Weston
Boon Brown, Yeovil – Sydney Winter
Brookside Academy (Strode College), Street – Harvey Lavallee
Garador, Yeovil – Ben Parkin
Refresco, Bridgwater – Sam Araldi
Smart Systems Ltd, Yatton – Kayleigh Bain
Talking Stick Digital, Bridgwater – Chloe Pavey
Thatchers Cider, Sandford – Laura Cureton
Environmental and Sustainability Award sponsored by Agratas
Carymoor Environmental Trust, Castle Cary
Channel Events, Minehead
Louise Crossman Architects, Withycombe
Mill on the Brue Outdoor Education Centre, Bruton
SG Eyecare, Wincanton
Teapot Creative, Hambridge
Service Excellence Award sponsored by Porter Dodson
Channel Events, Minehead
Country Knole Interiors, Bradford-on-Tone
Elements Boutique Spa, Middlezoy
Haskins Furniture, Shepton Mallet
Lendology, Bradford-on-Tone
Nest GI, Weston-super-Mare
Riverside Holiday Village, Bleadon
Manufacturing and Engineering Award sponsored by CNC Recruitment
Bates Product Design, Highbridge
Calleva Limited, Bridgwater
Needles and Pins Aerospace, Somerton
Polyvine Ltd, Cheddar
Refresco, Bridgwater
Business Resilience and Growth Award sponsored by Barclays
CL Drylining Ltd, Bridgwater
Haskins Furniture, Shepton Mallet
Riverside Holiday Village, Bleadon
Technical ERP Limited, Uphill
Wrencon, Taunton
The Somerset Business Awards 2026 media sponsors are Newsquest and the Somerset County Gazette Series and Global.