The Business Awards for Wales are an initiative of the IWA and the Western Mail, in association with PwC
The finalists in the Company of the Year <£10m category have been named as Biotec Services International, Excelerate Technology and Tracesmart.
Biotec Services International based in Bridgend was formed in 1997. Last year it employed 45 people and made £687,474 profit on sales of £7.4m.
Biotec provides international clinical trial services supporting the pharmaceutical industry. It specialises in the import, qualified person certification, labelling, assembly, storage and worldwide distribution of clinical trials supplies.
The company is a niche player in its market and says it is recognised as a global leader in cold chain pharmaceutical services.
Excelerate Technology based in St Mellons, Cardiff, was formed in 2001. Last year it employed 31 people and made £900,000 profit on £5.3m sales.
The business has expanded rapidly by pioneering the use of satellite broadband and wireless-based communications for emergency services and central and local government departments and agencies.
Its work has resulted in UK emergency services having what it says are the most advanced mobile command vehicles and support systems in the world.
Tracesmart based in Cardiff Bay was formed in 1999. Last year it employed 79 people.
Tracesmart offers consumer data solutions to a vast range of businesses, from SMEs to FTSE 100 listed companies in an ever-widening scope of industries.
Its core products include people tracing, identity verification, data cleansing and mortality screening – services used by businesses from life and pension and other financial services, private investigators, journalists, the collections industry and not-for-profit organisations.
The category is sponsored by Cardiff Airport and KLM.
Henri Hourcade, General Manager Air France KLM UK & Ireland said: “Cardiff Airport and KLM are proud to support the Company of the Year <£10m award. Recent times have proved more challenging than ever for SMEs and it’s important to recognise the businesses which have succeeded despite difficult trading conditions.
“Cardiff Airport and KLM depend on local businesses to support the thrice-daily flight to Amsterdam connecting Welsh passengers to the award- winning hub and over 900 destinations worldwide. This route links Wales’ SMEs to the world helping them to grow and sustain their business as well as encouraging them to support their local airport.”
