A WEST Dorset holiday park won a top prize at the Dorset Business Awards last night.

Highlands End Holiday Park scooped the Dorset Tourism Award co-sponsored by Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Liz Lean PR.

Atlas Electronik of Winfrith won the KPMG & Lester Aldridge Company of the Year Award.

The 2013 Dorset Business Awards Gala Dinner was held in association with the Dorset Echo.

BBC South presenter Laura Trant hosted the event at Poole’s Lighthouse, with more than 500 people in attendance.

The Dorset Business Awards, organised by Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have become the largest of their type in the country.

Peter Scott, chief executive of Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “From a weapons manufacturer to a holiday park and a village shop to a film producer, 10 businesses picked up prizes at the awards ceremony.

“This year’s awards had many outstanding entries from across the region, from as far as Ringwood to Bridport and from Portland to Gillingham, and it was great to see such high quality business activity throughout the county. On behalf of all the Award sponsors, I’d like to extend our congratulations to all of this year’s winners and shortlisted finalists.”

The winners were: Apprenticeship Training Award sponsored by Superior: Aish Technologies, Poole.

Shortlisted: BIAS Technology Support Limited, Poole; Kingston Maurward College (Hospitality Department), Dorchester.

Business Engagement with the Community Award, sponsored by J.P. Morgan: Motcombe Community Shop Ltd, Shaftesbury.

Shortlisted: Blondz Hair, Weymouth; Winning Smiles (Gillingham) Ltd, Gillingham.

Business Woman of the Year Award, sponsored by Barclays.

Winner: LoveLove Films (Georgina Hurcombe), Bournemouth.

Shortlisted: Doris & Daisy (Maria Leese), Wimborne; Folk (Jo Cruickshanks), Poole.

Dorset Tourism Award, co-sponsored by Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Liz Lean PR: Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport.

Shortlisted: The Green House, Bournemouth; The Grove, Bournemouth.

Entrepreneur of the Year Award, sponsored by Bournemouth University: Matt Hawkins of C4L, Poole.

Shortlisted: Beales Gourmet Ltd (Tony Beales), Poole; Ratio (Marc Biles), Bournemouth.

Hays Employee of the Year Award: Maria Tidy, Lewis-Manning Hospice, Poole.

Shortlisted: Shelagh Clyde, BOFA International Ltd, Poole; David Hopkins, Christchurch and East Dorset Partnership, Christchurch.

KPMG & Lester Aldridge Company of the Year Award: Atlas Elektronik UK Ltd, Winfrith Newburgh.

Shortlisted: Churchill Retirement Living, Ringwood; Health-On-Line, Bournemouth.

Nuffield Health Excellence in Customer Service Award: Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC), Poole.

Shortlisted: Nicholas O’Hara Funeral Directors Ltd, Wimborne; The Green House, Bournemouth.

Princecroft Willis Family Business Award: D Stewart & Son Ltd (Stewarts), Christchurch.

Shortlisted: DJ Property, Weymouth; RJ Balson & Son, Bridport.

Retail Excellence Award, sponsored by the Dolphin Shopping Centre: Animal, Poole.

Shortlisted: Fab Frocks of Westbourne; The Body Shop, Poole.